Professional Experience

I am currently a writer of the new non-fiction as well as novels and poetry. I have developed my craft through writer's courses through the Writer's Digest School and the Institute for Children's Literature, as well as participating in writer's conferences and workshops.

As an Adjunct Professor at Southern W.Va. Community College in Madison, W.Va. I designed and developed evaluation tools, exams and course materials for psychology and sociology students.

When I was President and Director of Women’s Counseling Center of W.Va., I wrote therapy manuals and therapist training manuals for mental health programs and professional development. I produced and hosted a weekly Television series called "Crosstalk", shown on a local cable channel

I critiqued, evaluated and edited dissertations and other educational materials for doctoral students at the Oxford Graduate School in Dayton, Tennessee where I served as Professor of Counseling Psychology from April 1983-July 1990.

I wrote and administered eight governmental grants for Children's Mental Health Services though the Appalachian Regional Commission while Director of Children's Mental Health Services for the State of West Virginia from September 1977 to August 1978. Other programs developed and written included domestic violence and child abuse.

As Executive Director of the Camp Fire Girls I wrote a monthly newsletter for Camp Fire Girls leaders and wrote all correspondence and official materials. I provided the same services for Extension Homemakers and the 4-H Clubs. I handled all official correspondence regarding the agriculture and home economics programs. I developed recipes and cookbooks for the homemakers using innovative techniques with mixes for quick meals. I was the County Extension Home Agent for Purdue University in Lafayette, Indiana.

Education

I earned a Ph.D. in Psychotherapy with an emphasis on women and Appalachian culture with a secondary area in theology and religion from the Union Institute in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1978. My dissertation was Feminist Therapy In Appalachia.

I earned an M.A. in 1976 in Counseling and Guidance from Marshall University's Kanawha Valley campus in W.Va. I have additional courses in Psychology and Special Education with an emphasis on Behavioral Disorders.

I earned an M.S. in 1973 in Child Development and Family Relations from the University of Arizona in Tucson, AZ.

I earned a B.A. in 1963 in Home Economics with minors in Spanish and History from Marshall University in Huntington, W.Va.