trained as a financial administrator, and (after completing her high school degree, the German Abitur, in adult education) she studied social pedagogy, certified pedagogy, certified psychology, and even medicine for a few semesters. She worked as a freelance consultant for organizations and subsequently was the education advisor for the DGB Bildungswerk in Hessen. She then served as the director of the Youth Education Center in Fulda and became the regional chairperson for the DGB in North Hessen. Since 2007 she has been working as the
director of the combined Continuing Education Center for the Region of Kassel. She was a member of the documenta 12 advisory board.