I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Environmental Sciences, with an emphasis in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Missouri-Columbia (USA).  I then worked as a preschool teacher for Head Start, which is a federally funded program for low income children and families in the USA.  In 1999, I was awarded a Master of Social Work degree, with an emphasis in health/mental health, from St Louis University (USA).  I have been a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in the state of Missouri since 2001 and maintain this while living in the UK.  I have recently been taking courses at Kingston University to further my development.

All of my work in the USA was in the pediatric health setting, as well as working with maternity patients and female cancer and surgical patients.  The majority of my work was in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit and the pediatric Emergency Unit.  I also worked as a part time family therapist. 

I have been in the UK since 2005 and have worked in the front line child protection team as a social worker, and was the Team Manager from 2010-2013.

I have been supervising students on placements since 2002, in the USA and in the UK.  I have also been a guest lecturer at different universities discussing safeguarding and child protection, as well as international social work.   

Previously I have been involved in planning curriculum for a MSW program in the USA, been a member of advisory boards, been a member of the National Association of Social Workers, and on the Board of Directors and Co-Chair of the Conference Planning Committee for the National Association of Perinatal Social Workers.

I joined UEL in January 2013.

I'm involved in Child and Family Social Work, Practice Learning, and Theory and Practice across the BA and MA programmes.

My areas of interest are children and families, child protection, domestic violence, grief and loss, chronic illness, crisis intervention, and mental health.

• BA (Hons) Social Work
• MA Social Work
• Post Grad Dip PQSSW

• SK1305 Professional Practice Placement 1
• SK2305 Professional Practice Placement 2
• SK3303 Children and Families:  Social Policy

Registered Social Worker - GSCC