Faculty and Staff Directory

Introduction

As a writing professor for more than 10 years, I've had the pleasure of working with students from diverse backgrounds and with varying skill levels in composition and creative writing. I have enjoyed helping them find their voices and following their growth.

My work tends to focus on the needs of first year writing students. The transition to college writing can be challenging for many students, who may also be facing challenges adjusting to college life in general. I try to help students not only excel in the writing classroom, but also in their college careers. Recognizing the importance of students' lives beyond the classroom, I helped pioneer the Accelerated Learning Project, a national model that addresses the needs of developmental writing students using a concurrent (rather than sequential) order of classes.

I also have a profound interest in global education, with a research focus on Asian culture and literature. For three years, I oversaw a Global Studies initiative to help faculty develop courses for study abroad and to recruit students. I have led 120 students on study abroad programs across Europe and Asia and was awarded a NEH Bridging Cultures grant to infuse Asian studies into the general curriculum. My course design work includes a spiritual autobiography course and a writing course that focused on Eastern and Western philosophies to develop a response to, "What is happiness?"

In addition to my work in higher education, I have also worked as a grant writer and program manager for several high-impact local, national, and international nonprofit organizations for the last 17 years. I have managed volunteers and staff members, coordinated fundraisers and special events, and facilitated the grants process from cultivation to project reporting and renewal. Through various leadership roles, I have forged partnerships with other national and local organizations and cultivated sustaining private and government sources of funding.

Academic Service

I have chaired conference, search, and learning assessment committees and have served as the coordinator for the Community Book and the Global Education Advisory Board.

Additionally, I hold roles as a university
Faculty Senator
CORE Faculty member
Career Committee member
First Year Writing Assessment member
OpEd Fellow
iTech Fellow