University of Michigan-Flint

My research interests reflect aspects of my work that I've wanted to learn more about.

Field Instruction-

After being a field instructor in a rural setting for several years, I began to wonder about the most effective way of providing initial and on-going training for field instructors. It seemed that I spent more time driving to trainings than actually participating in them. So for my dissertation I surveyed field instructors on their perceptions of using online training.

In a pilot project after completing the dissertation I decided to use the results of the survey to see if field instructors in an online training really liked the things they said said that they would. Working with the field placement directors at the University of Michigan Ann Arbor and Flint campuses, we produced an online training program.

Disaster and Crisis Work-

As a school social worker, I was involved with helping classrooms and buildings responde to both sad situations (loss of a student or staff member) and traumatic situations (weapons). I'm beginning research on the effects of vicarious trauma on school teachers.