About Me

I am an Assistant Professor wtihin the Department of Counseling and Special Education at DePaul University in Chicago, IL.  I earned a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA.  While pursuing my doctorate, I was employed as a Research Assistant in both the Department of Counseling and Human Services at Old Dominion University and the Department of Family and Community Medicine at Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, VA.  I also served as an initial program accredidation reviewer for the Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP).   

My research and teaching program broadly investigates educational and career success across the lifespan.  I am particularly interested in identifying and capitalizing on individual's unique talents and strengths.  I have published a dozen peer-reviewed journal articles in such outlets as the Journal of Counseling and Development, Sex Roles, the Journal of College Counseling, and Adultspan Journal.  In addition, I have co-authored two books through Routledge and Springer Publishing and created five instructional videos through Alexander Street Press.  I routinely speak at international, national, regional, state, and local conferences.  I am a dedicated instructor and have taught core and elective courses across college counseling, school counseling, mental health counseling, and human services at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels.     

I am a two-time graduate of Bradley University in Peoria, IL where I earned a BS (double-major in Human Resource Management, 2005 and Psychology, 2006) and a MA in Human Development Counseling in 2007.   At Bradley, I was a Research Assistant in the Division of Student Affairs and simultaneously, I also held gradually increasing positions of responsibility within the Office of Residential Living and Leadership.  Prior to obtaining my PhD, I worked as a professional counselor in K-12 school and community settings and served as an Affiliate Instructor in the Department of Educational Leadership and Human Development at Bradley University.

I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in the State of Illinois.  In addition, I have earned certifications as a Strengths Based Educator and a Certified Strengths Coach from Gallup.