Donna Marie (aka Mrs. Padilly) was born in Chicago. Her family moved to Houston in 1980.
She initially worked in Houston’s oil industry until she completed her Master’s Degree from the University of Houston. She then enjoyed a 16-year teaching career in visual communications for a Houston area college.
She authored a few non-fiction publications during her teaching years, with the bulk of her professional writing focused on curriculum development and grant writing.
With a never-ending yearning for travel and her own creative projects, she left teaching in 2011 and began travel blogging under her pen name, Mrs. Padilly @ MrsPadillysTravels.com.
In addition to her travels, her other passions include storytelling, graphic design, illustration, doodling, watercolor, boating, and Jo Jo (a snow fairy princess).
In 2021, she turned her attention to completing the first of five children’s books she has written and illustrated over the past 10+ years. Her first children’s book is an illustrated poem, Mrs. Padilly’s Garden Poem, released September 29, 2023. It is the first of three children’s books in her “Mrs. Padilly’s Garden” series.
Donna Marie calls Florida’s Tampa Bay area home with her husband, Mike, and Roxie the Schnoxie. They are also avid boaters and will be starting America’s Great Loop in the Fall of 2026. You can learn more their boating adventures at their FaceBook page: Grand Banks Serenity
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Professional Background:
Books:
- “Mrs. Padilly’s Garden Poem“, September 29, 2023
- To order your copy, click here. ISBN: 978-1733364218
- “Happy Camper: Camping Journal and RV Logbook“, May 31, 2019
- To order your copy, click here. ISBN: 978-1099645792
Other Publications:
- MrsPadillysTravels.com Writer, photographer, and content creator about camping and glamping. Includes travel articles, reviews, trailer makeovers, how-to’s, and downloads. Launched 2012 to present.
- CHEMFLOW Products, LLC Developed the company’s brand and website, including numerous newsletters, posters, flyers, and displays. From 2009 to Present.
- “Who is the Graphic Designer?” “Growth” Magazine, The Woodlands, Texas, April 15, 2007.
- Envision newsletter – published twice a year (Fall/Spring). As lead faculty, I used this newsletter to inform students, the college, and the community about the visual communications program. I served as the primary writer, photographer, layout designer*, and editor.
- “Plato has a point,” award-winning essay. North Harris College, Ellipse, 1991
Professional Career:
- Mrs. Padilly (pen name) / StudioDMJ – Freelance Writer / Blogger / Artist / Content Creator — 2011 to Present.
- Digital Marketing Manager, CHEMFLOW Products, LLC, Tomball, TX — 2018 to Present
- Professor of Visual Communications, Lone Star College-Kingwood, Kingwood, TX — 1995 to 2011.
Notable Achievements & Awards:- Leadership Academy – Academy Fellow – January 2010
- Visual Communication Multimedia Track – Texas State Recognition – January 2009
- Visual Communication Graphic Design Track – Texas State Recognition – January 2008
- Faculty Excellence Award – Lone Star College-Kingwood · January 2005
Donna Marie 