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I feel honored to be a part of the faculty at Shenandoah University! Their creativity, integrity and professional expertise creates a phenomenal learning environment. As the Coordinator of the first nurse-midwifery education program in Virginia, I have been given the support and encouragement to create a curriculum that I feel best meets the needs of my students. Within this curriculum, I can provide the flexible mentorship that midwifery students need. Working with my students at Shenandoah University has given me much joy as I "midwife" them on to their new careers!

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Education

B.S. with Honors in Special Education from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1974. B.S. with Honors in Nursing from University of Virginia in 1983 M.S. in Nurse-Midwifery from Georgetown University in 1983 Ph.D. in Nursing from George Mason University in 1999

Fields of Expertise

My research focus is Phenomenology.

Professional Highlights

My book, "Diary of a Midwife: The Power of Positive Childbearing" is now in its third printing. I was also the keynote speaker at the "International Conference on Home Birth" held in Amsterdam, The Netherlands in 2000.

Personal Highlights

We have three children, Anneke, 25; Ahren, 20; and Julian, 12. Right now, all of us are working together to homeschool Julian! It's been a wonderful experience for everyone. My activities are filled with family, herbs, gardening, yoga and meditation. I am very active in alternative and complementary health care and sit on two committees within the community and the University to bring these precious forms of thought and practice to the awareness of our people.