My glassblowing journey began in 2006 through a program called CPSB (Community Partnership between Schools and Business). The program gave young people like me the chance to step into real jobs, gain hands-on training, and build skills that could shape our futures.

At first, my role was simple—cleaning and organizing, far from the heat of the furnace. But the moment I saw the glassblowers at work, I was hooked. I remember asking myself: “How can I make myself invaluable?” That question pushed me forward—first from sweeping floors, then mixing batch, until I finally earned just 15 minutes a day at the furnace. Those 15 minutes changed everything.

From there, my path expanded far beyond what I imagined. I’ve spent 18 years immersed in the art of glass, traveling along the East Coast to study, work, and teach in studios and schools. Always, I’ve stayed rooted in creating functional, celebratory glassware—pieces that people can use and cherish in their everyday lives.

Thanks to that first opportunity with CPSB, I’ve been able to achieve milestones that once felt out of reach:

• Awarded a Minority Scholarship to Pilchuck School of Glass (2008) and nominated for the Corning Award the same year.
• Earned a Work Study Scholarship to Haystack Mountain School of Craft (2013) and taught students from MICA University in Baltimore (2012–2014).
• Supported by Crafting the Future, I became a resident artist at Penland School of Craft (2023) and participated in a Mentor/Mentee residency at Wheaton School of Arts (2024).
• Honored as Best Artist of West Virginia (2023) by West Virginia Living Magazine.
• Instructor at Penland School of Craft A Beginner’s Journey into Glass Blowing 2026.
• TA for Adam Holtzinger and Nate Cotterman Building your toolbox at Pittsburgh Glass Center 2026.