Born in Lexington, KY 1972. Graduated Eureka High School, Eureka, CA 1989. BA in Intercultural Humanities from World College West, Petaluma, CA 1992. MA in English from State University of West Georgia, Carrollton, GA 1998. Taught at State University of West Georgia 1999-2000 (Instructor), Moldova National University, College of Political Science, Chisinau, Moldova 2000-2002 (Visiting Professor / Peace Corps Volunteer), Chemeketa Community College, Salem, OR 2003-present (Professor). Teaching history includes Composition through Literature, Content-Based EFL, Developmental Writing, Composition (all levels), Creative Writing (Poetry), Literature Appreciation, Introduction to Poetry, JRR Tolkien, The Beat Generation, and Mythology and Folklore. HAVE COURAGE! “Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.” — Helen Keller (1880-1968), American disability rights activist, socialist, feminist, pacifist, author