Education
- EdD, Educational Psychology/Special Education, Regent University
- EdS, School Psychology, Ball State University
- MA, School Psychology, Ball State University
- BA, Psychology, Taylor University
Biography
Advice to Incoming Students
Be self-motivated to invest in wingmates and classmates, as well as in your course work. Classes are as good as you make them, and you are responsible to learn. Get to know your professors. Get involved in service/ministry, as well as spontaneous fun!
Why I Enjoy Teaching at Taylor
I believe that Taylor University is a place where students can have a transformative academic, spiritual, relational, and vocational experience that will impact the trajectory of their lives in innumerable ways. Through the faith integration embedded in relevant, challenging, and engaging coursework, and through the intentional Christian, discipleship and servant focused community, students can pursue right relationships with God, others, self, and creation. The high quality and dedicated faculty and staff are enthusiastic about and aligned with the mission of Taylor, and work relentlessly to make Taylor the kind of place that fosters spiritual and academic growth. I love to develop relationships with wonderful students who are pursuing God’s plan for their lives, and appreciate the chance to learn from them as well as to speak God’s truth into their lives. The Education Department is a fantastic place to work.
Career Highlights
- 2016 Recipient of the Dr. Joe Burnworth Teaching Award
- Through EDU 384 and EDU 385, I lead twice yearly field trips to urban schools and ministries, as well as to overseas practicum sites in Belize during January.
- I co-teach IAS 110, Foundations of the Christian Liberal Arts, to all new students.
- I teach Educational Psychology, Perspectives on Diversity, and Diversity in the Classroom.
- Areas of interest and research: Teaching and equity for kids in poverty, the effects of trauma and stress on learning, developing intercultural competence in both faculty and students, development and assessment of service learning, experiential learning and intercultural learning, and the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning.
- Foster parent through KidsPeace and the State of Indiana.
- Active member of Upland Community Church.
Hobbies
- Spending time with my 5 children (two of whom are Taylor students) and husband.
- Reading, walking, camping, traveling, playing games, cooking, and hosting people in our home.
- Church involvement—children’s ministries, small group, women’s Bible Study.