My professional focus is on nurturing human and organizational potential through innovation, design, and strategy.  In my practice, I have focused on organization development, strategy development, action-oriented facilitation, and evaluation.

Here at Pacific, I led the initial and continuing development of our Benerd School in Sacramento.  I was hired to lead the start-up of a hub of innovation and creativity for learning, leadership, and change.  My role later expanded when I became the Associate Dean for Academic Programs and Innovation, responsible for school-wide academic program development, innovation, and enrollment services.

PHILOSOPHY
I strive to meet students "where they are."  My goal is to provide individualized attention to students and to strive to foster a community of learners in my courses in order to provide the support needed for learning. I also have a strong orientation toward integrating theory, research, and practice in the most meaningful ways possible. In my teaching, I place a major emphasis on asking students to conduct real-life, hands-on projects, in order to apply what they're learning to the real world.  In working with students from the bachelor's to doctoral levels, I continuously work to integrate the outside world into our courses as much as possible.

RESEARCH INTERESTS
 The overarching theme to my scholarship is fostering humane, accessible and diverse workplaces.  Related to that theme, there are three specific areas that I have emphasized:

•  Creating diverse and humane organizations
•  Increasing access to self-sustaining careers through workforce development
•  Online education

EDUC 215 Creativity and Ideation
EDUC 230 Leading in Diverse Contexts
EDUC 237 Organizational Learning
EDUC 352 Applied Inquiry I
EDUC 354 Applied Inquiry II
EDUC 360: Trends, Issues, and Dynamics of Change
EDUC 372 Program and Organization Evaluation

• Elwood F. Holton III Research Excellence Award, Academy of Human Resource Development (2019)
• Excellence in Scholarly Practice Award, Academy of Human Resource Development (2016)
• "Faculty Favorite Award" at University of Louisville (2013, 2014)
• Outstanding Assistant Professor Award, University Council for Workforce and Human Resource Education (2013)
• Attained $811,908 in external funding
• Founding director of the first master's program in human resources in the Republic of Panama (2011-2013)
• William E. Nagel Alumni Award, University of Illinois College of Education (2010)
• University of Illinois List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by their Students (2005, 2006)
• Associate Editor, New Horizons in Adult Education and Human Resource Development (served in various editorial roles from 2011-2016)
• Editorial Board Member, Advances in Developing Human Resources (2009-present) 
• Editorial Review Board Member, Employee Relations (2013-present)
• Editorial Board Member, Career and Technical Education Research (2009-2012)