Jennifer is a lifelong West Virginia resident with the exception of a brief time in the winter of 1995/spring of 1996, when daughter, Maria, was born in Durham, North Carolina. 

Jennifer and Maria attended Concord University, in Athens, West Virginia where they both fell in love with the arts.  Jennifer was a college radio DJ, who participated in newspaper, filmmaking, and music.  Maria was a Telletubby, and a PowerPuff Girl.  Jennifer graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications Arts, specialization in Broadcasting and Journalism, in December of 2001 with Maria in attendance. Maria graduated from kindergarten that spring. 

Jennifer worked overnights in radio before the pair moved to Charleston, West Virginia, in 2003 and Charleston is home today.  

Jennifer went on to attend Marshall University Graduate College’s South Charleston campus when son, Emmett, was a preschool aged Peter Parker, and a blue ninja.  Focusing on local cultural, historical and arts projects, Jennifer graduated from Marshall with a Master of Arts in Humanities in May 2012, and helped move Emmett to Marshall University’s main campus just last week.  

Working for the West Virginia Department of Transportation since 2010, Jennifer serves as part of a leadership team with Randy Damron in the Public Relations Division.  With a total team of seven people they produce a weekly podcast, videos, social media, press releases, events, newsletter and media responses statewide.