Who am I?

I grew up in Southern California, but now reside in West Texas with my husband. When I can, I sneak away to see my kids and grandkids. I am a Professor of Humanities & Leadership at Wayland Baptist University, where I TEACH Leadership, Humanities,  and English Courses.   I am an AUTHOR, mostly specializing in Discipleship, clean Young Adult fiction, and engaging Gen Z. I have also published poetry, short stories, Christian thrillers, and the occasional inspirational romance. I am a PLAYWRIGHT of more than eighteen published plays. I have been SPEAKING for the three decades at many different venues (churches, military bases, professional developments, addiction recovery centers, women's, conferences, and more). I have even dabbled in stand up COMEDY. You wanna laugh, yeah me too! 

I have a Ph.D. in LEADERSHIP Studies from Johnson University. I recently chaired a committee to create a Doctor of Strategic Leadership degree at Wayland Baptist University, and I now teach in the program. One of my favorite hobbies is traveling to share Jesus, and teach about great leadership and educational practices. I have taught military leaders, pastors, educators, community leaders, organizational leaders, health care providers, recovery addicts, and young adults, 

For over three decades, I have worked in churches in different MINISTRY positions. I currently serve as the college pastor at United Assembly, where I occasionally lead Wednesday night service, a monthly prayer service, and speak on Sunday mornings. I started as a Chaplain's Assistant in the U.S. Army. I have served over the years as a college pastor, youth pastor, fine arts pastor, drama pastor, church secretary, church receptionist, publications director, hospitality pastor, Sunday School pastor, and evangelist. I have been a guest PREACHER at many churches and ministries for the last twenty-five years. My current mission is to ignite the church. My new release, Matchbook encourages Christians everywhere to reexamine their hearts and get on fire for Jesus. I also the HOST Blue Fire Faith YouTube Channel.

Since 2014, I have been researching GENERATION Z (those born between 1995-2010). I have had the honor of sharing my research at various conferences, schools, churches, military leaders, and businesses around the United States (including but not limited to Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, Phoenix, Texas, California, Chicago, Ohio, and Oklahoma). I have  published my research in a book entitled, Teaching Squirrels: How to Reach Gen Z and Create Lasting Engagement. If you want to know how to engage your young people, I just might be able to help.

A few more tidbits about me:  I've spent three decades leading fine arts and DRAMA teams.  I also owned a black box theatre for three years. In addition to my PhD, I  have a MFA in Writing, MA in Humanities, a certified minister's certificate with Berean School of the Bible, and a B.A. in Human Development. I am a U.S. Army Veteran, and a former YA editor and cover artist for the Wild Rose Press.  And most importantly, I really love Jesus, coffee, dark chocolate, white gravy (not together, mind you.), Converse, sea turtles, and cats (sorry dog people, I promise we can still be friends). If I'm not speaking, teaching, directing, or writing, I'm with my family, reading, or painting.