I am currently working on the role of noncognitive factors in student success in school and college. Along with colleagues I developed the Student Strengths Inventory, a measure of noncognitive factors predictive of academic success and retention in college. The SSI has been used at dozens of institutions across the country and in Canada to identify at risk students and to then guide programming to support those students to be successful in college. I am currently working on a student success textbook for first year students to help them develop skills and attitudes to persist and graduate from college.
I have been researching and writing about different aspects of career development for my entire career. This work has included the influence of technology in the provision of career counseling, the role and use of computer based career development tools, measures of career development outcomes, and the ethics of online career counseling. I have also conducted research with students and colleagues at Drake University on the roles, responsibilities, and perceptions of professional school counselors. Career development is one of three areas of emphasis in the practice of school counseling, positioning counselors to have a tremendous impact on the college and career readiness of their students.
Education
BA: Gustavus Adolphus College
MS: Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
PhD: Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
Courses Taught
I strive to create meaningful learning experiences in class. This often occurs when students read before class and we use class time for discussion and projects. In Ethics for Counselors we explore ethical dilemmas and students work on a large project to explore the complexities of ethical dilemmas through a simulation of bringing ethical charges against a counselor for ethically questionable behavior. In Human Growth and Development students create an individual and follow their development throughout the lifespan. In Methods and Internship students practice their counseling skills and bring in real world counseling experiences from internship to discuss and build their skills through discussion with classmates.
Methods of Counseling
Ethics for Counselors
College and Career Readiness
School Counseling Internship
Mental Health Counseling Internship
Honors & Professional Memberships
I am a member of the Behavioral Sciences Licensure Board in the state of Iowa. I have experience working with federal agencies providing executive and career coaching. I have worked with career development companies to examine the effectiveness and impact of their assessment tools. I also have experience working with colleges and universities to examine issues around student retention, student success, and career development while also working with programs to explore and document program effectiveness.
