I currently work as faculty on campus at Minnesota State University, Mankato and on the E-campus for St. Petersburg College. I attended Iowa State University where I completed an MA in Literature. I have been teaching for fourteen years. Schools include Iowa State University, Des Moines Area Community College, Milwaukee Area Technical College, and St. Petersburg College.

Teaching Philosophy

I believe that a good instructor has a heart for teaching and is able to build strong rapport with his/her students. A good instructor works successfully with traditional and nontraditional students, as well as with students for whom English is a second language (ESL). A good instructor is continuously updating knowledge of current pedagogical approaches, especially in composition theory, communication theory, and in teaching ESL students. A good instructor is innovative in the classroom to the point where different learning style needs are met, but not to the point where each class period is an experimentation in learning.

I believe that in order for students to grow intellectually, they must be guided through the acquisition of basic cognitive abilities. This is accomplished through the development of interrelated skills, i.e. one learns to write well by learning to read judiciously. It is imperative that students are able to think critically and to logically organize their thoughts in order to communicate successfully through written or oral communication. Through exposure to literature and the development of writing skills, I can teach students how to develop and express their own thoughts and ideas, thereby giving them the tools to challenge existing ideologies and to grow intellectually as well as preparing them as responsible citizens in society.

I believe that learning to communicate effectively is not formulaic, but the acquisition of cognitive skills can be encouraged through a learning process. This can be accomplished through a process of induction where the student is first exposed to the rules and patterns of effective communication. After this initial exposure, the student learns to imitate structure and organization but begins to take liberties with the aesthetic characteristics. This allows the student to become comfortable with the form of communication and helps to nurture the cognitive skills that soon enable the student to develop his/her own effective communication style.

I believe that:
• learning does not end when you finish school, but that it is a life-long endeavor.
• the inclusion of literature in the curriculum provides positive examples of structure and aesthetic approaches from which students can begin to formulate their own ideas and create their own styles.
• writing allows one to thoughtfully express his/her interpretations and to formulate new ideas from the interpretations of the text.
• we do not intrinsically communicate well, but each of us has the ability to learn strong organizational and cognitive skills that aid in this endeavor.
• the advanced study of literature and the development of concrete writing skills nurture an environment conducive to the development of critical cognitive abilities.