SUMMARY & HIGHLIGHTS

  • Choreographer, former military linguist, & multiple sclerosis (MS) research scientist fighting MS

  • Fiercely motivated veteran, determined to help others with MS both in the U.S. & overseas

  • Developed patent-pending treatment that induces remission & remyelinates brain lesions

  • Determining etiology of MS via molecular characterization & ongoing development of treatment

  • EAE model experiments & molecular work on: de/re-myelination; PADi2 gene; epigenetics: bisulfite conversion, DNA methylation; inflammation; autoimmunity; CNS histology; flow cytometry; cognitive & behavioral dysfunction

  • Post-graduate research volunteer at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) 

  • Founder: Willison Foundation & Global MS Society 

  • Focus: restoring systemic homeostatic regulation in MS & inflammatory neurological autoimmune disorders, modified ketogenics, investigative health research

RESEARCH CONCENTRATIONS

  • Personal Experience Overcoming MS

    (2000-present)

  • Neurological Autoimmune Diseases

    (2003-present)

  • Disease-Modifying Therapies

    (2003-present)

  • Systemic Disease

    (2006-present)

  • Nutritional Biochemistry

    (2006-present)

  • Herbal Medicine

    (2006-present)

  • Dietary Supplements

    (2006-present)

  • Cellular & Molecular Biology

    (2012-present)

EDUCATION (civilian)

MS Biology (Molecular)

December 2020

Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP)

Thesis: “The effects of a modified ketogenic diet on clinical, behavioral, genetic, and demyelinating inflammatory immune responses in the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis model of multiple sclerosis”

BS Biology (Cell & Molecular)

May 2017

Saint Vincent College

Thesis: “A modified ketogenic diet attenuates motor disability and cognitive dysfunction in a murine model of multiple sclerosis”

LAB SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP)

Indiana, Pa

(2018-present)

  • C57BL/6J mouse colony breeding, animal husbandry, & management

  • Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE) experimental study design & execution

  • Clinical disability scoring of the mouse EAE model: animal handling, data acquisition, management, & analysis

  • Cylinder test for CNS asymmetry: protocol development, execution, scoring, & data analysis

  • Euthanasia (CO2/cervical dislocation), tissue collection & preservation: brain, optic nerve, spinal cord, liver, spleen

  • Cryostat: restoration, troubleshooting & repair, maintenance and operation

  • Cryostat: preparing, mounting, & sectioning of fresh and preserved tissue specimens (CNS, liver, spleen)

  • Histology: subbing slides & lab prep for experiments

  • Histology: protocol development & execution: luxol fast blue (LFB), cresyl violet (CV), hematoxylin & eosin (H&E)

  • Histology: myelin integrity, demyelination, degeneration and regeneration, inflammation

  • Immunohistochemistry: protocol development for detection of microglia, macrophage, leukocytes

  • Immunohistochemistry: immunofluorescence staining with antibodies

  • Immunohistochemistry: compound & confocal microscopy & imaging slides 

  • Flow cytometer (BD Accuri™ C6 Plus): restoration, maintenance, troubleshooting, quality control 

  • Flow cytometry: neural tissue dissociation, cell enumeration & phenotyping   

  • Database acquisition, development, &  maintenance

  • Writing expertise: grant-writing, scientific writing, manuscripts for publication, peer-review 

LAB SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE 

Saint Vincent College

Latrobe, Pa

(2012-2017)

  • Research and development of a novel treatment for MS, tested on C57BL/6 mice with EAE

  • EAE experimental study design and execution 

  • Clinical disability scoring of the mouse EAE model: animal handling, data acquisition & analysis

  • Morris Water Maze and Y-Maze: construction, videography, experimentation, & analysis 

  • RNA: isolation and extraction, reverse transcription (cDNA), RT-PCR amplification, analysis 

  • DNA: extraction, spectrophotometric quantitation, PCR amplification, agarose gel electrophoresis

  • DNA methylation analysis: bisulfite conversion, primer design, cloning

  • DNA cloning: isolation, restriction enzyme digestion, purification, ligation, transformation, selection

  • Plasmids: (miniprep) isolation, purification, transformation, amplification

  • Preparation of competent cells 

  • Bacterial cell culture propagation

  • Light microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, UV spectrophotometry/transillumination

HONORS AND AWARDS

  • Graduate Assistantship

    Indiana University of Pennsylvania

    (2018-2019)

  • 3 Minute Thesis Winner

    Indiana University of Pennsylvania

    (2019)

ACADEMIC SOCIETIES AND MEMBERSHIPS

  • Women in Bio

    (2021)

  • Pennsylvania Academy of Science

    (2019-present)

  • Society for Neuroscience

    (2018-present)

  • Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society

    (2018-present)

RESEARCH GRANTS

  • Pennsylvania Academy of Science

    (2019)

  • IUP School of Graduate Studies and Research

    (2019)

  • IUP Biology Department

    (2019)

  • Saint Vincent College, A.J. Palumbo Student Research Endowment Fund

    (2016)

  • Saint Vincent College Biology Department

    (2016)

PRESENTATIONS

  • Master’s Thesis Defense. Oral Presentation, “The effects of a modified ketogenic diet on clinical, behavioral, genetic, and demyelinating inflammatory immune responses in the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis model of multiple sclerosis,” Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana, Pa, October 2020.

  • Graduate Scholar’s Forum. Poster Presentation, “Effects of a modified ketogenic diet on clinical, behavioral, neural and immunological markers of pathology in the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model of multiple sclerosis,” Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Indiana, Pa, May 2020. 

  • International Conference. Poster Presentation, “Effects of a modified ketogenic diet on motor and cognitive function, peptidylarginine deiminase 2 expression, neural and immune cells in the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model of multiple sclerosis,” Neuroscience 2019: Society for Neuroscience (SfN). Chicago, IL, October 2019.

  • Behavioral Neuroscience Journal Club. Oral Lecture, “The influence of diet on multiple sclerosis and its impact on cognition and behavior,” Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Indiana, Pa, April, 2019.

  • Graduate Scholars Forum. Oral Presentation, “The impact of a modified ketogenic diet on autoimmunity in a murine model of multiple sclerosis,” Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Indiana, Pa, April 2019. 

  • National Conference. Oral Presentation, “A modified ketogenic diet attenuates motor disability and cognitive impairment in a murine model of multiple sclerosis,” National Conference for Undergraduate Studies (NCUR). Memphis, TN, April 2017.  

  • Undergraduate Conference. Oral Presentation, “A modified ketogenic diet attenuates motor disability and cognitive dysfunction in a murine model of multiple sclerosis,”  Saint Vincent College Academic Conference. Latrobe, Pa, May 2017.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Choreographer

Pazaz Christian Dance Academy

Greensburg, Pa

(2012- present)

  • Technical disciplines: acrobatics, special needs, ballet, tap, jazz, flexibility, body conditioning   

  • Translate ideas into movements: instruction to enrich and develop dancers’ skills

  • Assertive communication skills: promote interdisciplinary instruction with assistants

  • Unite diverse groups of people through creative movements, routines, & team building

  • Assist with planning and production of large events & coordinate seamless performances

  • Project Dance Pittsburgh Hospitality & Merchandise Co-Director (2021)

  • Project Dance Pittsburgh Hospitality Co-Director (2019)

Language Tutor

Latrobe and Greensburg, Pa

(2012-present)

  • Provide individual language instruction to college students

  • Teach written & spoken foreign languages at the students’ individual levels

  • Specialties: Russian, Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian

Supervisor of Home Education Program

Derry Area & Kiski Area School Districts

(2010-present)

  • Provision of instruction in required subjects and electives grades K-12

  • Develop appropriate individual educational objectives, curriculum, & produce academic transcripts

  • Comply with state and national mandates for standardized testing

  • Submit notarized affidavits, yearly evaluations & portfolios to school district

MILITARY SERVICE

United States Army

(1996-2006)

Military Occupational Specialty: 98G

Signal Intelligence (SIGINT) Electronic Warfare Specialist 

  • Obtained and maintained a Top-Secret Security Clearance (TS/SCI) 

  • Provided electronic warfare support to military intelligence operations in U.S. and abroad

  • Detected, identified and exploited foreign communications during voice intercept operations

  • Supervised subordinates in Signal Intelligence operations 

  • Conducted troubleshooting and maintenance on various electronic warfare equipment & systems

  • Traveled to several international locations to complete assigned missions

Human Intelligence Specialist

(Bosnia and Herzegovina)

(Southern Europe)

(Balkan region)

  • Gathered information from human sources and translated into target languages

  • Provided strategic information about strengths, weaknesses, and locations of potential threats 

  • Completed tactical missions requiring careful observation and discretion in hazardous foreign environments 

  • Analyzed and evaluated intelligence data and released Human Intelligence documents

  • Provided guidance to commanders on the interpretation of acquired intelligence information

Department of Defense Linguist

  • Provided linguistic support to tactical intelligence teams and command operations

  • Gathered and analyzed intercepted foreign information (Signal Intelligence operations) 

  • Translated and analyzed information in target languages (Human Intelligence operations)

  • Acted as cultural advisor/mediator during vital operations at home and abroad 

  • Performed simultaneous interpretation during meetings with sources

Command Language Program Manager Assistant

  • Reviewed, coordinated, recommended language training in support of intelligence operations

  • Managed language databases (INSCOM Language Management System) for linguists at Ft. Carson, Co

  • Provided linguistic, analytical, and training support to U.S. military intelligence soldiers

  • Managed an entire foreign language library containing materials in more than 100 languages

FOREIGN LANGUAGES AND PROFICIENCIES

  • Russian, Serbian, Croatian, Bosnian

    (Distinguished Listener, Advanced Speaker, Distinguished Reading & Writing)

  • Ukrainian, Polish, Slovenian, Czech

    (Advanced Listener, Novice Speaker, Advanced Reading, Novice Writing) 

  • Japanese, French, Spanish

    (Intermediate Listener, Novice Speaker, Novice Reading & Writing) 

MILITARY EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND DEPLOYMENTS

  • Operation Joint Forge

    (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

  • Peace Stabilization Force (SFOR)

    (Southern Europe and Balkans)

  • Basic Russian Language Course

    (DLIFLC, Presidio of Monterey, Ca)

  • Voice Interceptor Course

    (Goodfellow Air Force Base, Tx)

  • Serbian-Croatian Cryptologic Linguist Course (DLI, MTT & VT)

    (Ft. Hood, Tx)

  • Polish Proficiency Improvement Course

    (Fort Carson, Co)

  • Communication Electronic Warfare Equipment Operations

    (Ft. Huachuca, Az)

  • Communication Electronic Warfare Operations

    (Ft. Huachuca, Az)

  • Basic Combat Training

    (Fort Jackson, Sc)

MILITARY DECORATIONS AND AWARDS

  • Army Commendation Medal

  • Army Achievement Medal

  • NATO Medal

  • Army Good Conduct Medal

  • Army Lapel Button

  • Army Service Ribbon

  • Sharpshooter Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Pistol Bar

  • Marksman Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar

  • Driver and Mechanic Badge with Driver Bar