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I came to 51�Թ��� in August 2009, a matter of days marking the space between the conclusion of my graduate work (at the University of Connecticut) and the beginning of my faculty position here. While I have lived in Connecticut my entire life, my family has strong roots in this state.  

As the Director of Writing, I identify first and foremost as a Writing Program Administrator; my position here at 51�Թ��� includes, among other things, the oversight and continuing improvement of the First Year Writing Program. I am privileged to talk with other people, programs, departments, and organizations about writing and to help shape 51�Թ���’s polices and curriculum. My own scholarship is directly informed by, and contributes to, my administrative work. 

I also get to teach some fabulous students in some energetic and inspiring classes. I teach a FYW course nearly every semester, where I get to see great student projects evolve. The Rhetoric and Writing (RAW) minor affords me the opportunity to work with students in a variety of majors, and I have been able to introduce students to my discipline in upper-level and graduate English courses.

My interests as educator, researcher, and writing program administrator intersect and currently include multimodality, corequisite courses, directed self-placement (DSP), and the role of research fluency in First Year Writing. I work to create equitable writing programs and courses which enable students to become effective communicators in school, at work, and in their personal lives.

At the end of the day, I cross the state line back to Connecticut, where I enjoy spending time with my own active family. I like to be outside where I can hike, plant flowers, and generally just enjoy nature, including the U.S.’s national parks and forests. But there’s also room in my life to watch television and movies, to sneak a nap, and to read, read, read.