 A. in history from Vassar College in 1963.She practiced law for 36 years, first with Dickinson Wright PLLC in Detroit from 1971-2004, focusing on international and domestic business transactions and corporate governance and then with Varnum, Riddering, Schmidt & Howlett LLP in Novi, Michigan from 2005-2007, focusing on nonprofit law.She taught as adjunct professor at Wayne State University Law School in 1976 and 1996.