I came to the University of Wisconsin-Superior in January 1996 while completing my dissertation for my doctorate in Teaching and Teacher Education at the University of Arizona in Tucson. I received my Master of Arts degree, also in Teaching and Teacher Education, from the University of Arizona in 1994 and my Bachelor of Arts in English with Secondary Education from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota.

I began my teaching career as the 12^th grade English teacher for the Arlington-Green Isle (now called the Sibley East) School District in Arlington Minnesota. There I taught World Literature, Advanced Literature, and Advanced Composition. I also enjoyed working with the students to produce plays, one-act plays, and musicals. As a graduate student I taught introductory teaching methods and supervised student teachers. As a member of the Teacher Education Department at the University of Wisconsin-Superior for 14 years, I taught undergraduate courses in the teaching profession, human development, literacy development, educational psychology, classroom management, middle and high school instructional methods, assessment strategies, and content area literacy, and provided supervision to student teachers. I also coordinated the Master of Science in Education-Instruction degree for several years and taught courses in professional development, instructional strategies, assessment, and educational research design, as well as graduate-level courses in middle level education and literacy instruction. My teaching experience and expertise completed a full circle in October 2009 as I was appointed the campus English Education Content Area Specialist. As a member of the Department of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures since January 2010 I continue teaching middle level methods and supervising student teachers, as well as teaching English education courses and introductory genre-based literature courses.

My research interests and experiences include international, statewide, and school district presentations and workshops in literacy practices and middle level education. I am completing authorship of a middle level methods textbook and enjoy engaging my students with the schools in curriculum development projects.