 Thurlow-Lippisch was born at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, California, and has lived in Martin County since she was eleven months old.She graduated from Martin County High School in 1982, the University of Florida in 1986 with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, and again in 1994, with a Bachelor of Arts in German.She was a member of Florida Blue Key and the Delta Gamma Sorority at the University of Florida.