I am an Assistant Professor of Human Geography at the University of Missouri, Columbia, MO. I have been storytelling for approximately twenty years, co-founder and current co-president of the Mid-Missouri Organization for Storytelling (MOST) centered in Columbia, MO. I tell to all ages and am known for my original Jack Tales and ghost stories, as well as personal, Christmas, and medieval stories. Oh yes, a few Chicken stories as well. I am currently the director of the Missouri Network for Human Dignity, an ecumenical clearinghouse and resource center concerning extremist activities in the region. It operates under the auspices of the Missouri School of Religion/Center for Rural Ministries in Jefferson City.

I received a Ph.D. from the College of Education, Department of Education and Policy Analysis, at the University of Missouri, Columbia, majoring in Policy Studies. I conducted research on the radical racist religious right movement called Christian Identity. I am also a graduate of the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, in Sociology; received the Masters of Divinity from Christian Theology Seminary, Indianapolis; and the Masters of Arts in Geography from the University of Missouri, Columbia. In addition to teaching at MU, I taught at Stephens College and the Missouri School of Religion. I pastored congregations for thirty years in Nebraska, Indiana, and Missouri before becoming a full time professor.

I have published several articles on such topics as the Christian Identity movement, domestic terrorism, Islam and Christianity, Youth Ministry, Stewardship, and Christian Worship. I am the author of the Missouri School of Religion resource booklet entitled, "Worship In The Small Congregation."

I have traveled in Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic; and all fifty states of the USA.

I certainly have a love of the oral tradition, storytelling, and folk music. When I am not teaching, you will find me entertaining in story and song. But whether teaching or entertaining or even preaching, the story always carries the message.