Works

Research, Teaching, & Writing on Psychology and Education.

Research Focus

My scholarship centers on three areas: AI in the classroom, social identity, and positive psychology. As Director of the ASPIRE Research Lab (Attitudes, Spirituality, Positivity, Identity, Religion, Education), I’m also interested in how technology influences our lives across identity, mental health, well-being, and educational contexts.

I’m particularly interested in the ethical use of generative AI in higher education, the role of social media in adolescent development and anxiety, and how faith and spirituality contribute to resilience and purpose. Recently, much of my time has been spent examining the effects of AI on education and how we, as faculty, can use it to improve student learning while working to address the rising tide of academic integrity concerns. My interest here is more about not just surviving but thriving in a changing world than about any personal interest in the subject. If we’re going to be successful, we have to adapt to our D-VUCA (Disruptive, Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous) world before it becomes too chaotic to rein in.

Publications

Selected Presentations

I present regularly at national and regional conferences on topics related to AI, teaching innovation, and student success.

• Implementing Generative AI in the Classroom — Upper Peninsula Teaching and Learning Conference (2026)
• Implementing Ethical AI in the Classroom: Insights from Faculty Training — Capella Virtual Faculty Conference (2025)
• Efficacy of Faculty Training to Improve Confidence in Implementing Generative AI — Capella Virtual Presentation and Research Conference (2025)
• AI Faculty Development Workshop — Tech Tips Series, Capella University (2025)
• AI in the Classroom: Opportunities, Ethics, and Policies — Tech Tips Series, Capella University (2024)
• AI in Higher Education: Navigating the Future of Teaching and Learning — Upper Peninsula Teaching and Learning Conference (2024)
• Embracing Flexibility: Designing HyFlex Courses — Upper Peninsula Teaching and Learning Conference (2024)
• Pros and Cons of HyFlex Courses — National Institute for the Teaching of Psychology (2024)
• Student Attitudes Towards Bi-Modal Course Design — Upper Peninsula Teaching and Learning Conference (2022)

Courses Taught

Northern Michigan University

I have developed and taught undergraduate, honors, and master’s courses in psychology, delivered in face-to-face, online, hybrid, and HyFlex formats. Courses taught include Introduction to Psychological Science with lab, Seminar for Psychology Majors, Lifespan Development, Social Psychology with lab, Abnormal Psychology, Child Psychology, Adolescent Psychology, and Positive Psychology. I have also developed and taught a master’s course in Applied Positive Psychology. In addition, I have taught honors courses in Social Media and Development, Music and Social Identity, and Social Identity and Politics.

Capella University

I have taught undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral psychology courses. Undergraduate courses include Adult Development and Aging, Social Psychology, Human Lifespan Development, Stress, Trauma, and Wellness, and the Undergraduate Capstone Course. Master’s courses include Foundations of Theory and Practice for Master’s Psychology Learners, Advocacy in Child and Adolescent Development, and Introduction to Educational Psychology. Doctoral courses include Foundations of Doctoral Studies in Applied Psychology, Building a Doctoral Foundation, and Research Foundations of Historical Systems in Psychology. I have also provided doctoral mentoring.

Grand Canyon University

I have served as a doctoral subject matter expert in social identity and performance psychology.

Explore by Topic

AI in the Classroom

Articles, reflections, and resources on the ethical and practical use of generative AI in higher education.