Faculty/Staff Information

My scheduled office hours are Wednesday from 8:30- 11:30 and 3:30 to 5:30. Please e-mail at torayt@wou.edu to set up an apt.

Ph.D. 1992 Family Studies, Oregon State University.

Title of dissertation: The relationship between adolescent substance abuse, personality, and gender: A study of residential treatment.

M.A. 1982 Counseling, Northeast Missouri State University. (Truman State University)

B.S. 1980 Human Development and Family Studies, Colorado State University. Minor: Criminal Justice

1992- Present Professor, Psychology Division, Western Oregon University.

July 2001- July 2002 Director, Family Support Service Argus Institute for Families and Veterinary Medicine Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital.

1988-Spring 1992 Instructor, Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, Oregon State University, and Instructor, Western Oregon University.

1988-1989 Research Assistant, Parent Caring Project, Oregon State University. Responsibilities included: collecting and coding data from face to face and telephone interviews.

1986-1988 Therapist, Santa Maria Youth and Family Center, Santa Maria, CA. Responsibilities: Created and implemented an Affective Education program at Adam Elementary School. Provided individual and family therapy to clients at Youth and Family Center. Co-facilitated a parent support group and a group for sexually abused boys aged 7-10.

1986-1987 Instructor, Allan Hancock Community College, Santa Maria, CA.

1985-1986 Therapist, Osteopathic Clinic, Wichita, Kansas. Provided short term out-patient therapy to clients referred by staff physicians using individual, marital and family therapy modalities for treatment; presentation of monthly workshops on various mental health topics including: Stress Management, Improving Communication Skills, and Health and Wellness; co-facilitated grief and loss support groups.

1983-1985 Instructor, Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Colorado State University. Courses taught: Lifespan Development, Middle Childhood, Adolescence, Death and Dying, Wellness.

1983-1985 Co-founder: CHANGES: The Support for People and Pets Program (currently the Argus Institute for Families and Veterinary Medicine). Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Colorado State University. This program offers counseling, education, support and research related to loss and grief surrounding the human-animal bond. CHANGES provided Veterinary Teaching Hospital students, faculty and staff with supportive care services surrounding pet loss. This program has since gained national attention its commitment to better understanding our relationships to companion animals.

1981-1983 Assistant Director of Testing Services, Northeast Missouri State University. Coordination and implementation of the university-wide testing program including freshman, sophomore, and senior students to determine the value of undergraduate education; planned yearly budget; provided supervision of student interns; evaluated test data; provided counseling services to students including academic, career and personal issues; served as a member of the Academic Standards Committee.

Nominated for Mario and Alma Excellence in Teaching award (2010).

Recipient of the Oregon Academy of Science 2007 award for Outstanding Teacher in Higher Education.

Who’s Who in Death Dying, Suicide and Bereavement Community (Awarded by King’s College Centre for Education about Death and Bereavement)

2000-2004 Nominated Teacher of the Year Award, Western Oregon University.

Academic Adviser of the Year, Western Oregon University, 2005

1998-2000 Nominated “Convocation Speaker” by the Senior Class, Western Oregon University.

Initiated into Phi Kappa Phi national honor society.

Oregon State University, received the Herbert F. Frolander award for the Universities Best Teaching Assistant (University Wide Award)

1982 Colorado State University, received the “Most Valuable Teacher” awarded by the College of Human Resource Sciences

Phi Kappa Phi

Western Psychological Society (WPA)

Oregon Academy of Sciences (OAS)