About (Biography)

The second eldest of four children, I grew up in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, on a small hobby farm located just a few miles down the road from The Pennsylvania State University.  Here, my family and I enjoyed shearing sheep, baling hay, gardening, sledding, backyard campfires and crisp golden marshmallows. Well, that was my preference. My siblings preferred their marshmallows be gold, not crisp, and my mom liked hers burnt.  My dad never did have a preference.    

I graduated from Penn State in May 2003 earning Bachelor of Science degrees in Life Sciences and Psychology. Thereafter, I earned a Masters in Health Sciences from the Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania in May 2005.  I was employed as a Physician Assistant at Centre Medical and Surgical Associates in State College, PA until April 2008 when I resigned from my job to bike across the United States in honor of my older brother Jeremy, who was murdered on April 16, 2007. 

After the bike ride, I relocated to Princeton, NJ with my boyfriend of (should I say?) ten years, Brad.  Currently, I'm employed part-time as Adjunct Faculty at Middlesex County College where I teach biology, anatomy and physiology.  For the past two semesters I've also instructed an anatomy lab at Rutgers University.  

In addition to biking, I love the outdoors, running, swimming, household remodeling projects, traveling, and my childhood dog, Lizzy.  My best days are spent with family and friends.   

Jen and Brad, San Francisco, June 24, 2008.