Welcome

     I hope I am able to contribute to an enjoyable and beneficial educational experience while you attend Vernon College. 

     In many ways, this website is a reiteration of material covered in the class syllabus and outline.  However, it will also provide exam schedules, copies of the class syllabus and outline, as well as suggestions for additional reading.  The site will also offer insights for improving study habits. 

      I teach courses titled US history I (1301) and US history II (1302) in the lecture and online settings.   These courses are known as “survey courses.”  They provide students with general knowledge of US history.  That means that we cover a vast amount of material in a short period of time.  Therefore, students must maintain excellent study habits since they will be responsible for reading assignments, taking notes in the lecture classes, and other activities as assigned.  I urge you to make an effort to remain current in your reading and study.  Falling behind will add undue stress and anxiety when assignments are due and at test time.  I suggest that you maintain a study schedule that includes frequently reading lecture notes and taking notes on the reading assignments. 

     Please contact me with any questions that you may have using one of the methods outlined in the course syllabus and outline.

Biographical Information

     I am a native South Dakotan.  I’ve been married for nearly 38 years to same woman.  I have three adult sons & three lovely grandchildren.

     I started my career as a miner working for 14 years for the Homestake Mining Company (underground gold mine located in South Dakota).  I held the position of a Contract miner where I drilled and blasted ore.  I then moved on to the position as a Cager which is nothing more than a bona fide elevator operator.  I then held the job position as a Shaftman where I performed shaft maintenance.  My career in mining ended with the final position as a Shaft supervisor where I was responsible for safe and efficient operation of underground shafts.

   I moved to Texas in 1986 and lived in Wichita Falls until 1993.  Then I moved to Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex only to find myself in another move that took me to Austin, Texas.  Then I decided I wanted to check out yet another state and moved to Sacramento, California.  I made my final move back to Wichita Falls in 2005 which mow I call home and plan to never leave

Education

·  Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education-Black Hills State University

   o  Majors in English and history

   o  Minor in sociology

·  Master of Arts

   o  US history-Midwestern State University

·  Finishing Ph.D. in US history (all course work completed; successfully passed minor and major field exams…oral and written)

   o  Texas Christian University

   o  Minor fields-Spanish Borderlands and American literature of the 1920s and 1930s

   o  Major field-emphasis in the American West, Great Depression, and Twentieth Century US history

Teaching Experience

·  Approximately 10 years experience teaching middle and high school

·  Grad Assistant and Teaching Assistant at Midwestern State University and Texas Christian University

·  Adjunct US history instructor at Wayland Baptist University, Texas A&M University (Commerce), and Vernon College

·  Currently teaching US history full-time at Vernon College