My Academic Work

In the United States and across the globe, there's a well-established tradition rooted in epistemological thinking that upholds the belief that the most effective education occurs through face-to-face interactions within a traditional classroom setting. However, as a passionate advocate for personalized educational choices tailored to the unique needs and interests of each student and family, I've often found myself challenging this prevailing perspective.

Drawing from my own experiences of privilege, having completed both my undergraduate and master's programs within that conventional framework, I view it as my professional mission to shed light on the multitude of ways we can advance our knowledge and work towards the creation of high-quality education within the expansive realm of virtual learning.

My motivation springs from the intriguing dichotomy that exists between learners seeking the flexibility to take online courses at their own pace and their fundamental need for social interaction and collaborative learning experiences that foster meaning and connection. I firmly believe that these two aspects can harmoniously coexist, even within a diverse virtual learning network.

By embracing cutting-edge technology and innovation, we can offer a myriad of learning opportunities and tools that break free from antiquated learning models, propelling us into a future where education is truly adaptable to the evolving needs of our learners.

• Recipient: Outstanding Graduate Student Award, Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, Arizona State University, 2023
• Doctoral Executive Committee, Arizona State University, 2020-2023
• Leadership and Innovation Student Advisory Committee, Arizona State University, 2020-2023, Chair and Founding Executive Member  
• Leadership Minnesota, Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, 2016-2017
• Class Marshal, Harvard Divinity School, 2011
• Nominee: Augustana College Covenant Award for Community, 2009
• Pi Delta Phi, French National Honor Society, inducted in 2006

• Reconnecting Professional Development: A Connectivist Approach to Shared Learning Through the Development of Social Presence in Virtual Learning Networks https://www.proquest.com/docview/2901425862/previewPDF/352696EE3E7E44DEPQ/1
• Doctoral Research Conference, Arizona State University, Spring 2022: Going Virtual: Developing Faculty and Creating Collaborative Environments
• Doctoral Research Conference, Arizona State University, Spring 2021: Success and Perception: Preparing Faculty for Online Learning in a Hands-on Environment
• Career Education Review, January-February Issue, 2019: We Invited Our Marketing Agency to Our Annual Planning. Here’s why You Should Too. 
• American Academy of Religion Conference, Spring 2009: Beyond the Words: Saying What Cannot Be Said: A Linguistic and Theological Exploration of the Writings of Charlotte Delbo and Elie Wiesel
• Augustana Symposium, Augustana College, Spring 2009: Beyond the Words: Saying What Cannot Be Said: A Linguistic and Theological Exploration of the Writings of Charlotte Delbo and Elie Wiesel