Hello there. I'm Joseph Qualls, a Student at UCCS.

In addition to inspiring a Soundcloud to share my folky guitar tunes, the idealism seeded by my time as a hippie led to a desire to seek a career in which I could find meaning (and also a more stable paycheck). So, I cut my hair and started working in human service agencies with more and more elaborate acronyms. To date, my most acronym laden title is likely as an RTR for the SDD of the SOC's HCPF (translation in the adjacent Work Experience section). As you can imagine, I would usually just tell people I was a trainer. 

Along the way I met my lovely wife, Megan. She comes from a family of Midwesterners and, although my father is from Michigan, my Midwest credibility was low. So, in an attempt to gain her family's trust, I attended Purdue University online to finally finish my undergraduate work in Human Services. With my Midwest credentials secured, I proposed to her in Indianapolis at the Newfields Art Museum with her family in attendance.

I made her family come to Colorado for the wedding, and a few months later we had our son Griffin. I say "we," but it wasn't much of a team effort if I'm being honest. I've since contributed more by staying at home with our little dude while I further my education at UCCS. It has honestly been one of the most beautiful and constantly surprising times of my life.

My aspirations include teaching, and someday pursuing a doctorate in psychology. I am also certain I will find a way to continue contributing to human services wherever I go.

My hobbies include hiking, biking, fishing, camping, playing video games and tabletop games, and reading. Sometimes I still play the guitar, but these days it's mostly for my son. It's fun to watch him dance to Wheels on the Bus or, for reasons that would take too long to explain, his favorite song "California" by Phantom Planet from "The OC."