Biography
Professional Bio:
I joined the West Texas A&M University (WTAMU) faculty in 2006. I earned a B.F.A. in theatrical performance from Auburn University, an M.A. in English (2000) from the University of Georgia, and a Ph.D. in English (2005) from the University of Georgia.
I teach courses in Romantic and Victorian British literature at the undergraduate and graduate level with a particular focus on poetry, as well as introductory literature courses. I am the former Director of the Office of Writing Programs at WTAMU (2013-2018).
In 2023, I received the WTAMU Distinguished Innovation in Teaching Award. In 2024-25, I will serve as a Canvas Migration Faculty Mentor to help my university transition our LMS from Blackboard to Canvas.
My academic research interests center on 19th-century British poetry, working-class poetry and autobiography, feminist theory, the Bible as literature, the Gothic, and open educational resources.
I am a publishing poet and a licensed preacher in the Episcopal Diocese of Northwest Texas.
I am a member of the American Association of University Professors.
Personal Bio:
I'm from Georgia originally, with pit stops in Alabama, New York City, Buffalo, Long Island, and Connecticut, finally getting to Texas in 2006. Along the way, I worked as an actor, an advertising exec, a retail manager, a high school teacher, and a librarian, before finally figuring out what I wanted to be when I grew up: an English professor.
My husband Dr. David Hart (who teaches Logic and Philosophy at WTAMU) and I have been married for twenty-four years. We met in graduate school on the first day of our Shakespeare class. It’s a wonderfully romantic story that I undoubtedly share at the beginning of every semester with my students. Those who dislike sentiment find this moment challenging, I’m sure, and I appreciate their indulgence!
Our son Jeremy is sixteen years old and super into video games, music, and strength training. To say that he is the light of our lives is a gigantic understatement.
We are also the proud pet-parents of Dougall, a 3 year old pit bull and Cheese Poirot, a 2 year old orange tabby cat. Both are horribly spoiled. I take full responsibility.
I am an active member of my church, St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Amarillo. I'm a community volunteer serving on various boards in the Amarillo area; a planner fanatic; a really good cook; and a powerlifter-in-training.
Yes, you read that correctly: powerlifting. I am as astonished to write it as you are to read it. I came to strength training later in life, and I now have all the proselytizing zeal of the converted. Do not ask me about powerlifting unless you really want to hear about it.