I was raised primarily in Marion, North Carolina. I completed my undergraduate degree in English and Romance Languages at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. While earning a M.A. in Spanish at North Carolina State University, I developed a strong interest in Hispanic linguistics research. I earned a M.A. and Ph.D. in Hispanic Linguistics from Indiana University.

In my free time I enjoy gardening, bird watching, and occasionally playing video games. I have a cute miniature dachshund named Kashi who runs my life.