I am an Assistant Professor of Human Geography at the University of Missouri, Columbia, MO. I have been storytelling for approximately twenty years. I am a co-founder and current co-president of the Mid-Missouri Organization for Storytelling (MOST) centered in Columbia, MO, Chair of the Storytetlling In Higher Education SIG of NSN, and a member of the National Organization of Biblical Stortytellers. 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 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, India, 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.