I grew up with 5 brothers and sisters on a farm in mid-Missouri. My dad raised cattle and pigs and grew corn, wheat, and hay. From time to time we also had chickens and milk cows, and of course everyone worked on the farm. Somehow during high school I decided that I wanted to be an interior designer and went to college at the University of Missouri in Columbia, MO to obtain my Bachelor of Science degree in the Interior Design field.
I initially worked for a designer in Columbia before moving to Kansas City and more interior design opportunity. After working for a furniture store and several design firms, I opened my own business. It was an exciting time! I was responsible for all aspects of my business from marketing to design to all the paperwork. I had a few employees to help with the day to day work, but after 7 years I made the decision to work for another company. This was a great move since it allowed me to focus more on my clients than on all the paperwork that was such a time consumer.
In the early 2000s I was given an opportunity to teach several interior design classes at a community college and discovered how much I love teaching! I realized that I had been teaching my clients about interior design as I worked with them on their home or business. I still worked full-time as a designer, but each semester I added more classes to my course load. In 2004 a full time position opened, I applied, and was hired to teach full time.
Teaching inspired me to go back to college. I was accepted into graduate school at the University of Missouri in the College of Human Environmental Science in the Environmental Design department (soon to change to the Architectural Studies department). My master's thesis dealt with meaning and place attachment with churches. My dissertation research focused on aging on the farm and why older farmers continue to work well past the age people in other professions retire. My research points to a kind of place attachment that entwines with their home and work, identity, and their love of what they do. I call it Passionate Place Attachment.
Today whether practicing or teaching, I am fortunate to be able to do what I love: Interior design.
