Life is richer with a clearer understanding of how and why cultural production and the arts work. My goal is to demystify the writing process and nurture critical analysis to not only increase academic success but create more meaningful life experiences. I firmly believe that the humanities and a liberal education serve to create a rich and more enjoyable life, regardless of what field of work one ends up working in. I earned my Bachelors degree in Comparative Literature from Long Beach State University and a Masters in English from Portland State University while working full time. This blue collar outlook benefitted me by seeing how a liberal arts education dovetailed into situations that were not strictly academic in nature. The critical thinking skills that were fostered in the classroom would translate out into the living world allow me to converse and engage with various members of the community in meaningful ways. My passion is allow students to see this fluidity between the classroom and real world and help them realize the meaningful nature of the humanities. Once this understanding is achieved problems with the writing process and critical analysis become less daunting, since we must simply learn a new way to communicate the ideas we are already engaged with. I enjoy attending all sorts of cultural events, especially those that offer unique and differing opinions from my own. From the country flea market to the civic opera, watching blockbuster films to the independent arthouse offerings, I like to engage with all of the cultural productions that are available to me. It is in that spirit of 'Carpe Diem' that I enjoy being a part of the creative, living world around us.

Reading all kinds of things