I grew up in Niles, Michigan, a small town on the Indiana border. I received an AB cum laude from Harvard University and an MA in psychology from the University of Virginia, before returning to school to complete a PhD in Literature at UC Santa Cruz. I love to teach literature and writing.

In my free time, I read for pleasure. I watch Giants baseball. I like to try new restaurants with my partner. I also make homemade ice cream--the more creative or odd the flavor, the better! (Cheddar cheese, IPA, rooibos tea, and Douglas fir are some ice cream highlights.)

In recent years, I’ve become increasingly interested in National Parks. My favorites to date are Denali NP (Alaska) and Joshua Tree. I would love to spend time in both again soon.