In 1979 she moved to Ellensburg for a teaching position at Ellensburg High School which was suddenly defunded. Carol was able to get a part-time position in 1981 at CWU teaching fiber arts in the Home Economics Department. She started taking studio classes in the Art Department and graduated with an MFA in 1983. It was there that she met Bob Fisher. They married in August 1986 and lived in Yakima until 2008

At Larson Gallery, she worked closely with other institutions and helped them to bring art to this region. She was given the Larson Gallery Arts Award in 2006. Carol was a panelist for the Washington State Arts Commission, Artist Trust, and Seattle Art Museum, juror for numerous regional competitions, and advisory member for the CWU College of Arts and Humanities.

She was honored by Governor Gary Locke with the Washington State Arts Award (for artist, educator, and director), Yakima YWCA, the Kennedy Center Award for an art resource and curriculum guide, Yakima Allied Arts, among others. She was the art curator for The Capitol Theatre and played a significant role in the design of the 4th Street Theatre. Carol was director of Ellensburg’s Gallery One 2010-14 where she revitalized the gallery’s community presence and exhibit curator for one year. Carol Passed away on January 2, 2021.