My Story:
I grew up in Springfield, Missouri, a few blocks away from what is now called Missouri State University. I spent much of my youth roaming the campus on a bicycle or skateboard, exploring buildings and pondering the cryptic words and numbers written on classroom chalkboards. I have always been an information-hungry person, and I remember having the sense that the buildings, even when empty, were bursting at the seams with things I wanted to know. Those early experiences gave me a level of comfort with college campuses that has, in adulthood, made the college environment feel like a home away from home. As a result, I have spent the vast majority of my adult life either as a student or employed in higher education.
After earning a degree in English from Missouri State, I moved to Colorado and spent several years working in outdoor education for the Colorado Outward Bound School. I eventually decided to attend graduate school, and earned an M.A. in Educational Psychology from University of Colorado Denver. I then moved to Athens, Georgia, where I completed a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology at The University of Georgia. I returned to Colorado in 2004, and have been at University of Colorado Denver since 2005.
My Students at University of Colorado Denver:
For me, one of the greatest benefits of teaching at University of Colorado Denver is the opportunity to work with students in a wide range of different programs who are willing to share their own knowledge and experience in discussions. I find it most rewarding when a student from a particular program gains new understanding of a topic by having it framed by the perspective of a student in a very different program. As an instructor I can present topics in lectures, but a deeper, more comprehensive understanding of those topics comes from sharing our understanding as a group. My students seem to truly enjoy contributing to that group process and grasp its value, and because of them I look forward to coming to work every single day.
Courses I teach at the University of Colorado Denver School of Education & Human Development:
- Human Learning-- EPSY 5110
- Human Development Over the Lifespan-- EPSY 6200
- Intro to Measurement-- REM 5300
- Intro to Research Methods--REM 5200
- Seminar in Educational Psychology--EPSY 6000
My research interests:
- Language development
- Educational assessment
- Technology in education
My hobbies:
I enjoy skiing/snowboarding in the winter and climbing in the summer. I spend a lot of time running and cycling throughout the year.
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