Experience and Interests
Teaching Experience
- Professor/MS HCA Director, UW-Stevens Point (2018-present)
- Graduate Faculty, UW-Stevens Point (2014-present)
- Graduate Faculty, UW-Stout (2017)
- Associate Professor, UW-Stevens Point (2014-18)
- Assistant Professor, UW-Stevens Point (2008-14)
- CTE&T BS Program Director (2008)
- Graduate Faculty, UW-Stout (2006-08)
- Lecturer, UW-Stout (2006-08)
- Director of Education & Training, My Inner View, Inc. (2003-06)
- Adjunct Graduate Faculty, Educational Leadership, Silver Lake College (2001-06)
- Program Director, Dental Hygiene, Northcentral Technical College (2000-01)
- Instructor, Dental Hygiene, Northcentral Technical College (1994-2001)
- Adjunct Instructor, Dental Hygiene, Northcentral Technical College (1992-94)
Grant Recipient
- Convert entire CTE&T BS program from F2F to fully online Distance Education (DE) (2006-08)
Research Interests
- Scholarship of Teaching & Learning (SoTL)
- Leadership Development
- Academic performance, assessment
- Distance and online education
- Improving community dental health outcomes
Accomplishment
- Co-developer of statewide (WI) local anesthesia and N2O2 conscious sedation curriculum for dental hygienists, 1999
Involvement
National
- JDE Editorial Board, Peer Review for Journal of Dental Education (2014-present)
- JDH Editorial Board, Peer Review for Journal of Dental Hygiene (2013-present)
University
- MS HCA APD for CEOEL shared academic program (July 2017-present)
- Health Sciences (HS) Undergraduate Experiential Learning (Internship) Placement Coordinator (2011-present)
- SHCP HS Program Director (2015~2020)
- Curling Association of UWSP Adviser and Coach (2013-present)
COMMUNITY
- Wittenberg Ho-Chunk Tribal Youth Health Educational Adviser (2014-present)
- Wittenberg Ho-Chunk Tribal Youth Council Adviser (2011-2016)
- Wausau and Stevens Point Curling Clubs Certified Level I Curling Instructor (2014-present)
Presentations and Publications
Coming soon.
Fun Facts
Last book you read?
I have been an avid reader since childhood. For work, I read a lot of juried-journal research articles, along with professional development as it applies to improving educational practice. For “relaxation”, I read primarily fiction. These have been some of the most recent “reads” I have finished or are in process with:
Pachinko~ Min Jin Lee
Witch Elm~ T. French
Orphan of Salt Flats~ J. Brooks
“In Death” series ~JD Robb
Best advice you ever received?
Life is a journey, not a destination. Take time to enjoy the relationships you develop along the way.
Be kind to others, you never know when you will need that kindness returned to you.
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
An astronomer or archeologist (8-10 yrs old); an Olympic ice skater or gymnast (10-15 yrs old); followed by wanting to become a scientist or health provider (early-mid teens)in some way: medical doctor, dentist, mortician, geneticist. I was always driven by science, facts & evidence. Eventually, I decided on becoming a dental hygienist after declining my admission acceptance to dental school at University of Minnesota. I tutored during my undergraduate degree, botany & genetics, and while working patients’ told me I make complex information so easy to understand that I should “teach”. After that, I became interested in teaching in my discipline, then moving into facilitating learning for other future professionals.
One thing about your school that you are most proud of?
Establishing a world-class health care-focused school: combining interprofessional disciplines from a broad span of disciplines: diagnostic, therapeutic, prevention, wellness, community health, informatics and administration for individuals interested in health sciences or human development for becoming a 21st century health care professional.
What do you enjoy most about teaching?
The learners!! You are the reason for my day, not an interruption to it!!
A piece of advice for students in your school?
Your education is an INVESTMENT in yourself & your future!! Focus fully. Immersively consume what you are exposed to. Ask “why”? Test hypotheses. Collaborate as productive members of teams. Focus on LEARNING, not the grade!!! Do the work … that means investing the time & energy in yourself that is required to LEARN & PRACTICE new skills, knowledge, attitudes and behaviors. Unfortunately, developing new skills does NOT happen through osmosis!! Learning is not just memorizing facts in order to pass an exam: it is about being able to synthesize and APPLY new knowledge differently while putting it into action for your future career. Do not be afraid to take chances and practice instead of sitting on the sidelines watching! As health care occupations providers, beyond your studies at UWSP, your education in any occupational area is continual: you need to take continuing education courses/certifications/skill practice for keeping abreast of changing standards of care and practice. Once you move on to enter the workforce, graduate or additional clinical education, keep this in mind: the quality of the care you provide others impacts their quality of life. Plan to make positive differences as a 21st century health care professional.