About Me

My childbirth education journey began in 1994 while working at Cleveland County Health Department. During this time, I began an amazing career of empowering teens and adult women with knowledge and skills to prepare for their birth.  In 1997, I trained as a doula to enhance my knowledge and skills as a childbirth educator and to provide labor support to women and their partners during their labor and birth.

Since 1994, I’ve had the opportunity to educate and support hundreds of adult and teen moms through their pregnancy and birth. Pregnancy and birth are significant moments in a woman’s life. I have an awesome responsibility to provide objective and evidence-based information that will help women who are planning a pregnancy or preparing for birth make informed decisions.

In 2000, I became a Lamaze trainer under the direction of my mentor, Dr. Mary Lou Moore. In 2005, my mentor entrusted the Lamaze Childbirth Educator Program to my leadership and I became the Program Director of the Duke AHEC Lamaze Childbirth Educator Program. Since 2005, I have trained numerous women in North Carolina, and surrounding states, as well as in Nairoibi Kenya to become a Lamaze childbirth educator.

My commitment as a childbirth educator, doula, and Lamaze trainer is to increase access to evidence-based childbirth education as well as to increase the number of women who have access to doula services.

Education Experience 

• BSPH - Health Behavior and Health Education; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• M.Ed. - Health Promotion; University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Professional Experience

• President-elect - Lamaze International, 2011 - 2012
• Board of Directors - Lamaze International
• March of Dimes Program Services Committee, NC Chapter
• Board of Directors - North Carolina Perinatal Association; Past President
• Fellow of the American College of Childbirth Educators (FACCE)