Professor, School of Social Work

Through MizzouForward, you were hired as a “research leader with a passion for collaboration and the grit to address our world’s more pressing research challenges.” How will those qualities affect your work at Mizzou?  

I will use my first year in the MizzouForward program to get my research that is underway in Louisville, Kentucky, finished and make progress on some lines of research that I am very optimistic about, given my new colleagues at Mizzou. This will also give me time to understand the social work curriculum and assess how I can have the most impact — as a colleague and instructor. 

Tell us a little about yourself! What is your background?  

After obtaining my MSW degree at the University of Michigan, I was a school social worker and then a behavioral consultant for Douglas County Public Schools (south of Denver, Colorado). I entered a PhD program and completed it while working half time. When I graduated, my wife, Shannon, and I moved to Louisville, Kentucky. Prior to accepting a position here, I was faculty in the Kent School of Social Work at the University of Louisville for 22 years. Shannon and I are both from Northville, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit.  

When you are not working, what are you up to?

Nearly all of my non-work time is spent hanging out with my family, riding a bike, cooking or gardening. Shannon and I celebrated our 25th anniversary in July. We have a 20-year-old son, Sam, who is starting his junior year at Mizzou (fun!!), an 18-year-old daughter, Amelia, who is starting her freshman year at Wake Forest and 2 dogs, Ellie, who is an Old English Sheepdog and Easton, who is an Australian Shephard. I ride mountain bikes and road bikes, and I hope to get a gravel bike soon.  

What brought you to Mizzou? To your field?  

I have long-time friends and colleagues in the MU School of Social Work and College of Education and could not miss the opportunity to see what we could do if we were co-located. The School of Social Work is filled with talented and friendly scholars, practitioners, and teachers; the Missouri Prevention Science Institute provides resources, intellectual stimulation, and colleagues who are engaged in similar work. All of these were factors in the decision.  

What is a fact about you that your student might not expect?  

I have had five ACL reconstruction knee surgeries, and I am an introvert.