ABOUT ME
Though my post-secondary education career commenced at the age of 29, my multidisciplinary knowledge has its roots in manufacturing. I acquired employment as a Production Controller for an automotive manufacturing company after completing high school. In this role, I familiarized myself with several manufacturing economy models, among them supply chain management, resource allocation, product procurement, and inventory control. These models initiated my understanding of the significance of data gathering protocols. In 2004, I transferred my manufacturing knowledge to the Aerospace industry. As an account manager for a Fortune 500 organization, I expanded my manufacturing economic knowledge in the areas of forecasting, cash flow analysis, process improvement, program development, and resource allocation management. In this role, I explored methodologies related to the use and interpretation of data as well as acquainted myself with process improvement theories. These process improvement theories included Lean Six Sigma, Lean Management, Agile Management, Total Quality Management, Just-In-Time, Kaizen, Hoshin Planning, and Poka-Yoka. The process improvement models augmented my knowledge of business strategies as well as program implementation.
During my tenure in the aerospace industry, I initiated my formal education path by attaining a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration (2009). The theoretical framework acquired during my time in the automotive and aerospace industry served to ground my education career. While attaining my bachelor's degree, I began to apply my theoretical knowledge to conceptualize human motivation and explore human behavior. Instead of financial capital and finished goods, I wanted to comprehend human nature. The curiosity for understanding human nature led me to complete a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology (2012). During my Master’s program, I acquired a meta-understanding of the field of Counseling Psychology and the theoretical foundations of Western Psychology.
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In 2013, I parlayed my education and experience to the post-secondary classroom. As an Adjunct Professor for Chicago State University, I applied several pedagogical models as well as psychological theories to motivate students and create a supportive learning environment. The pedagogical instruments included psychological instrument intended to support student-learning styles through self-discovery and self-awareness. Additionally, I integrated real world experiences into my lectures, used multiple mediums of instruction, and attempted to simplify abstract concepts through the use of a metaphor style of instruction.
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In 2016, I decided to utilize my business knowledge, education, and teaching experience to form a not-for-profit organization called Journey's Community Center. Through Journey's, I co-authored several theory-based curriculum relating to child development, parenting, and clinical training for non-clinical practitioners. In addition, I presented several psycho-educational workshops to highlight the importance of social and emotional aptitude, trauma informed care, and the influence of family systems on personality development and behavior. Lastly, as part of a comprehensive intervention model, I provide psychotherapy services to parents, couples, and individuals dealing with life adjustment challenges. As the founder and Board President for Journey's, I utilize my knowledge pertaining to evidence-based research, program implementation, and program evaluation to advance my research interest.
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The culmination of these personal and professional experiences led me to apply to Northern Illinois University’s doctoral program in Educational Psychology (2016). I chose educational psychology as my doctoral program as it offered the most salient integration of my experience and education into a coherent theoretical framework for exploring human nature. Through the Ph.D course work, a focused research hypothesis has commenced. The field of Moral Psychology provides an intriguing framework for conceptualizing my research interests.
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The following pages are a testament to my growth and development during my doctoral program in educational psychology. Included in this portfolio are the reflections and artifacts that illustrate my professional pursuit.