MaureenMaureen first met Jennifer in Clarion, PA attending a Kurtzhals’ family reunion with her now husband Denim. Denim and Jennifer were cousins and were very close. Maureen and Jennifer quickly became friends and eventually family.

Maureen’s passion for fighting cancer began when she saw Jenn lose the fight with brain cancer. Having experience in the laboratory setting, and knowing how important it is to get initial funding to help find a treatment is just one reason why she serves on the medical advisory board.

Maureen earned her Bachelor’s degree in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology from Clarion University of PA. She earned her Master’s degree in Microbiology from Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia PA. She has worked in various labs as a scientist studying everything from mitochondrial diseases, Lyme’s disease, and bioweapon defense.

She now teaches Microbiology and Anatomy and Physiology at Harrisburg Area Community College and Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences. Both schools are educating future nurses and other students pursuing a career in the medical field.

Maureen is a busy mother of 2 amazing children and is very active in their lives. She is the Girl Scout leader for her daughter’s troop, a soccer team mom for both kid’s teams, a baseball team mom for her son’s team, a den mother for her son’s Boy Scout troop, and is a military key spouse for her husband’s Air Force squadron. In her spare time, she is active in her community and children’s school volunteering her time. She also enjoys gardening, painting, hiking and of course, spending time with her family.