Dr. Amy Barnsley worked in public K-12 schools for nine years before moving to higher education. She taught at University of Alaska Fairbanks from 2005 to 2014 before moving to Michigan. She is a Professor of Mathematics at Northern Michigan University, and has been at the institution since 2014. Her area of specialty it teaching developmental mathematics and she is deeply concerned with retention. Currently she is a Provost Fellow and is completing a two year project on understanding, promoting, and evaluating small and large retention initiatives. She works extensively with the Office of Institutional Effectiveness, faculty and administrators across campus.