Alan R. Kempis Professor of Sociology at Pierce College where he teaches a course on death, dying, and bereavement. He was the recipient of the Outstanding Faculty Award and the 2018 Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award. He is the author of two other textbooks: Abuse in the Family: An Introduction (Thomson/Cengage) and Abuse in Society: An Introduction (Waveland). He is both an ordained member of the clergy and a licensed mental health professional, and he was recognized by the National Association of Social Workers as a Diplomate in Clinical Social Work (DCSW). For five years he worked with military families under contract with the U.S. Air Force, including work in its "family advocacy" program.

He is himself a Vietnam veteran who was among the last American advisors serving on patrol with Vietnamese forces aboard Swift Boats (PCFs). He currently lives with his wife, Claudia, and a menagerie of "critters" at their cabin on property in rural western Washington. During work on the second edition of this book Claudia was diagnosed with stage four renal cell carcinoma, for which she was not treated successfully. As of this writing, the author is caring for her at home while she is receiving hospice services.