In what ways do you help raise the academic quality of New Paltz students?

"To encourage academic excellence, instructors must have high standards. In the case of English Studies, this includes assigning a significant amount of reading (in an upper-level or graduate course, typically ten to twelve full-length works of literature), independent research, and writing (in an undergraduate course, at least ten pages of formal writing per credit). Students also share responsibility for creating materials for class discussion and learning, often by delivering in-class presentations. Students are also expected to use literary theory and rhetorical concepts in order to analyze and interpret texts beyond simplistic formulations. I also like to remind students that they are in college not only to gain skills necessary for success in the workplace but also to learn new tools for producing and circulating knowledge. So I often mentor students in extracurricular scholarly endeavors, such as submitting papers for academic conferences and also have put together conference panels with, and attended alongside, students."

Additional roles: Director of Writing Across the Curriculum and of the University Writing Board

Inspiration: "Poetry. At the moment, current United States Poet Laureate Charles Simic’s work, “My Noiseless Entourage.” I also gain inspiration from the ocean and the stars."

Hobbies: "I study ballet and modern dance."

Little-known facts: "I was born in Anchorage, Alaska. I have a serious pottery addiction and almost never miss a SUNY New Paltz ceramic students’ sale. I can also recite my favorite poets’ verses from memory."