2025 President-Elect Nominees

My vision for AAfPE is to strengthen its role as the premier resource and professional community for paralegal and legal studies educators. As higher education continues to evolve, our association must remain responsive, forward-looking, and inclusive in order to meet the needs of both our members and the students we serve. I believe AAfPE's greatest strength lies in its people—the faculty, program directors, and administrators who dedicate themselves to preparing the next generation of legal professionals. Supporting these educators through meaningful, affordable, and accessible professional development opportunities is at the heart of my vision. This includes continuing to expand both in-person and virtual programming, ensuring that faculty at every type of institution can engage with AAfPE's resources. I am particularly committed to advancing initiatives that make AAfPE the go-to organization for professional growth. Whether it is through national conferences, virtual programming, or new innovative platforms, we must provide relevant, practical, and forward-thinking opportunities that address the challenges educators face in today's classrooms and legal environment. Equally important is fostering collaboration and connection across our membership. By strengthening our regional networks and expanding ways for members to share best practices, we can build a more engaged and supportive community. Finally, my vision is to ensure that AAfPE remains a leader in shaping the future of paralegal education by championing innovation, inclusivity, and excellence. From adapting to emerging technologies to advocating for the value of paralegal education in the legal profession, AAfPE must continue to lead with both confidence and creativity. Together, we can build on AAfPE's strong foundation to create an even more vibrant, connected, and future-ready association.

AAfPE Leadership: Central Regional Director (current, second term), Chair of 2025 Fall National Conference, Co-Chair of Spring Virtual Conference (past 5 years), National Conference Committee Member (since 2019), and frequent conference presenter.

Professional Experience: 27 years as a Paralegal Educator with Program Director experience at both community college and university levels, leading ABA-approved programs. Experience as both adjunct and full-time professor.

Governance & Faculty Leadership: Academic Senate President at Lansing Community College, elected leader of a large shared-governance body. Advocate for faculty professional development.

Professional Expertise: Skilled conference and program leader with expertise in integrating technology and innovation (including AI) into legal studies education.

1. Faculty Professional Development: Expand affordable, accessible professional development opportunities through national, regional, and virtual programming.

2. Expanding Access & Membership Value: Champion initiatives that increase access to AAfPE's resources for faculty at all institutions.

3. Supporting Program Directors and Faculty: Provide resources, mentoring, and networking opportunities, especially for solo faculty members.

4. Innovation & Future Readiness: Advocate for innovative programming addressing emerging technologies and changes in the legal profession.

5. Collaboration & Community: Strengthen opportunities for collaboration across regions and encourage sharing of best practices.

Goals: Strengthen faculty professional development, enhance membership value and access, support program directors, promote innovation and future readiness, and foster a stronger sense of community and collaboration.

Success Measures: Increased participation in AAfPE programming, positive feedback in post-conference evaluations, membership retention and growth, development of dedicated resources for program directors, member engagement with innovative programming, and increased cross-regional collaboration.

My approach to leadership is grounded in collaboration, transparency, and engagement. I believe the best outcomes come from creating space for all voices to be heard—whether from faculty, program directors, adjuncts, or institutional leaders. As Academic Senate President at my college, and as Central Regional Director for AAfPE, I have consistently worked to build consensus, foster engagement, and encourage active participation. As President, I would bring that same approach to AAfPE by actively collaborating with stakeholders across regions, committees, and the Board. I see leadership not as directing from the top, but as facilitating meaningful dialogue, listening to members' needs, and ensuring decisions reflect the collective wisdom of our community.

My vision for AAfPE is simple: I want us to continue lifting each other up as educators, leaders, and colleagues. Our strength comes from sharing ideas, supporting one another, and preparing students for a legal profession that evolves every day. As President-Elect, I hope to launch a mentoring program for new directors, so no one feels alone while navigating accreditation, faculty matters, or program growth. I also want to foster fresh conversations about curriculum, technology, and the skills our students will need in tomorrow's law offices. Additionally, I hope to expand our reach internationally and bring more targeted vendors and book publishers to our annual conference, creating greater opportunities for learning and collaboration. Most importantly, I want AAfPE to be a place where we celebrate successes, tackle challenges together, and ensure every member feels heard.

I bring over two decades of experience as an attorney, professor, and higher education leader with a proven record of innovation and service in paralegal education. As Executive Director of the ABA-approved Paralegal Studies Program at Lone Star College, I have successfully doubled enrollment, led our program through accreditation processes, and built a strong culture of faculty mentoring and student engagement. I have been an active AAfPE institutional member, frequently presenting at national conferences on faculty development, AI in legal education, student professionalism, and law firm readiness. My background also includes directing continuing legal education programs for The Missouri Bar, corporate training, and authoring resources for legal professionals. Recognized with multiple Faculty Excellence Awards, I am committed to advancing AAfPE's mission by supporting our members, strengthening paralegal education nationwide, and fostering innovation to prepare students for the evolving legal profession.

• Mentorship for New Directors: Launch a program to support directors navigating accreditation, faculty matters, and program growth.

• Curriculum and Technology Innovation: Foster conversations on curriculum updates, emerging technologies, and skills students need for modern law offices.

• International Reach & Conference Growth: Expand AAfPE's international connections and bring more targeted vendors and book publishers to the annual conference.

• Community & Member Engagement: Create a supportive, inclusive environment where successes are celebrated, challenges are addressed together, and every member feels heard.

Primary Goals:
1. Establish a Mentoring Program for New Directors
2. Encourage Curriculum and Technology Innovation
3. Expand International Engagement and Conference Offerings
4. Strengthen Community and Member Engagement

Measuring Success: Track participation and feedback from the mentoring program, monitor engagement in curriculum and technology initiatives, evaluate international participation and vendor involvement at conferences, and conduct member surveys to assess community engagement and satisfaction.

I lead through servant leadership, focusing on supporting faculty, staff, and students so everyone can become the best version of themselves. I believe that when we invest in and uplift our faculty and staff, it directly benefits our students and strengthens the entire community. Inspired by Ted Lasso, I prioritize optimism, collaboration, and encouragement, approaching challenges with grace, patience, and open communication. Practically, as President, I would engage stakeholders regularly through surveys, virtual town halls, and one-on-one conversations, work with the Board and committees to align initiatives with member priorities, collaborate with conference vendors and partners to expand resources, and provide structured support for faculty and staff. I aim to create an environment where we can get things done efficiently while also enjoying the process, bringing energy, laughter, and positivity during our time together.

I've been a proud educator since 2018, and for the past year, I've also had the privilege of being an active member of AAfPE. Education has always been my passion, and being a paralegal is my world. What excites me most is helping future paralegals lean into their power and see the potential they have in this field, that's my why. My vision for serving as President-Elect is simple: I want AAfPE to continue to be the place where educators and students feel supported, inspired, and connected. I believe in creating spaces where our members can share resources, ideas, and strategies that not only strengthen our classrooms but also uplift our profession. I want us to listen closely to the needs of our members, expand access to teaching resources, and highlight the important role paralegals play in advancing access to justice. Over the past year, I've seen firsthand the value of AAfPE in building community and setting standards for excellence. If elected, I'll focus on listening to members, strengthening our professional pipeline for students, and keeping communication open and relevant so that we're all moving forward together. At the end of the day, my goal is to bring my passion and experience as both an educator and paralegal to this role, to make sure our students, our colleagues, and our field continue to thrive.

I have been an educator since 2018 and currently serve as Department Chair and Assistant Professor of Paralegal Studies, as well as Assistant Professor of Business at Reynolds Community College. I also teach in paralegal programs at Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Richmond. These roles have allowed me to design curriculum, advise students, and lead program development to strengthen pathways for future paralegals. In addition to teaching, I am a Certified Paralegal (CP) with real-world legal experience. I was honored to serve as the first leadership chair for the paralegal section of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association (VTLA), where I helped create professional development opportunities and elevate the role of paralegals in the legal community.

As president-elect, and later president, my focus will be on strengthening the support and resources AAfPE provides to both educators and students. My platform centers on three priorities: listening and engagement, expanding resources for educators, and strengthening the student pipeline. I also want to continue elevating the role of paralegals in the legal community, drawing from my experience as the first leadership chair for the paralegal section of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association. I believe it is equally important to raise awareness of how helpful this organization is and how much power we have when we empower each other. By highlighting our collective strengths, we can show both members and the wider legal community the value of AAfPE.

If elected, my primary goals are to increase member engagement, expand access to high-quality teaching resources, and strengthen the pipeline connecting students to the paralegal profession. I also want to raise greater awareness of how impactful AAfPE is, so that members feel empowered and supported by the organization and by one another. I plan to measure success by tracking growth in member participation at events and initiatives, encouraging more contributions to our resource library, and monitoring how often members use and share those resources. Another measure will be the creation of more mentorship and leadership opportunities for both educators and students, with clear outcomes such as increased student recognition and educator collaboration. Ultimately, success will be reflected in members feeling more connected, supported, and proud to be part of AAfPE.

I would describe my leadership as democratic and transformative. I've seen a lot in education and the legal field, and I've worked with "one-way" leaders (people who make all the decisions without listening). If you want positive results, that approach rarely works. I believe in listening first, inviting people into the process, and helping them see the value they bring. As department chair and educator, I've seen how collaboration builds stronger programs, more engaged students, and real change. If elected, I plan to carry that same approach into AAfPE, working with members, students, and partners to make sure every voice matters and every idea has space to grow.