Fun Facts

I love to read and write, and am happiest in another (literary) world. I enjoy spending time outside hiking, biking, camping, or kayaking. I love animals; I have four cats and seven fish, and I volunteer at the Oregon Zoo.

About Me

I earned my B.A. in Creative Writing, with minors in Photography and Literature, at Pacific University and graduated this May. Next year I plan to pursue my M.A. and PhD., also in creative writing, and would someday like to teach writing at the college level. My passion, though, is for writing--mostly fiction, though I also write stage plays, poetry, and creative nonfiction. I am currently working on a novel and hope to become a published novelist.

As a Pacific student I worked in the Writing Resource Center on campus, portland">tutoring students from freshman taking their first ever college class to seniors. As part of my training for this job I took an eight-week class on portland">tutoring practices. I also worked as a TA in the Art Department, teaching students about darkroom photography. I have been a member of several writer's groups and have enjoyed having the chance to read and critique others' writing. Additionally, I served a year as a SMART volunteer at Peter Boscow Elementary in Hillsboro, and have taught and trained other volunteers at the Oregon Zoo.

I believe anyone can succeed academically. Failure comes from failing to believe in yourself. As a portland">tutor I have helped students discover their own strengths as writers, finding each student's strongpoint as well as the areas in which the student could improve. I believe that an real investment of effort and commitment is more important than the grade an assignment ultimately recieves. Students who love learning will learn, and learn well. My goal is to inspire students to love the subject they are learning for itself, and by so doing, to succeed.