Headshots by Jake Emmerling. Hair/Makeup by Mercedes Small

​I grew up in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago and dreamed of being an actor. I was one of those highly energetic kids always forcing my family to watch me put on puppet shows and other one-girl performances. I acted in a number of drama camp and school plays, and I saw my dream coming true when I was accepted to the BFA Acting program at Illinois Wesleyan University. During my time at IWU, I discovered the fascinating world of voice and dialects. Suddenly a new dream began to take shape.

From 2012-2018, I worked as a dialect/vocal coach in Chicago. In 2017, I made a video with BuzzFeed called “How to Do 12 Different Accents”, in which I modeled and gave tips on 12 accents. The video went viral and now has millions of views on YouTube and Facebook. In 2018, I moved to London to start the MFA Voice Studies program at The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. In 2020, I graduated with a mark of Distinction. The title of my masters Dissertation was "The Cultural Implications of Intelligibility for Actors on American Stages and the Need for Anti-Racist Practices for Vocal Coaches".

I am now back in Chicago and once again working as a Dialect/Vocal Coach. Throughout my time coaching, I have worked on over 95 theatrical productions, several major films/TV shows, and provided private coaching for countless actors. I am also working as an Instructor and Co-Head of Voice and Speech for The Theatre School at DePaul University. I previously taught for Illinois Wesleyan University and the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music CCM.
​
I am legally blind with limited vision in my left eye and no vision in my right eye. I am a proud member of and activist for the blind community and disability community at large.