Something about me…JoLene, Jo, The Star, dr, j all names that I have been referred to at different times in my life and for very different reasons, which is a whole other story in itself. I am a resident of Michigamme, Michigan, and I LOVE BEAUTIFUL MICHIGAN, especially the Upper Peninsula where I live! I guess you could say I’ve been around the block a couple of times, which really means I am dust in a dress, as one of my students referred to me. I have a rather colorful background, and I believe in being my brother’s or sister’s keeper; it is how I live my life. I believe that we need to take care of one another if this world is to survive. I believe in world peace and will never give up hope that one day we can all live together in peace as one; John Lennon said it best in his song Imagine.

I teach Psychology courses online and in the traditional classroom. Prior to my teaching life, I was an administrator for a Human Services Agency. It was a great experience, and I grew up in human services; I cut my teeth helping people. I learned more than I could ever say from my work/life mentor, Tim Vanaman, one of the smartest, gentlest, kindest men I have had the privilege to know. He taught me to never back your enemy in a corner and not to play an ace when a deuce will take the hand. One of my greatest accomplishments while working in human services was helping to author the Veterans’ Bill of Rights for the state of Michigan. I am one of four authors, and it took us three years, which meant we amended Michigan’s constitution. What an amazing journey that was. I left there when ‘a changing of the guard’ occurred, and the philosophy about human services work became less helpful than what I was accustomed to, and from there I joined Corporate America in the Human Resources Department. Oh, what an experience that was. I am not really conservative or traditional in my approach to the world or in life or work for that matter, thus, I knew I would need to move on, and that is when I began to work on my PhD. I did gain much insight from my experience with Corporate America, but when I completed my PhD, I began a new life teaching. I found that I belong in the classroom.

I absolutely LOVE teaching, it is my forte. I remember my Mom telling me as a child that I needed to be a teacher, however, being the rebellious person I was at that age, decided if Mom wants me to do that, I will do something different. In retrospect, Mom was right. Did somebody say listen to Mom for she is always right…Ha? I do NOT regret anything I have ever done relative to my work. I have gained much from all of my experiences.

I have four giant-sized dogs, two of which were rescued dogs. Dogs that people had either abandoned or given up on. I traveled to Ohio to get my oldest dog, Jazz, from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The person who had her found her too much and kept her in a small kennel where she could not stand up for the first 6 months of her life… She is a sweet, sweet girl, and her name might have been Houdini; she can open doors, open kennels to let dogs out, open cupboards, and is very smart. Then there is Krammer, whom I again traveled to Ohio to pick up. He was with the Amish it was clear they did not want this guy…he is a great dog though; he is NOT the brightest dog in the pack. Arlo, I bought him from a breeder near where I live. He was an adorable little guy when he came home with me. He now weighs 170 lbs., is skittish around anyone he does not know, but craves constant attention. That brings me to Roxie, a little girl, my smallest, who is about 100 lbs. She came to me when a local neighbor was struggling to keep up with her care and knew I had a Newfy pack and asked if I would take her…of course I did.

Humor is quite possibly one of my favorite activities. I believe it makes for a more positive approach to the world. I have had mountains of what some call bad luck, but I have survived it all because I engage in humor and positivity regularly.

Well, that’s it for now, folks. I hope this gives you an idea of who I am.

Press on,
dr. j

P.S. I love the closing, Press on, and stole it from my all-time favorite professor, Terry Libkuman from Central Michigan University. He taught me much and helped to make me the person I am today. Press on, seems very positive to me, and suggests we always need to go forward, which is the only way I know to live my life