I was born on October 6, 1982 in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, and lived there until I left for college at the University of Kentucky. I was a 2001 graduate of Hopkinsville High School, where I graduated in the top 10% of my class.
While at the University of Kentucky, I majored in Secondary Mathematics Education, receiving my Bachelor's in 2005 and my Master's in 2007. During my time there, I was involved in Alpha Tau Omega, serving as the Chaplain for 1 year; UK Choristers and Men's Chorus; and the Baptist Student Union, where I served in several offices. I also was a founding member of an organization called "The Rock" which was a non-denominational Christian organization aimed at Fraternity and Sorority members.
The summers of my college years & post-college years were full of adventure. I served as a Financial Director for LifeWay Christian Resources for 7 summers. I was fortunate enough to travel the country and meet people from all walks of life. I worked in Florida, Tennessee, Maryland, West Virginia, Michigan, South Carolina, California, New Mexico, Kentucky, and Hawaii.
After college, I worked as a High School Math Teacher in Lexington, KY at several different high schools, gaining valuable experience in a multitude of backgrounds. At first, I worked solely with ESL students and refugees and middle-class families in the public school system before moving to a private Christian school.
It was during this time that I chose to complete my second Master's in Guidance Counseling from the University of the Cumberlands. After completing two years of a Master's in one year, I accepted a position as a Guidance Counselor at George Rogers Clark High School. While there, I worked with 10th-12th Graders and created a College and Career Readiness system that helped the school become a "School of Distinction."
After three years as a guidance counselor, I began to work on my Doctoral Degree in Educational Leadership at Morehead State University. I completed my Dissertation in 2019 titled, "Preparing Students for the Next Level: Using 3:1 Supports to Eliminate the Transition Gap."
My research was based off a program implemented at Frankfort High School in Frankfort, KY. The high school uses a combination of technology, community members/resources, and local college resources to give students more responsibility of their own education, while holding them accountable in all aspects of student growth.
After graduating with my Ed.D., I accepted my current position as Assistant Professor of Education at Union College in Barbourville, KY. At Union, I teach Graduate and Undergraduate classes in the areas of Educational Technology, Instructional Design, Mathematics, and Professional Writing - while also serving as the Education Department's Assessment Coordinator.
