Hello! I’m a assistant professor in the sports science and health education department. I am just starting my first year here at Simpson College. I also am employed here as full time Athletic Trainer working with several of the sports teams here on campus.  I am originally from Clarence Iowa. After graduation from North Cedar High School I attended Loras College in Dubuque Iowa and majored in Athletic Training. It was a happy accident that I came across the profession of Athletic Training. I was orignially going into physical therapyt, but my advisor who was the athletic training program director at the time convinced me that I should join the athletic training major. After starting the courses I enjoyed them so much I stayed in the athletic training profession. After graduation from Loras College, I decided to pursue my masters degree. I attended Western Illinois University in Macomb, Illinois. I also got the opportunity to be hired as a teaching assistant in the kinesiology department. While I was a teaching assistant there, I taught clinical courses for the athletic training department and also a class for those pursuing their coaching minor. It was a very rewarding experience and I also learned alot about how to be an effective instructor in the classroom. Needless to say after my first semester I had a new found respect for instructors and professors. I graduated from WIU with a masters degree in Kinesiology.

I started my first job after graduation from WIU in Fort Madison Iowa. Fort Madison Community Hospital hired me as an athletic trainer for one of the local high schools. For the next three years I worked at Central Lee High School overseeing all aspect of the healthcare delivery to the student athletes. It was a very enjoyable and rewarding experience working with the high school athletes. The students always had something new and exciting to bring to the table each day. While I was there I also had the opportunity to teach colleges classes through Southeastern Community College on site at the high school.