It started when I was around six years old.

I used to “teach” in my room at home. The stuffed animals and dolls were my students. My bedroom door had a sign on it that read #208. My “name” was “Miss Monroe,” a tribute to the 1970s Charlie’s Angels…

I have always wanted to teach.

Fast forward to today. I teach as a university professor at Vanguard University: a small, private, liberal arts university in Orange County, California. I'm also the Director of Teaching Excellence and Digital Pedagogy, allowing me to collaborate with other faculty in improving all of our teaching. My passion is in continually becoming more effective facilitating learning for my students. I’m also fortunate to get to coach faculty in my Director role and connect with faculty from all over the world through the Teaching in Higher Ed community.

Much has changed since my childhood dream first emerged. Curiously, my office door once again reads #208 (some strange coincidence that gave me some confidence, years ago, that perhaps I was taking the right path when I accepted the offer to teach at my institution).

Lest you think I’m overly superstitious, though, my dentist’s office is also #208.

I'm married to my best friend and partner, Dave Stachowiak. Our paths first crossed while we were earning our MA degrees and we have been committed to learning, together, ever since. We have two young children who teach us both things on a daily basis.