I think I was about 8 years old when I knew I wanted to be an architect. Knowing this at a very young age, I pursued drafting and architecture classes as early as high school. I didn’t have much choice in coming to AACC because my father was adamant about “getting my feet wet” for college, even though I had good grades in high school. So I enrolled in the architecture program here and continued on to Catholic University of America. There has NEVER been ONE day I regret going to AACC. I felt so prepared when I took classes at CUA and even more prepared when I entered into the real world. In fact, I think I am the most proud of my degree from AACC.

While at CUA, I worked for some architecture firms and realized I was more interested with the construction aspect of the industry and changed over to Construction Management. In 2001, I had another change….motherhood! My daughter arrived changing my outlook on just about everything, including my career. At the time, I was teaching part-time at AACC when I got a call about a full-time teaching position.

In 2005, daughter #2 arrived. Raising children is like managing a construction project; you never know what issues may arise and you are always problem solving. The only difference is that construction projects come with big sets of drawings and specs telling how to build it; kids don’t!

The other part of my existence is the awesome guy I’m married to and have been with since 1989. It was architecture that brought us together. He followed the same path as I did. As a registered architect, he and I opened our own successful business. Having the business has allowed me to keep current in today’s practices all around.

So here I am looking at life with different eyes than I did several years ago on a job site. Teaching at AACC has brought me full circle. It’s where I started my pursuit for happiness and it’s where I will likely end my career. I am “lifer” now; I am too much in love with what I do.

One last thing, I’m a fanatic for football, so…go Ravens! 

• Credentials: 
  A. A. in Architecture, Anne Arundel Community College
  B.S. in Architecture-Construction Management Concentration, Catholic University of America
  American Institute of Architects, Associate Member
  Member of the Construction Specifications Institute
  Member of the National Association of Woman in Construction 

• Professional Experience: 
  While in college, I worked for a few architecture firms, most notably Bignell, Watkins, Hasser in Annapolis. I was exposed mostly to commercial construction, working on several retail chains, shopping centers and office buildings. But the bulk of my work experience is in contracting as a project manager. I worked for three subcontractors, one specializing in composite floor systems, another in window treatments and laboratory casework and the last one in high-end shading systems and acoustical fabric-wrapped wall panels. Currently, I own a small design/construction firm with my husband. Shepard Home Studios has been in business since 2001. We do a variety of work in residential design and light commercial projects. We also do specialty work in professional organization, interiors, cabinetry, and furniture design.
   
• Courses Taught: 
  Architecture Design 1
  Materials and Methods 1 & 2
  Materials and Methods for Interior Design
  Construction Documentation
  Construction Management
  Construction Operations
  Professional Practices
  Space Planning
  Computer Applications for Design
  AutoCAD for Architects
  Cost Estimating for Design 
   
• Favorite Architects: 
  Santiago Calatrava, Robert A.M. Stern, Richard Meier, I.M. Pei, Sarah Susanka
   
• Favorite Designs Visited: 
  National Gallery of Art-East Wing, Swedish Embassy in Washington, D.C., Chrysler Building, Fallingwater, Kentuck Knob, Guggenheim Museum, 333 West Wacker, Millennium Park in Chicago, Salk Institute in San Diego 
   
• Pet Peeve: 
  People, places or things that demonstrate any level of disorganization or incompetence.

• Quote: "Rock on!"