• BA in interior design, The Interior Design Institute of Denver
• MA in Environmental Psychology, Vermont College
• NCIDQ certified
• member ASID
• member IDEC
• member USGBC

Her work focuses on understanding the human need for nature (Biophilia) as a rationale for the conservation of natural environments and as a premise for the design of the built environment.

She founded RMCAD's Green Design area of emphasis.

She has written numerous design theory and application articles for national and regional design publications, is a lecturer to the professional architecture and design community on sustainable design, and is a consultant to international, national, and regional architectural and design firms. She lectures about a variety of issues related to green/sustainable design.

She is author of the book Designing for Privacy and Related Needs.