I am a three-time graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia. After completing a BA in psychology, and a MA in Counseling Psychology, I earned my Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology in 2001. In 2006, after several years in the clinical field, I returned to academia as full-time faculty at Maryville University of St. Louis. From 2006-2012, I was an Associate Professor of Psychology at Maryville, teaching primarily Abnormal Psychology, Statistics, Senior Seminar and courses related to women, trauma and violence. In 2012, I chose to leave my full-time faculty position at Maryville to work as a consultant for Behavioral Health Response, and to continue my longtime work with the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training committee for the St. Louis County Police Department. During this time, I also began teaching online for Maryville University, which I continued until joining the full-time psychology faculty at Mizzou in August of 2023. Teaching is my passion. I enjoy engaging with and supporting the academic and career success of students, whether that be in the classroom, one-on-one interactions, or through diverse campus and community experiences. Teaching, learning and the support of students has also been the primary focus of my scholarship and professional development activity. I am also particularly interested in the career development of students. Academic life aside, I am an avid runner, enjoy travel and experiencing new places and cultures, and our family loves to cheer on the Tigers!