We all have a story. Our passions and committents drive us to how we engage with the world. I am committed to developing opportunities for students to explore their brand of citizenship that refects their passions.  This personal efficacy will stregethen our community and our democracy.

I am the founding Director of SPC's Center for Civic Learning & Community Engagement. The Center is strategically designed to create diverse civic leadership thru public service. I am invested in strengthening student success thru civic engagement, capitalizing on the unique interests and skill sets individuals bring to their community. I currently focus on American National Government coursework, but also teach State & Local Government, Political Parties and Elections, Constitutional Theory & Ethics.

Equal access to civil liberties and citizenship development for all students continues to be a priority for me.

I have a B.S. in Environmental Policy from the University of Michigan, a J.D. from the University of Detroit-Mercy School of Law, and an L.L.M in Law & Government from American University Washington College of Law. I have a life long commitment to civic engagement.  At the age of 15, I served as a U.S. Senatorial Page for U.S. Senator Carl Levin (MI) and went on to work in local and state government including the Detroit City Council, serving as a Policy Analyst for Michigan’s Governor Engler & as Counsel to Lt. Governor Posthumus.  I worked for U.S. Senator Abraham (MI) and served as Committee Clerk for the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee’s Sub-Committee on Immigration. 

My desire to serve the public led me to advance advocacy efforts with nonprofit organizations, including the American Heart Association & American Cancer Association. I have also been involved in a number of local and state campaigns, serving in a variety of capacities.  Before teaching at St. Petersburg College, I taught at Eastern Michigan University, Mississippi College and Eckerd College. I am a graduate of St. Petersburg College’s Leadership SPC program and the Florida Chancellor’s Leadership Seminar.

I have served on a number of public policy panels, including the Institute for Strategic Policy Solutions  “Deciphering Florida’s Proposed Constitutional Amendments” and “Immigration: Is the Melting Pot Boiling Over”.  I appear regularly on PBS's "Florida This Week"

My TedX Talk “The Constitution: Its Personal” highlights my interest in developing students diverse citizenship and has served as a catalyst for a different understanding of the US Constitutions relationship to the individual.

Committed to the St. Petersburg area, I volunteer for a number of community organizations with my beautiful kids and beloved dog Francis.

I will do my best to encourage and cultivate your critical thinking skills and arm you with the tools to be successful, academically and personally.