I was born and raised on a farm in rural Nebraska. I received my Bachelor's degree  in both sociology and speech communication and my Master's and PhD in sociology. Teaching is my passion, and I have taught a wide variety of core courses including principles of sociology, research methods, and statistics. I particularly enjoy focused courses in family, youth studies, and criminal justice and love to teach specialty courses and current issues such as school violence, victimology, social inequalities, and diversity. My core values in teaching include building rapport with students, utilizing a wide variety of teaching techniques to address all learning styles, embracing technology in the classroom, exposing students to a wide variety of viewpoints and topics, and encouraging a passion for sociology and justice. 
 
I am a self-professed numbers nerd and quantitative researcher who specializes in survey research methodology and content analysis. My research emphasizes youth, young adult, and family issues. I have published and presented on topics ranging from school violence to young adult financial management to new parent experiences. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family, which includes my husband, three kids, and three dogs. I am equal parts sporty and crafty, as an avid golfer with a love of watching softball and college football who also enjoys crocheting and doing DIY projects at home.