Kerri Ann earned a BFA in studio art from James Madison University with a concentration in interior design. Her desire to study architecture was reignited and encouraged by William Tate at JMU, resulting in an MArch degree from Virginia Tech. While completing her degree, she pursued creative jobs and worked as a mural artist and decorative painter for a local artisan. She reflects, "My work was primarily residential and utilized many aspects of my previous degree. I began the profession at a small firm in Harrisonburg where I was thrown into the world of ArchiCAD at its earliest stages. I fell in love with the 3D capabilities of the software and this means of communicating design." After raising a family, Kerri Ann volunteered at the local Habitat for Humanity affiliate, which introduced her to solo practitioner Leesa Mayfield Architecture who continues to contract her services as an architectural designer. Kerri Ann says, "I am thankful every day to be able to be in this profession with someone who is a great mentor and educator. I have grown so much in a short time and gained confidence in my ability as a designer. At present, I have completed 20 projects with Habitat for Humanity, and I am about to celebrate 4 years of collaborating with Leesa Mayfield Architecture." In her words: "My path was always toward architecture. On the way I followed amazing tangents that were viewed as frustrating detours at the time, but l am richer for those tangents. I have been a retail showroom designer, a painter, a substitute teacher, an office assistant, an intern, a volunteer, an educator, and an advocate for well designed schools for my community. I am glad that architecture was always a part of my path and I know that I am a better designer because it was not the only focus." - From AIA's 30 women in 30 Days