I was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota but I grew up in Canada. Living in Thunder Bay, Ontario for 26 years, I completed all of my schooling in Canada and graduated from Lakehead University with a Master's degree in psychology in 1996. While there, I also earned the Dean of Arts medal for having the highest average in my undergraduate class.
After graduation, I worked as a psychometrist, providing psychological assessment and treatment services to kids, teens, and families for 7.5 years. In 2003, I moved back to the Minneapolis area. Since 2005, I have been faculty at Minneapolis Community and Technical College.
In 2009, I began reviewing research on cognitive and psychological factors related to student success. Ultimately, I decided to put my classroom experience, previous clinical experience, and review of the research together into the Psychological Keys to Student Success. My second book, Studying vs. Learning: The Psychology of Student Success, revises the Keys and adds sections on learning and psychological skills.
As cliche and "geeky" as it may sound, I genuinely believe that a day spent helping others is a day well spent. It is a pleasure teaching students and supporting them as they pursue their goals.
In 2016, I was humbled when the Lakehead Rotary Club in Thunder Bay, Ontario awarded me with an Honorary Paul Harris Fellowship for my clinical work with children, adolescents, families, and teaching and charitable contributions in support of students of all ages.
Since I was a teenager, I recognized the importance of music as part of my own psychology. It adds a joy to my life that is hard to explain. Thanks to a copy of Def Leppard's Pyromania (on vinyl) and a buddy's appreciation of AC/DC, I quickly found myself captivated by the pounding beats, rockin' guitar riffs, and vocal hooks in hard rock music. I am a huge fan of 80s hard rock and "hair" metal and am totally monogamous to the genre. Whether at home, in the car, at the gym, or in my office at work, hard rock music is almost always cranking! I will even have it playing before my classes start. For me, psychology literally ROCKS!
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This is a high school and college student self-help book that focuses on psychological and learning skills; and backed by over 300 sources and over 20 years experience in psychology.
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