Her research has included mathematical modeling of the effects of atmospheric turbulence on electromagnetic radiation with applications to laser-based communication with satellites.
After earning a master's degree in mathematical science from the University of Central Florida, she continued her studies as a doctoral student at the University of Washington, where she earned a second master's degree in electrical engineering, and completed a Ph.D. in applied mathematics.
[2] Her 1996 doctoral dissertation, The two-frequency mutual coherence function of a Gaussian beam pulse in weak turbulence, was supervised by Akira Ishimaru.
[2] At Clemson, her efforts as a professor also included the creation of programs for encouraging mathematics students from underrepresented groups and for mentoring new faculty.
She was named as Pegasus Professor of Mathematics in 2015[5] and, in 2016, as the university's Vice Provost for Faculty Excellence and International Affairs and Global Strategies.