Works
Research, Teaching, & Writing at the Intersection of Faith, Psychology, and Education.
Research Focus
My scholarship centers on three areas: AI in the classroom, social identity, and positive psychology. As Director of the ASPIRE Research Lab (Attitudes, Spirituality, Positivity, Identity, Religion, Education), I explore how technology, identity, and well-being intersect in educational contexts.
I’m particularly interested in the ethical use of generative AI in higher education, the role of social media in adolescent development and anxiety, and how faith and spirituality contribute to resilience and purpose.
Publications
Selected Presentations
I present regularly at national and regional conferences on topics related to AI, teaching innovation, and student success.
- Implementing Generative AI in the Classroom — Upper Peninsula Teaching and Learning Conference (2026)
- Implementing Ethical AI in the Classroom: Insights from Faculty Training — Capella Virtual Faculty Conference (2025)
- Efficacy of Faculty Training to Improve Confidence in Implementing Generative AI — Capella Virtual Presentation and Research Conference (2025)
- AI Faculty Development Workshop — Tech Tips Series, Capella University (2025)
- AI in the Classroom: Opportunities, Ethics, and Policies — Tech Tips Series, Capella University (2024)
- AI in Higher Education: Navigating the Future of Teaching and Learning — Upper Peninsula Teaching and Learning Conference (2024)
- Embracing Flexibility: Designing HyFlex Courses — Upper Peninsula Teaching and Learning Conference (2024)
- Pros and Cons of HyFlex Courses — National Institute for the Teaching of Psychology (2024)
- Student Attitudes Towards Bi-Modal Course Design — Upper Peninsula Teaching and Learning Conference (2022)
Courses Taught
Northern Michigan University
I have taught undergraduate, honors, and master’s courses in psychology, delivered in face-to-face, online, and HyFlex formats. Courses taught include Introduction to Psychological Science, Seminar for Psychology Majors, Lifespan Development, Social Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Child Psychology, Adolescent Psychology, and Positive Psychology, along with Honors seminars in Social Media and Development, Music and Social Identity, and Social Identity and Politics.
Capella University
I have taught undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral psychology courses, including Adult Development and Aging, Human Lifespan Development, Stress, Trauma, and Wellness, Undergraduate Capstone, Foundations of Theory and Practice for Master’s Psychology Learners, Advocacy in Child and Adolescent Development, Introduction to Educational Psychology, and doctoral foundation courses.