Helen received a diploma in nursing from the Spartanburg General Hospital School of Nursing, and her Bachelor of Science and MSN from the University of South Carolina. She had many years of experience in a variety of roles in health care before joining the nursing faculty at the University of South Carolina Upstate. Her teaching responsibilities include coordination of psychiatric mental health nursing with students and collaborating with community agencies to secure clinical experiences for students. She has served on several committees for the Mary Black School of Nursing. Helen also volunteers with health-care agencies in the area. She is a member of Phi Kappa Phi and Sigma Theta Tau International.