• Born July 24, 1957, Norristown, PA
• Wife and Mother
• Church of Christ
• Sunday School Teacher
• Associate Professor, Belmont University
• Ph.D. Vanderbilt University
• M.S. George Peabody College, Vanderbilt University
• B.A. David Lipscomb University
• Started small business with husband Sam which includes 16 employees.

Public Office

• House member of the 96th through 104th General Assemblies, currently serving her 9th term
• Member, House Commerce Committee
• Member, House Education Committee
• Member, House Finance, Ways & Means Committee
• Member, House Higher Education Subcommittee
• Member, House Small Business Subcommittee
• Member, Joint Select Committee on Children and Youth
• Prime Sponsor of Families First, Tennessee's acclaimed welfare reform program
• Champion of public safety & tougher crime penalties for rapists & child offenders
• Worked vigorously to increase rights for children victimized by violent & sexual crimes
• House sponsor of education reform & charter schools
• Voted against a state income tax
• National spokesperson for Bush Administration on education
• 2002 National Federation of Independent Business Legislator of the Year
• Special recognition from Firefighters Association & Senior Citizens Association

Tennessee Republican Party Chairman

• Served two, two-year terms from 2001-2004
• During 2nd term, won a majority in the state senate for the first time in 140 years
• During 1st term, won an historic number of seats in the state house
• Chaired the President's Get Out The Vote effort & served on his state finance team
• Considered one of the most successful tenures as party chairman in state party history

Community Involvement & Boards

• David Lipscomb University Business Advisory Council
• Nashville AMI Advisory Board
• Bethlehem Center Board of Directors
• Luton Mental Health Board, former member
• Agape Board, former member
• Knowles Senior Citizens Board, former member
• American Heart Association of Davidson County, former member
• American Cancer Association
• Centennial Medical Center Board, former member
• Leadership Nashville, 1992
• Nashville Vanderbilt Club Board, former member
• Child Abuse Prevention
• Statewide Families First Advisory Council
• Economic Council for Women
• Women's NETWORK Advisory Board