"With a Ph.D. in English literature, over a decade of college teaching, and 30 years of diverse educational experience, I bring enthusiasm, expertise, and a deep commitment to student success. My journey in education includes homeschooling my own children through high school before transitioning to middle and high school English instruction, including honors courses. I have since taught in both in-person and online college settings, engaging with students from flagship universities to online community colleges.

My academic background includes two M.A. degrees in English literature, an M.A. (en passant) in Rhetoric and Writing, and a B.S. in secondary English education with a state teaching credential. This foundation has shaped my ability to teach a range of courses, from developmental to advanced composition, rhetoric, and literature. My research focuses on genre fiction, enabling me to design engaging courses integrating podcasts, graphic novels, film, and popular genres like gothic and detective fiction.

I believe strong reading and writing skills foster critical thinking and personal growth. Literature, in particular, cultivates empathy and analytical abilities essential for independent thought. My teaching philosophy draws from Socratic and reader-response theories, emphasizing close reading, discussion, and revision. Writing is a process, and I encourage students to view it as a skill honed through practice, audience awareness, and time management. By equipping students with these tools, I aim to empower them as confident communicators in any field." less...