About Me

I am returning to counselor education this Fall Semester of 2005 at Northern State University.  I’ve taught previously at Northern, but for the last two years I’ve been a mental health clinical supervisor at the South Dakota Developmental Center in Redfield, S.D.  While I miss all the individuals there, I am glad to be back teaching!

I received my Ed.D. in Educational Psychology and Counseling from the University of South Dakota in 1991.  I have a M.S. in Guidance and Counseling from NSU (school emphasis) with an undergraduate degree in Elementary Education.  I enjoy attending workshops and seminars and just recently completed a correspondence course in Ethics in Psychotherapy.  I consider myself a “life-long learner.”

Some of the classes that I teach at NSU include Family Counseling, Psychopathology and Diagnosis, Case Management and Treatment Planning, Practicum’s and Internships in Agency settings.  I also enjoy teaching undergraduate classes in Psychology occasionally.  In the area of research, I am particularly interested in the mental health concerns of the aging population and in gerontological counseling in rural areas such as is most of South Dakota.

Over the years as a counselor educator and clinician, I have been quite involved with the professional counseling associations at the local, state, and regional levels.  I enjoy presenting at conferences and encourage students to get involved as well as part of their professional growth and development.

My husband, Rodney, and I live on our family farm.  We have four grown daughters, four grandsons, and one granddaughter! In my leisure time, I enjoy spending time with family going to concerts and plays, playing the piano, watching movies, and traveling.  Our latest trip was a tour of nine countries in Europe this summer-all in two weeks!

Please feel free to contact me if you would like any information about the counseling profession or about the counseling program at Northern State University.