
I’ve dedicated my professional life to learning about and working with persons who have very real problems. My teaching, and my professional interests, are centered around how to make a life worth living—even with those very real problems. Life is more than just avoiding the bad things. It is about cultivating the good things. Life is good.
Education
- M.S.W., Brigham Young University, 1992
- B.S. in Developmental Psychology, Brigham Young University, 1990
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Utah, 1994
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Virginia, 2003
Courses
- Psychology Major: Positive Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Social Psychology
- Family & Human Development Major: Introduction to Social Work, Interventions with At-risk Families
- Physical Education: Mental & Emotional Wellness
Teaching Positions & Professional Experience
- Joined the Southern Virginia University full-time faculty in 2019
- Dean of Students, Southern Virginia University, 2017-2019
- Director of Student Wellness Center, Southern Virginia University, 2003-2017
- Teach Sociology and Social Problems at Dabney Lancaster Community College, 2005-present
- Taught Psychology and Sociology at the College of Eastern Utah, 1994-2003
- Taught Introduction to Social Work at Utah State University, 1999-2000
- Taught Introduction to Social Work at the University of Utah, 2000-2001
- Taught Social Casework and Groupwork at Brigham Young University, 1990-1992
- Worked in Utah in Child and Family Services and Community Mental Health as counselor, program director, and administrator, 1992-2003
Scholarship & Creative Work
- Presentions include:
- “The Happiness Advantage and Gratitude,” Southern Virginia University Thanksgiving Week Forum, November 2019
- “Perception is Reality, Change Your Mind and Change Your Mood,” Southern Mississippi University, Six Stake Youth Conference, LDS Church, July 2018
- “A Paradigm of Positivity, More Applications of Positive Psychology,” Southern Virginia University Convocation, February 2018
- “Hardwiring for Happiness, Applications of Positive Psychology,” Southern Virginia University Convocation, February 2016
- “A Community of Knights, Do Unto Others,” Southern Virginia University Honor Forum, February 2014
- “Strengths-based Assessment and Individualized Community-based Care,” Children’s Mental Health Services Program Coordinators Annual In-service, State of Utah, Division of Mental Health, May 2003
- “Diversity and Faith-based Systems of Care,” National Institute of Mental Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Child and Adolescent Branch, Washington, D.C., July 2002
- “Transformational Leadership Skills,” Utah Head Start, Annual Meeting, May 2001
- “Individualized Assessment and Care for Youth with Serious Emotional Disturbances,” Utah Child Welfare League Annual Meeting. Provo, Utah, June 2000
Awards, Leadership & Service
- Dean of Students, Southern Virginia University, 2017-2019
- Directed or co-directed groups of university students on summer service trips and alternative spring break service trips to Sri Lanka, Guatemala, Ecuador, Costa Rica and twice to the Dominican Republic
- Missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Caracas, Venezuela, 1985-1986