ABOUT ME

My brother and I were the first in my family to attend college. I earned an undergraduate degree in gerontology, followed by a master’s in the same field. Working as a paralegal providing legal aid to low-income older adults awakened my passion for advocacy and social justice. I continued my academic journey at Iowa State University, where I earned a PhD in sociology, with a focus in gerontology and public policy. There, I was recognized as an outstanding teaching assistant and co-authored a seminal book on guardianships for older adults with Dr. Pat Keith – work that spurred important conversations about older adults’ rights and autonomy.

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As a faculty member at the University of Northern Colorado, I poured my energy into teaching, service and research, co-authoring two books and numerous peer-reviewed articles in social gerontology. I also served in multiple academic leadership roles and, as the longest-serving provost, pioneered the launch of innovative programs and student support strategies that influenced generations of students. My efforts were recognized on campus and in the community, culminating in my being named an Outstanding Woman of Weld County.

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Later, as President of St. Cloud State University, I accepted the role knowing I would face monumental challenges: a fiscal crisis, declining enrollment, and difficult structural changes. Add a pandemic to the mix. I confronted these challenges with transparency, compassion, and a long-term vision focused on students, faculty, and the broader university community. However, making tough decisions meant faculty layoffs and program closures, which led to public criticism from faculty union leadership. Yet I remained true to my commitment to students and faculty, working to end decades of fiscal strain and reverse declining enrollment, Under my leadership, we reversed a decade-long enrollment decline, bolstered research opportunities, launched a dynamic strategic framework that reimagined the university, expanded international partnerships and committed to making authentic improvements in equity and inclusion, earning the respect of our faculty, staff, and students. My leadership was recognized when the Twin Cities Business named me among the top 100 Notable Leaders in Higher Education in 2021 and among the top 100 innovative influential leaders, innovators, and change-makers in 2024, and the mayor of St. Cloud proclaimed a day in my honor.

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I am currently serving as the Interim President at Pacific Northwest University and have been honored to help this outstanding university transition to its next chapter. 

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Throughout my career, I have championed leadership grounded in honesty, transparency, continual learning, and systemic thinking. I know that the strength of any institution lies in how we engage with its people – support their growth, their dreams, and their leadership skills.

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Building on these experiences, I created this website – ThinkShift Leadership Collaborative – to “pay it forward” and serve as a resource for those who lead or aspire to lead in higher education. Drawing on over two decades of leadership roles, I aim to provide insights, strategies, and practical tools to help leaders succeed in navigating complex challenges. That’s the notion behind ThinkShift.  Learn, think and then use that information to shift your behaviors.

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I invited colleagues to contribute to creating a Leadership Collaborative, ensuring we have a diversity of voices, lived experiences, and perspectives. Together, we will have candid conversations about what it truly takes to lead universities and colleges in complex times.

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Grounded in the same values that guided my own journey, this platform offers guidance, support, and community for those shaping tomorrow’s colleges and universities. It is a space where leaders can find not only actionable knowledge, but also the encouragement to “Stay curious. Explore. Learn.” and ultimately thrive in their roles.