Family, Youth, and Community Faculty Advisor

Michael has a bachelor’s degree from St. Olaf College with majors in Psychology and Family Studies, a master’s degree in Family Education and a Ph.D. in Education, Curriculum & Instruction: Family, Youth, & Community from the University of Minnesota.  He holds current Minnesota teaching licenses in 7-12 Family and Consumer Sciences Education (FACS) and Parent and Family Education and is a Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE).  He is a supporting member of the the Minnesota Council on Family Relations (MCFR) and the Rochester Area Youth Minister's Network (RAYMN), and he serves on the board of directors for the Minnesota Fathers and Families Network (MFFN) and the Advisory Council for the University of Minnesota Parent Education Licensure program.  

Michael’s professional experience includes four years in family social services, thirteen years in public education, and seven years in higher education.  The roles he served in his public education experience included School Age Childcare Education Coordinator, Middle School Family & Consumer Sciences Teacher, Human Resources Coordinator, and Director of Research and Development for the Working Family Resource Center (WFRC).  Since 2003, Michael has been teaching in higher education.  Besides serving Crossroads College full time as Associate Professor of Family, Youth, & Community, he serves as an adjunct instructor for Concordia University in their Child & Family Education Master's program and as a Lecturer for the University of Minnesota's Parent Education Licensure program.

Michael grew up in the Twin Cities metro area and Shari, his wife of thirteen years, is from Arcadia, Wisconsin. They currently live in Rochester with their daughters Mykaila, Maliah, and Lexi.  Michael loves to sing, enjoys all kind of sports, read prolifically, and loves spending time with his family having fun and serving the community.