A brief introduction…

I am a mother to three adult children, wife, Daughter, professor of nutrition and food systems, and knitter. In years past, I devoted lots of time to competitive sports…now I find myself in the on-going process of balancing an active lifestyle with the demands of a desk job, family, a desire to knit all the sweaters, and explore places near and far, particularly islands of the north.

A FEW THINGS ABOUT me…

knit! I LOVE TO KNIT! i BEGAN KNITTING WHEN I WAS 9 YEARS OLD AND NEVER STOPPED. I LOVE TO TELL STORIES ABOUT LANDSCAPES THROUGH DESIGN CHOICES AND/OR THE COLOR PALETTE SELECTED. IN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, I’VE MADE OVER 12 VERSIONS OF THE ROOST SWEATER BY AMY CHRISTOFFERS TO REFLECT MEANINGFUL PLACES. I’VE THOROUGHLY ENJOYED GETTING TO KNOW ONE PATTERN DURING THIS PROCESS.

wALK! A couple of years ago, i was hiking on the superior hiking trail in duluth. i noticed a man walking in the opposite direction; we passed each other silently exchanging an obligatory nod. The following day, in the same place, our paths crossed again AND This time we stopped TO chat. He, a retired farmer Who now takes to the forest for some peace and quiet asked me about where i’m from. Never an easy question to answer, i rattled off a few locations and he replied “oh so you’re a happy wanderer!” To which I replied, “why yes, i am.” here’s to happy wandering!

INSPIRE! IN 2016, I VISITED SHETLAND, AN ISLAND ARCHIPELAGO 200 MILES NORTH OF MAINLAND SCOTLAND, FOR A KNITTING AND WALKING RETREAT. A FRIEND MENTIONED BEFORE i LEFT “THIS TRIP WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE.” i PONDERED HER COMMENT WONDERING WHAT SHE MIGHT KNOW THAT i DID NOT. IN NOVEMBER 2025, I’LL RETURN TO SHETLAND FOR MY 10TH VISIT… THEY SAY YOU LEAVE A BIT OF YOUR HEART IN SHETLAND. i’D SAY IT’S TRUE.

MY TIME IN SHETLAND TRANSFORMED MY FOCUS AND APPROACH TO RESEARCH. i NOW COLLABORATE WITH ISLAND SPACES… THE LAND, SEA, AND PEOPLE. IMMERSING MYSELF IN ISLAND SPACES, BOTH LITERALLY AND METAPHORICALLY, HAS ALLOWED ME TO SHIFT HOW i THINK ABOUT CREATING MEANINGFUL CHANGE FOR A HEALTHY WORLD WITH GOOD FOOD ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL. tHESE EXPERIENCES ARE NOW TAKING SHAPE IN THE FORM OF A BOOK… PLEASE JOIN ME AS I CO-CREATE STORIES WITH THE ISLANDS TO SHARE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT HOW SYSTEMS UPHOLD THE WAY IN WHICH FOOD IS PRODUCED THAT CAN DESTROY OR UPLIFT PERSONAL AND PLANETARY WELL-BEING.