About Me

I grew up in Washington state in a small town called Morton and received my undergraduate degree in Physics in 1987. After a brief flirtation with Aeronautics & Astronautics Engineering at the University of Washington, I began teaching mathematics in the Seattle area.

In 1991, the year my daughter was born, I was teaching math and science at an alternative high school in Mukilteo, WA while my husband, John, completed his PhD in Pharmacology at the University of Washington. In 1992 we moved to Baltimore, MD for John's postdoctoral fellowship. My son was born in 1995. In December 1995 we moved to Fargo, ND and in August 2003 we moved to Athens, GA.

While living in Fargo and Baltimore I taught various subjects in various settings (driver's education, science, math, physics) but hadn't pursued my certificate in Georgia before falling into a job directing United Way of Northeast Georgia's Success By 6 program. I learned a lot of new and different skills in this position and had a glimpse into a very different working environment. One of the programs we initiated is called "Wee Read" which provides every registered child under 5 years of age in Athens-Clarke County a free, age-appropriate book in the mail every month. You can register your child here: www.wee-read.org

My primary interest has always been math and education, and as interesting as I found the United Way position, I always intended to return to the field.

My daughter is now a freshman here at UGA and my son is in 8th grade at Prince Avenue Christian School. My husband works in the Physiology & Pharmacology Department in the UGA Vet College. I am in my first semester working towards a PhD in Math Education and can't wait until my husband and I are Dr. & Dr. Wagner!

Rounding out our lives are our pets: an adorable little chihuahua named Olive, a lab called Gracie, and two cats, Sid and Marshmallow.

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