I am the Director of the Writing Center at Dutchess Community College, in Poughkeepsie, NY, and I earned my PhD in English (with concentrations in Literature & Culture and Technology & New Media) from Old Dominion University. My research into serialized crime fiction produced through the nineteenth-century British publishing industry teed me up for the November 2022 crash-landing of ChatGPT into our educational worlds. Teaching writing and facilitating learning experiences where people can become confident communicators are my primary objectives.

Prior to returning to academia, I was a journalist for publications such as The Dallas Morning News, as a writer and an editor. Originally from New Orleans, Louisiana, I attended Southern Methodist University on artistic and academic scholarships, where I pursued degrees in dance and English literature. I danced professionally for a short time (as a classical ballet and modern dancer), founded a modern dance company, and taught dance at The Greenhill School. After receiving my M.A. in English with an emphasis in Creative Writing from SMU, I moved to Hyde Park, NY, in 2006. I now live in the City of Poughkeepsie with my partner, Brian, and our two precious cats, Calliope Roux and Clio Pecan.