My Story

I’m a psychologist, author, speaker, and a recent retiree of Campbellsville University in Kentucky! 

In my early career as a psychology professor I taught courses in gender studies and the integration of faith and psychology. My passion was to help my students see past the restrictions too often imposed by others, so they can live fully and confidently as educated women and men.

Over the past thirty years I have published extensively on gendered socialization. My book, Buried Talents, specifically explores the subtle ways women are discouraged from entering male-dominated occupations. 

Most recently I have ventured into fiction with my debut novel, The Spirit of Vanderlaan! This book is a fun, cozy, ghost story featuring a professor, Samantha Hayes, and her lively band of students who get caught up in solving a campus mystery.

They say to write what you know, so that’s what I did. Well, at least in part. I’ve never solved a murder mystery nor encountered a ghost, and my office isn’t near as big as Samantha’s. But this novel does capture the warmth and camaraderie I cherished with my students over the years. I hope you will enjoy Samantha and her student entourage as much as I’ve enjoyed writing their story.

Now that I’m retired from university work, I’m excited to be writing full time. While I will continue raising awareness on gender issues, I am also working on the sequel to The Spirit of Vanderlaan, as Samantha and her students have more hijinks to share in The Hayes Spirit. I also have more time for speaking engagements, so I hope you’ll keep me in mind for your book clubs, community groups, conferences, and church events.

Dwayne, my husband of over forty years, is also an author, retired university professor, and minister. We have two grown children, a daughter-in-law, and an absolutely adorable grandson. They each give us tremendous hope for future generations of women and men. We also have a beagle named Doc who doesn’t understand a word we say but couldn’t be more supportive of my writing and speaking endeavors.