I love hearing people tell their stories. I use my down-to-earth and laid-back style to make people feel comfortable talking about what is working and what isn’t working in their life. As a historian, I am innately interested in stories and unpacking the layers of truth and bias to understand the human experience. You can see this reflected in my teaching and in my individual conversations with students. I started teaching US History, Cultural Diversity, and Popular Culture for the University of Phoenix in 2007. I enjoy the challenge of making an impact in a short amount of time so that students are learning not just about the course content, but also how to be better communicators, writers and thinkers. I am known for having crucial conversations with students in my role as a Student Success Coordinator. I am able to connect with students in meaningful ways to help them identify their challenges and obstacles to their goals, and how to plan for success. I like to say that we need to stack the deck in our favor so that we create the conditions where we are more likely to be successful. It isn’t about me dreaming for the student, or to point out what is wrong with their plan, it’s about the student being able to do that for themselves so they don’t waste their time and they get what they want.My background in teaching and facilitation was inspired by my academic studies in women’s autobiography and life stories about trauma and recovery at the University of Kansas, where I earned my Masters in American Studies. The intersection between ideas and action has always interested me. In my academic studies I was challenged by the fact that I didn’t want to just write about history, I wanted to help make a difference in people’s lives. What I do at West Coast University balances my need to think critically about ideas and issues in higher education, with my overwhelming desire to connect with people and share my passion for social change and action.