Great question! I teach out of my passion to engage with others on meaningful topics. I am a relational person who engages with people through questions that ignite learning and insights. I find in teaching I learn and hopefully the students learns.

What is your academic background?

My formal academic background: I received my undergraduate degree from Taylor University – a Bachelor of Arts (BA) Psychology. After a few years working in a nonprofit organization, I attended Wheaton College Graduate School and received Master of Arts (MA) degree in Counseling Psychology. Then while working in urban ministry in the inner city of Pittsburgh, I attended Duquesne University receiving a Master of Arts (MA) degree in Spiritual Formation. Fifteen years later, I received my Doctor of Ministry degree in Transformational Leadership (study in spiritual formation through the inward, outward and together journey) from BGU.

Informal education occurred in the inner city of Pittsburgh learning the concept of exegeting the community and the practice of spiritual formation on the street level. During that time I continued to understand the values of the Kingdom of God in the community (Justice, Jubilee, Freedom/Liberation, Inclusion, Restoration, and Reconciliation) and how to live according to the values.

What course do you teach?

In BGU over the last 12 years, I have had the opportunity to teach Exegeting Your Community. It has been a wonderful experience to teach one of the high values of BGU. After coming on staff at BGU, I was privileged to develop courses on Missional Spiritual Formation and teach the first unit. In addition, I have taught in BGU’s certificate program training individuals in spiritual direction through the Missional Spiritual Director Cohort.

What is your teaching style?

I am a practitioner, as a result, I teach with a passion for the student to learn and experience the subject matter. I encourage interaction with the material and texts of the subject matter. As a relational person, I encourage discussion format in class. I provide information that leads to a discussion. The class is set up to ask questions and to sit with the question to be a place of discovery. I encourage dialogue that encompasses what the student is reading about and experiencing in the learning process.

What motivates you to teach?

I am motivated to teach to provide the climate and opportunities for students and participants to expand their understanding and awareness. I am moved to merge academic with practical learning to be relevant in the lives of people and the communities they live and work in. I desire to guide students to assist them in having a transformational impact in the lives of people and in communities around the world.

What is unique in the way you teach?

I am not sure I am unique in the way I teach. I am unique in my experiences that are foundational to understanding and learning. I have had opportunities in communities to live among the poor and marginalized and to walk with those who are in the center of power. Out of the experiences of life along with the opportunity of learning, I am accompanied by God’s gift of wisdom and discernment I bring myself a slow reader, with weak comprehension, yet strong motivation and a love for students.

What brings joy to your heart?

Being with people who wrestle with various topics through conversations. questions: How did we experience, understand, and respond? Co-learning where students gain deeper understanding that forms, reforms, and transforms their lives, relationships, and work.