Currently, I am an assistant professor at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I've been here just over two years and I really love what I do. The faculty, staff and students here are just wonderful. I look forward to the continuing challenges that I will face over what I hope is a long career. My research and teaching are concentrated in the area of organizational communication and new communication technology use. I am particularly interested in how organizations and their members utilize various communication technologies to do their jobs. Currently, I am working on projects related to the digital divide in organizations; a comparison of technology-enhanced vs. online-dispersed courses; electronic monitoring and surveillance through communication technologies in the workplace; and decision-making in online work groups. I have also had the opportunity to work with both graduate and undergraduate students on other projects such as blogging, and leadership and communication in collegiate women's athletics.
But, there’s more to me than my professional academic life. While I was born in Youngstown, Ohio, I grew up in West Texas. I went to high school in El Paso and graduated from Cathedral High School in 1988. I went on to receive my bachelor's degree at the University of Texas at El Paso in 1994 in Journalism with a minor in business. For the next few years, I worked for CAS, Inc., a defense contractor specializing in air defense weapons systems and analysis. I worked as a multimedia specialist, designing and creating presentations in a number of formats (PowerPoint, Director, VHS, and CD-ROM). I also served as the department manager of the graphics department for over a year before I decided to return to school for a graduate degree. In 1998, I returned to the University of Texas at El Paso, where I eventually earned a Master of Arts degree in Communication. My thesis research focused on distance learning and the U.S. Army's Classroom XXI project. My interest in research eventually led to my pursuit of a Ph.D. in Communication Studies at The University of Texas at Austin, where I earned my degree in December of 2004.
I am an avid sports fan, particularly when it comes to college football (Hook ‘Em Horns) & basketball as well as professional football (Go Browns). I also love to go to MLB games when I can (Go Indians). In addition, I love to go riding, both mountain and road bikes (there are so many great trails up in Wisconsin). Camping and hiking are other passions of mine, though it is hard to find time.
There is a wonderful little four-legged friend in my life that keeps me on my toes. Austin is a 3˝ year old Chow-Retriever mix who is absolutely adorable. I wish I had half of her energy. I think she really enjoys living up north, especially when it snows. She acts like a dolphin, diving in and out of the snow, disappearing and reappearing again. We enjoy our daily walk through the nearby park where she loves to chase the squirrels, rabbits and other small woodland creatures.
Most of my family and friends are back in Texas, with the exception of my brother and his family who reside outside of Detroit. He and his wife are the proud parents of my cute nephew and niece. My folks are retired and enjoying a bit of heaven on a lake in the country, south of Dallas. Most of my friends are spread out across Texas in Austin, Houston, and El Paso, with a few out West in Phoenix and Irvine, CA. We get together as often as we can and have enjoyed some great times over the past 20+ years.
Well, that’s a brief look at me. The future looks bright and I look forward to the challenges ahead.
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