Dr. Virginia Heslinga is a pracademic: a distinguished educator who combines decades of real-world experience with a passion for scholarship and storytelling. For over five decades, she has had the honor of teaching students of all ages - from pre-school to graduate school - in diverse settings across the globe, from high-tech classrooms and bustling universities to yurts and even aboard boats in the United States, Mexico, Turkey, and China. As an award-winning Associate Professor of Humanities at Anna Maria College, she has been recognized for her exceptional contributions to the community and for her commitment to fostering ethical leaders. A prolific author of academic articles and personal memoirs, including Wounded Dove and Grace Interlaced, Dr. Heslinga's work has been studied by thousands around the world. Her passion is to help others find practical ways to achieve their goals. She developed the course A Story, Your Story to provide people with the encouragement and skills needed to complete their personal narratives.

Virginia's joy is in helping learners achieve their dreams, goals, and stories.