Areas of Research Interest
- African American Literature (as a First-year Writing component)
- Rhetoric/Creative Writing
- Fiction Writing as a catalyst for Composition techniques
- Early American Literature
Recent Courses Taught
- English 1101 – Composition I
- English 1102 – Composition II
- English 2250- Creative Writing
- British Literature (canonical overview)
Current Projects
- Co-editor and contributing author in Shifts, an anthology about women's transitions
- Revising a middle grade historical fiction novel on Joe Louis
- Working on a Ph.D. in Early American Literature / Rhetoric at Northern Illinois University
Selected Publications, Presentations, Performances, Books
- In Her Skin: A Young Adult Novel. Chicago: Muse Write Press, 2012
- "Stories of Black Women Help Empower and Inspire People of All Races and Ethnicities." ASALH National Conference. Oct., 2012.
- "Community Writing for Global Literacy." TYCA Midwest. Columbus State College. Oct., 2011.
- "Collect. Recollect. Connect! Community Writing Workshops." Illinois Reading Council, Springfield. March, 2011.
- "Writing the Unseen." Society of Children's Books Writers and Illustrators, Chicago chapter. June, 2010.
- "Pack Rats and Procreation: Using Your Past to Write Teen Fiction." Wow! Women on Writing: Freelancer's Corner. March/April, 2010.
- "Global Learners = Global Problem Solvers." Illinois Reading Council, Springfield. April, 2010.
- "The Necessity of Time in Charles Brockden Brown's Wieland." Midwestern Conference on Literature, Language, and Media. Northern Illinois University. April, 2010.
- "Moll Flanders the Working Woman." EGO Conference on Identity and Class Issues, Western Illinois University. November, 2009
Education
- M.A. English - British and American Literature, Northern Illinois University
- B.A. Broadcast Journalism/Television, Columbia College Chicago