I am a senior lecturer of English for Idaho State University, where I’ve taught for about twenty years, give or take. English wasn’t my first major: I started out in anthropology, changed majors to history, and then, finally, to English, which introduced me to the world of New Historicism, which allowed me to pursue all my interests. I’ve always enjoyed learning how things work, taking things apart, putting things together, and creating things. It only makes sense that my academic experience focused on how medicinal and anatomical knowledge influenced literature, particularly Jacobean revenge tragedy. Along the journey, I discovered composition theory, and after working with students struggling to express their ideas and to discover their niche, I was determined to help them discover and articulate them. I love having a job that I look forward to!
While I enjoy most things literature and all things rhetoric and composition, I dabble outside my field whenever the opportunities arise. I’ve added stained glass (both Tiffany style and lead came), silversmithing (small scale, like jewelry and table-top artifacts/sculptures), beading, woodwork, and sewing (I enjoy creating elaborate cosplays and unique clothing) to my skill set. Someday, I hope to add welding, large-scale sculpture, and auto body to my list of hobbies. If only time wasn’t such a precious commodity.
I enjoy providing students with a quality educational experience and opportunities, as well as things beyond the scope of composition and literature. I’ve earned online teaching certification through Quality Matters, a nationally recognized, non-profit program dedicated to providing instructors with the skills and tools needed to help their online learners succeed; am a Quality Matters certified online course peer reviewer; and was recently nominated for Idaho’s GEM Teaching Award for Written Communication.
I enjoy challenges, and last summer, during the pandemic, I felt like making a koi fish piece and went through my stained class pieces, both scrap (I save EVERYTHING, wood, glass, metal, hardware, parts & pieces, you name it) and full sheet, and gathered the materials needed to create it. It was tedious, especially since each scale is an individual piece of glass that needed to be cut, ground, foiled, and eventually soldered together.
I do have repair experience, thanks to living in an old craftsman’s house. While the connotations for “craftsman” sound quaint and welcoming, this is far from the truth. It can be a living nightmare and a part of life. Along the way, I’ve learned plumbing, some electric (I discovered too many hidden, dangerous repair hacks I needed to repair), roof, ceilings (thanks to the roof), window replacement, among other things. Needless to say, when libraries hold book sales, old home repair books are on the top of my list. I’ve learned the importance of knowing when to call in the professionals, however, especially when it comes to major electrical matters.
My experience with iFixit aligns with my professional development: I’m currently enrolled in a teaching a professional and technical communications course, which in turn, will make it possible for me to teach undergraduate professional and technical education classes for Idaho State. Being able to participate in an activity like this provides me with an idea of what my students will experience—and will help me better appreciate the obstacles they might experience along the way, as well as provide them with guidance to fulfill their own objectives and meet audience needs.
Any fun facts? I have a small zoo: Winslow, the English bulldog; Manwich, the pug; Mitzi, the geriatric Schnauzer; Ripley, the wonder dog (we wonder what she is); Gollum Rob Roy MacGregor, the veiled chameleon; Sterling Archer, the Jackson chameleon; Cheeto, the cockatiel; and Hermès, the Greek tortoise. I would love adding a snake to the menagerie, but I’m not going to lie: I’m uncomfortable with the feeding and waste cleanup aspects. I have difficulty spending time indoors: I prefer being outside, on the river (canoe, paddle board, raft, anything), hiking in the woods, riding the Harley, snowshoeing, or cross-country skiing. This makes me my dogs’ favorite human, since they get to occasionally tag along on dog-friendly adventures.
I enjoy collecting Japanese woodblock prints (particularly those from the 1800s to early 1900s): Yoshitoshi is my favorite artist (especially his Pearl Diver print). I’m eclectic when it comes to reading, but my just-for-fun authors include Tom Perotta (Leftovers), Neil Gaiman, and Joe Kelly (The genius responsible for creating the Deadpool character we know and love today.). I would love to begin reading the Game of Thrones series, but am hesitant to, since it hasn’t been completed.