Desiree holds a Bachelor's degree in Social Work from Oral Roberts University, a Master's degree in Adult Education/Human Resource Development from Oklahoma State University, and is a Leadership Tulsa Class 21 alum. Her professional experience is primarily in nonprofit leadership, program development, management training, fund raising, donor engagement and board development.

She was the Executive Director of The Parent Child Center of Tulsa for 10 years, retiring in 2017. During that time, she led the organization to become nationally accredited and grow to reach over 53,000 children and adults annually. At PCCT, she was active in collaborative efforts to launch Project East Tulsa (a co-location of PCCT with Emergency Infant Services), Tulsa Area United Way's "nexTulsa" leadership training program, Tulsa's Anti-Bullying Coalition, Family Safety Center of Tulsa's Child Advocacy Partnership, and Tulsa County's Safe Babies Court Team pilot project with Zero To Three. Prior to joining PCCT, Desiree worked for Hillcrest Healthcare System and Dowell Schlumberger.

Recently Desiree has consulted with the George Kaiser Family Foundation's BEST initiative and with Parent Promise in OKC. She is an OKCEO and Advisory Council member with the Potts Family Foundation in OKC. Desiree is a member of Prevent Child Abuse America and served on the Steering Committee for Prevent Child Abuse Oklahoma. She was also a charter member of Tulsa County Child Protection Coalition, and is a past member of Children's Consortium of Tulsa and Oklahoma Women's Coalition.

Desiree lives in Jenks, Oklahoma, with her husband Doc, and volunteers with the LifeChurch Jenks, Jenks Community Food Bank, and LifeSteps World Ministries.