Linda serves as a bridge between real-world application and academia. She worked in the wood industry for thirteen years prior to taking her job with the Department of Wood Science and Forest Products in 1999. Originally from the Boston area, she attended the University of Massachusetts where she attained her Bachelor of Science in Forestry. Linda received a masters degree from the Wood Science and Forest Products Department at Virginia Tech. One thing that attracted her to Virginia Tech's program is its long-standing global reputation of excellence.