Welcome to my homepage!
Background
I grew up where George Washington led the Continental army across the Delaware River and surprised the Hessian garrison at Trenton, NJ on Christmas day 1776. One of my earliest childhood memories (age 3) was my parents bundling me up on Christmas morning to watch a historical reenactment (they do it every year – weather permitting). This sparked my interest and passion for history ever since.
I earned an M.A. in American Indian Studies and a Ph.D. in History from the University of Arizona. As a graduate student, I discovered how much I love teaching. I believe the role of an effective teacher is to empower students. My emphasis is on facilitating the learning process and serving as a catalyst to get everyone engaged in the educational experience. As we look at history from a variety of perspectives students develop the ability to think critically. Critical thinking motivates students to make independent discoveries, develop their own ideas, values, and action plans and become lifelong learners. Before coming to PCC in 2005, I was an Instructor in the American Indian Studies and History departments at the University of Arizona, and an Assistant Professor in the American Multicultural Studies department at Minnesota State University – Moorhead.
Research and Interests
My American Indian Studies concentration focused on federal Indian Law and Policy. This led to my dissertation focused on one Native community’s history and political relationship with the U.S. government: “In Order That Justice May Be Done”: The Legal Struggle of the Turtle Mountain Band of Pembina Chippewa, 1795-1905. My work is currently under contract to become a book published by the North Dakota State University Press.
I have given papers at two academic conferences, contributed three entries to Making it in America: A Sourcebook on Eminent Ethnic Americans (2000), ten entries to The Encyclopedia of United States-American Indian Policy, Relations, and Law (2008), and published several book reviews in UCLA’s American Indian Culture and Research Journal and the New Mexico Historical Review.
For the past twenty-five years, I have taught various Native American and U.S. history courses for American Indian Studies, American Multicultural Studies and History departments at the University of Arizona, Minnesota State University – Moorhead, and Portland (Oregon) Community College.
Courses Taught at PCC
- History 100, Introduction to History
- History 102, Western Civilization: Medieval to Modern
- History 201, History of the U.S. to 1840
- History 202, History of the U.S. 1840 to 1914
- History 203, History of the U.S. 1914 to Present
- History 218, American Indian History
- History 246, History of Religion in the U.S. to 1840