About Me

EDUCATION

• ​​Independent Education in the arts through studio work, direct work with clients and freelance work.  
• Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Moravian College
• Certified Early Childhood Education Teacher through State of Colorado​

• Paid Internship at Reggio Emilia School- Boulder Journey School, Boulder, Colorado-working with young children 

 EXPERIENCE / SKILLS 

• ​Freelance painter, illustrator and photographer- 20+years​​
• Founder and Educational Therapist for Creative Aid LLC, Art Centered Educational Therapy
• Direct Support Person for Artsify Colorado-supporting adults with disabilities through home care and the arts. 
  
• Denver University Prison Arts Initiative- Responder to Art and Reflection of Incarcerated Individuals in Colorado
• ​Creative Director, Sunflower Art Studio 2018-2021
• Individualized creative support for children at Sunflower Art Studio 3+years
• Founder of Educational Cooperative Costa Rica
  • Educational Therapy and support for children and families at Costa Rica International Academy in Brasalito, Costa Rica.  
• Senior Educational Therapist​ at SAGE Center for Gifted-4+years
  • ​Planning and support for children and adolescents with needs including gifted, twice-exceptional, mental health disorders, processing disorders, learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, grief and social-emotional development. 
• ​Youth Counselor at Attention Homes-2.5 years
  • Counseling and mentorship for girls in a group home environment working towards independent living or reintegration into the home or alternative care.  
• Volunteer Facilitator at Groundwork Psychotherapy and Learning
  • ​Equine assisted therapy to support at-risk adolescents including gifted and twice-exceptional.  

ART SHOWS AND PRESENTATIONS

• 2006 Boulder, Colorado. Burnt Toast Restaurant.  Personal Art show- the use of collage and illustration to express interpersonal and intrapersonal relationships. 
• 2012 Denver, Colorado. Designed a Power Point Caregiver Training for Spanish speaking domestic workers to improve working conditions, living wages and inform them regarding labor rights. Translated into Spanish and presented by El Centro Humanitario. 
• 2015 Boulder, Colorado. Walnut Café. Student Art Show, SAGE Center for Gifted- students aged 3-19 years. 
• 2015 Boulder, Colorado. Walnut Café. Personal Art Show- The use of dolls in sculpture as an expression of identity. 
• 2017 Boulder, Colorado.  Walnut Café. Personal Art Show- The use of photography from my travels to the West of Ireland and collage to express grief and loss, specifically related to the Great Famine and intergenerational trauma.  *see Personal Portfolio
• 2017 Boulder, Colorado. Designed and presented a Power Point in the home for caregivers and parents regarding the complex needs of a highly gifted child with Sensory Processing Disorder and anxiety. 
• 2017 Brasilito, Costa Rica. Designed and presented a Teacher Training to Spanish/English speaking teachers at Costa Rica International Academy regarding the cognitive, affective and regulatory strengths and needs of gifted/twice exceptional students.  
• 2017 Dingle, Ireland Arts Festival Other Voices, inspired by cassette tapes.  Photograph entry.  
• 2018 Gunbarrel, Colorado.  Revolutionary- Personal Art Show- Portraits of famous and inspiring revolutionaries. including Colin Kaepernick, Anthony Bourdain and Che Guevara.  
• 2019 Live-Painting at The Morning Table Restaurant in Gunbarrel, CO.  Completed pieces were displayed weekly in the restaurant lobby. 
• 2022 Long Range Group show at The Fire House Art Center, Longmont Colorado.  Wild Way Tapestry Weavings.
• 2023 West Kerry Art Show at Tig Bhric, West Kerry Brewing Company, Ballyferriter, Co. Kerry, Ireland. Watercolor and ink paintings for sale. 
• 2024 Collaborative Exhibition with Áine Ní Chíobháin at Tig Bhric, Ballyferriter, Ireland.  
• 2025 Group Exhibition at The New Local, Boulder, Colorado.
  

Case Studies and Portfolio Samples

Certifications and Continuing Education

• 3.5 Week Collaborative Artist’s Residency in Annascaul, Co. Kerry, Ireland, ending in an exhibition at Tig Bhric in Ballyferriter. 
• Making Art About Death: A Six Week Class with Artist and Educator Jill Littlewood through Morbid Anatomy
• Trauma-Informed Art Therapy and Trauma -Informed Expressive Arts Therapy through the Trauma-Informed Practices and Expressive Arts Therapy Institute Program, 12 clock hours. 
•  Resilience, Posttraumatic Growth and Trauma-Informed Expressive Arts Therapy Practice through the Trauma-Informed Practices and Expressive Arts Therapy Institute Program, 6 clock hours.
• Working with the Pain of Abandonment and How to Work with the Patterns that Sustain Depression through NICABM. 
• How to Work with a Client’s Perfectionism through NICABM. 
• How to Target the Limbic System to Reverse Trauma’s Physiological Imprint through NICABM. 
• Expert Strategies to Help Clients Develop Distress Tolerance for Emotional Distress through NICABM