” My goal is to bring respect, compassion, and empathy to my work, seeing our residents for the person they are rather than their diagnosis and build partnerships with them and their families within the holistic framework of the caring, supportive community of Cooper Riis.”
Colleen previously worked at a hospice facility, and that experience drew her to get her Master’s Degree in Social Work.
She has also worked with the Housing Authority assisting elderly and disabled residents. She recently worked at an in-patient mental health/dual diagnosis facility, helping clients of all ages and their families with mental health and substance abuse challenges create supportive, independent lives for themselves.
She earned her BA in Fine Arts from the University of SC, Spartanburg Campus, and 28 years later, her Master’s Degree in Social Work from Walden University.
Colleen loves the home life with her husband, two children, and a black cat; it is her happy place. She gets great joy working in her garden, sitting on the porch watching the birds, or curled up with a book and a cup of tea. Fall and Halloween are her favorite holidays.