AATH Presents: Shirley K. Trout PhD

If humor is her interest, family is her passion! Shirley has written two books on humor in the family, as well as parent education curriculae on humor in the family and on substance abuse prevention. She's an adjunct faculty of the Family Information Services, and conducts trainings and delivers presentations to parent and parent education audiences, nationwide. She's the former Parent Education Director with the Nebraska Council to Prevent Alcohol and Drug Abuse.

Shirley calls herself, "The Laughter-Learning Link," because she makes adults laugh while they're learning and makes kids learn while they're laughing!

In addition to parent education, Shirley speaks and facilitates audiences in education, business, industry, health care, and early childhood education. She's been a freelance writer for nearly three decades and is also a professional photographer. She reminds people that, when you're a stay-at-home mom who doesn't like to stay at home much, you get very creative about using "talents" as excuses for running around. Over the course of time, these "excuses" have turned into a rather unique array of marketable skills!

Whether facilitating a corporate training or playing with grandkids on her family farm, Shirley loves the sound of laughter! She's a "compulsive joiner" and keeps herself connected with the outside world by spending lots of money (that's her hubby speaking) on national memberships and conventions! As an example, in addition to being an active board member with AATH, she belongs to the National Speakers Association, International Association of Facilitators, National Association for the Education of Young Children, National Middle School Association, International Society for Humor Studies, to name only a few! She justifies her extreme passion to join and network on her first 35 years growing up — and helping her four kids grow up — on her family farm. "The farm just doesn't move very far!" she tries to explain to her grimacing husband.

In spite of how much Shirley would love to be remembered for having a tremendous mind, most people remember her for ... her monkey! Yes, we did say, "monkey." Actually, it's an ape, but somehow being called "monkey lady" sounds just a tad better than "ape lady."