"Hi there! In my own undergraduate education, I learned the value of religious literacy and critical thought as tools to develop more empathy and compassion for people of all backgrounds. I double majored in psychology and religion as a college student at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas. This experienced opened up my whole world, igniting in me a passion for education. From my sophomore year onward, I knew I wanted to give back to my future students what my own professors had given me. With this decision, I moved from Texas to pursue my graduate education at Boston University (BU) in Boston, Massachusetts. I earned a Master's of Theological Studies in 2016, and I will complete my PhD in Religion and Science in January 2025.

I spent 3 years as a full-time college professor at Bethany College in Lindsborg, KS, from Fall 2021 to Spring 2024. My research specialty in religious studies centers on the psychology of religion, and much of my teaching experience spanned a wide array of topics related to the historical intersection between religion and science. I taught many classes investigating the relationship between religion and world cultures, artificial intelligence, ethics, psychology, biological sciences, and more. While a good lesson plan is always valuable, I enjoyed bringing more experiential forms of learning to the classroom including walking meditations, role-playing historical scenarios, and active discussion activities such as debates or fishbowls.

I believe curiosity coupled with confidence can change people and the world for the better. My goal is always for students to find their own paths to a confident curiosity that helps them participate as citizens of the world with competence and empathy." less...