As human beings we are made of stories. A study in literature and language is a study in what it means to be human. Each additional story we absorb or share adds to the collective humanity of the world. Everyone's story is valid, vital, and fascinating. [Please note my appreciation of the so-called Oxford or serial comma. :)]

 

The empowerment offered by a broad and challenging education is a deep, abiding, and personal focus of mine. My mission is to make that understanding infectious. How and why we learn and think is easily as important as what we need to know. 

 

First and foremost, I am always here to help you. Please contact me any time you have questions or concerns regarding our class or its work.

 

I'm a big believer in self-discipline and good work habits. I strive to cultivate good listeners and thoughtful writers/speakers. Empathy and respect are essential human characteristics. I believe in actively reading something new and thought-provoking each and every day. I know that reading, thinking, writing, and discussing are the ways that we exercise our minds and become better human beings. And I believe that our perpetual modern engagement with devices and social media platforms weakens our attention spans, our command of formal language conventions, our empathy, and our active social engagement "irl." My work will be to help students strike a balance with/against these 21st century encroachments.