What drew you to the law?

Many years ago, one of my first jobs was working as a receptionist at a large law firm in Kentucky. Over time, my responsibilities expanded to assisting our attorneys with legal research. Eventually, my career as a law librarian was born. The cumulative experiences of that job were invaluable. I learned the law from several different viewpoints — the client’s expectations, an attorney’s expectations and the psychology it took to bring both parties together in a (hopefully) amicable way.

What do you enjoy most about teaching?

My particular law librarian position involves a one-on-one teaching experience, usually not in a classroom environment. However, the end result is similar. The excitement of seeing the proverbial light bulb go on when a student understands a new concept is always gratifying. Most importantly it is the exchange of ideas and theories that often teaches both of us something new.

What do you hope students gain from your courses?

I would like students to know I am always approachable and welcome any question. I was taught that there is no such thing as an idiotic question, although not everyone subscribes to that philosophy. If I don’t know the answer, I’d like the student to enjoy the fun of the search and exploring the paths it took to get to the answer as much as I did.

What did you do prior to entering academia?

I had many “careers,” including working in the medical field for several years. I was also the “flower and vegetable lady” in a small-town grocery in Tennessee. The store went out of business, but I don’t think my lack of expertise sacking groceries had anything to do with it.

What are you passionate about outside of the law?

Any kind of sports. I grew up in Kentucky, where college basketball is king. After I moved to Texas, baseball became my passion and football is a close second. Contrary to popular opinion, I lived in Arlington before the stadiums were built.