Julie began sailing Rhodes sloops with the American Youth Hostel's Sail Chicago program on Lake Michigan while in college. After her first cruise in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Julie was hooked. She has done extensive cruising in the United States and in the US and British Virgin Islands.  Currently a J-24 competitor, Julie volunteers with the Y-Knot sailing program for disabled sailors on Lake George in N.Y.'s Adirondack State Park. She has a fondness for classic yachts and recently acquired interest in the art of celestial navigation.  Julie introduced and coordinated the Celestial Navigation course for NWSA in 2005.  She has a Ph.D. in chemistry. Julie joined the Board of NWSA in 2004.