 In 1925, she earned her Bachelor of Science degree, in 1927 her Masters of Science Degree and in 1933 her Ph.D. in Bacteriology.Her dissertation was on the Tuberculosis bacteria and the titles were "Studies on Dissociation of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis" and "A New Method of Concentration on the Tubercule Bacilli as Applied to Sputum And Urine Examination".During her graduate school years, she taught hygiene and English at Tennessee State College now known as Tennessee State University in Nashville.