Hello! I am thrilled to join the Frostburg First team as the new Main Street Manager and look forward to being a part of a thriving community and working together to implement a collaborative vision for downtown Frostburg.

I hope to meet all of you personally in the near future, but for now, let me share a little of my background. I am a native of Keyser, WV, and grew up going to swim meets at Frostburg University and doing community theatre at the Palace. I completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology at Shepherd University, and then completed a Master of Journalism and Mass Communications degree at Marshall University, with a concentration in public relations. As a student, I worked at the Marshall Artists Series in the public relations and marketing department, and got to see firsthand the benefits of a strong relationship between a university and the surrounding community.

After graduating, I taught public speaking, public relations, and other communications courses at Shepherd University for several years. I fell in love with the individuality of Shepherdstown, as well as the close community. During two summers working at the RMSC program at Frostburg University, and my visits since, I have seen a similar sense of community and cooperative spirit, as well as a distinctive charm to Frostburg. It is exciting to have the chance to explore the relationship between Frostburg and the university and all the potential advantages for the future of the downtown.

When I returned to the Keyser area, I worked as a library assistant at Keyser-Mineral County Public Library. Initially meant to be a temporary position, I discovered a sincere passion for the field and chose to shift my career goals from education to librarianship and public service. During my time at the public library, I saw a wide variety of patrons who had differing levels of access due to their economic and cultural backgrounds. These experiences and others have opened my eyes to the importance of creating an atmosphere of inclusion, providing resources that serve a variety of cultural and economic backgrounds, and seeking out new ways to promote diversity.

As a result, I pursued and completed a second Master degree in Information Science at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville.  In my work at the library, I applied my education by taking on all marketing and promotion duties, and developing new means of outreach through use of social media and partnerships with local businesses and organizations. I also had the opportunity to increase funding for programs and expanded collections through co-writing successful grants.

At the recommendation of one of my professors, I worked as a museum/archives technician with the National Park Service (NPS) at Harpers Ferry Center in the NPS History Collection and the NPS Commissioned Art Collection, which has spurred in me an interest in historic preservation and community identity.

Now, as I join the Frostburg First community, I see an opportunity to take my experiences and education into exciting new territories. I look forward to meeting with all of you and hearing your hopes and visions for the future as we work together to make Frostburg a destination for arts and entertainment, cultural heritage, economic vitality, and historic significance.