Although she initially planned to teach in the classroom after earning her degree, Penni remained at Mercer, where she has dedicated more than 30 years to various roles and responsibilities.
Currently, she serves as the Center Coordinator for the Arts, overseeing Mercer’s Art Department, Mercer University Theatre, and the McEachern Center for the Arts. She also supports Mercer's math department.
Diagnosed with a reading disability in middle school, Penni spent several years in a special education program. She personally understands the challenges students with dyslexia face and the unique ways they learn, grow, and excel.
Art became her means of expression and a way to overcome her reading difficulties. The teachers who recognized and nurtured her love for art were instrumental in helping her triumph over her disability, instilling in her a desire to one day help others in the same way.
Roberts Academy is now accepting applications for enrollment.