Heather earned her Bachelor’s in Political Science and Criminal Justice from Michigan State University (class of 1998). While working towards her undergraduate degree, Heather studied abroad at both the University of New South Wales and the University of Canberra in Australia. Upon graduating, Heather held her first professional position at the State of Michigan Bureau of Automotive Regulation, writing manuals for customer service representatives and investigators. A research-heavy position, Heather cultivated an eye for detail and thorough examination of data. These values continue to inform her practice today.
Undertaking her Doctor of Law (J.D.) degree at the Thomas M. Cooley Law School (class of 2001), Heather balanced her full-time career at the Bureau of Automotive Regulation with the rigors of her graduate studies. Managing both a professional and academic portfolio was not enough for Heather and her trademark energy, however. Throughout her studies at the Thomas M. Cooley Law School, Heather participated in the student moot court, served as the editor-in-chief of the Law Review in her penultimate year of study, and completed an externship training under the then-Michigan Supreme Court Justice Marilyn Kelly. To round out her legal training, Heather was recruited to clerk for Chief Judge of the Livingston County Circuit Court Stanley J. Latreille, who passed away in early 2020. Working under Chief Judge Latreille afforded Heather the invaluable opportunity of acquiring an intimate, first-hand look at the intricacies of the court system, knowledge that may only be gained through such hands-on involvement.