Academic Credentials

• Ed.D, Higher Education Leadership, Specialization in e-learning, Northcentral University
• M.Ed., Curriculum & Instruction, University of St. Francis
• Alternative Teacher Certification – University of St. Francis
• BA, Speech & Communication, Northern Illinois University

Teaching Philosophy

My philosophy is fundamentally student-centered, meeting the student where the student is academically. I believe in the necessity of addressing everyone in the class at his or her level of expertise. As a facilitator, it is my job to lead the class toward student growth and realization of individual potential. The approach to teaching is centered in interdisciplinary formats. Once a connection is made with the learner, my philosophy of teaching underscores the importance of making connections to other fields of knowledge. My philosophy also resides in my love of people, the love of lifelong learning, and the desire to transform consciousness and thereby some aspect of the world—to teach and to create new insights by which to re-direct or become the changes sought in the world. I view my role as a facilitator of the adult learning experience in terms of Malcolm Knowles’ popularization of andragogy, which can be summarized as the “guide on the side” rather than “the sage on the stage.” This includes leveraging the student experience to help them connect with the course material, inspiring them to be responsible for their learning, and helping them to structure the material to be relevant and applicable to their world. Learning occurs when we find value in the material that we can immediately apply or envision applying. Within the framework of the course, I wish to provide flexibility for leaners to make the material most useful while we accomplish the learning objectives. My goal is that students develop a thirst for seeking and acquiring knowledge so they will have the essential skills necessary to solve problems they will encounter in the future. I sincerely hope they enjoy and find value in a class – my job is to help make that happen.

Professional Profile

• Fifteen years working in university settings with focus on e-learning
• 12 years serving as adjunct faculty for the University of St. Francis, Colorado State Global Campus
• Areas of interest: Prior learning, adult education and learning theory