I was born in Dominica (not to be confused with the Dominican Republic although we are both called Dominicans) in the West Indies.  I came to the U.S. to join my mom, stepfather, and siblings (3 sisters and 1 brother) in Dover, Delaware at 15.  I spent a short time in high school there and then college and then I moved to Brooklyn NY. I started graduate school in NYC but after having my first child I realized my PhD could wait and motherhood was more important. I don't regret it. I lived in Brooklyn until 2000 and then Iater I moved back to Delaware but this time in the North near Wilmington. My second daughter came in 2000. I went back to work and graduate school when my daughters went to school since I could no longer stay home and talk to the dogs all day. It was hard raising kids, working fulltime, and going back to school but it was rewarding, and I don't regret it.  I am what I am today because of my struggles. I later moved to the Washington DC area and took on a job as a Director of Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance for Sabin Vaccine Institute.  After a few years I took on a similar role in Cambridge MA at Novartis and then I finally moved to Philadelphia to my new home with my husband Florian and we went from a family of three (3) to 8 (6 children). I love Philadelphia and enjoy city life. I like to walk everywhere if the weather is good. I currently work for Merck and Co. Inc. as a Director of Global Labeling.