Experience:

• Assistant Professor of English/ACE Program Director 2002-Present Finlandia University: Hancock, Michigan Collaborated with faculty members to design and now administer a new interdisciplinary bachelor’s degree program in liberal studies entitled Arts, Culture and the Environment (ACE). The ACE Program combines the great voices of history, literature, religion, science and the arts to gain a greater understanding of our relationship with the natural world. Teach a variety of English language, writing, literature and environmental studies courses including: Basic Grammar & Composition (ENG 101); College English I (ENG 103); College English II (ENG 104); Cultures in Conflict (ENG 403); Children’s Literature (ENG 322); Grant Writing (HMS/BUS 350); Introduction to Environmental Studies (ENV 101). Direct the McGregor Fund Mentor Program, recruiting scholars and notable writers such as Parker Palmer and Barry Lopez to serve as faculty mentors. Serve on a variety of University committees including: ACE Committee (Chair); Campus Enrichment Committee (Vice-Chair); Campus Diversity Committee (Member); Finlandia Trailblazers Club (faculty leader).
• Free Lance Writer & Editor2001-Present UP Write: Houghton, Michigan  Published articles in national and regional magazines. Currently submitting and publishing articles on a variety of environmental and social justice topics.  Wrote successful grants and promotional materials for local non-profit organizations Redesigned, upgraded and edited quarterly newsletter for the Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition (UPEC) from 2002-2005.
• Program Development Coordinator for Grant Writing & Outreach1999-2001 B-H-K Child Development Board: Houghton, Michigan  Raised over $7 million in federal, state & private funds in competitive proposals.  Significantly expanded Michigan School Readiness Program, Head Start, Early Head Start and Even Start Programs, as well as other programs that promoted family functioning such as financial planning, health & fitness initiatives, and parenting programs. Substantially increased agency’s marketing outreach, creating a recruitment campaign for newspapers, newsletters, television, website, radio and community events.
• Study Abroad Advisor1998–1999 Michigan Tech University: Houghton, Michigan Conducted all elements of a study abroad program including student recruitment, advising, review of application, placement in host university, and re-entry assistance.  Organized and conducted classroom presentations, pre-departure orientations, re-entry orientations, and faculty/staff workshops on cross-cultural communication.
• Communications Consultant 1995–1998 Houghton, Michigan Acting director of Copper Country AmeriCorps (Fall 1997); recruited, hired and trained over 20 AmeriCorps members for award-winning AmeriCorps Program. Developed numerous successful grants for local human service agencies.  Published articles in national and regional magazines, and local newspapers.
• Teaching Associate (Intensive English Institute & Dept. of English) 1990–1994 University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign Received campus recognition for Excellence as a Teaching Assistant.   Taught writing, public speaking and research strategies to both graduate and undergraduate international students at the Intensive English Institute as a Teaching Associate. Taught undergraduate composition and Early American Literature as Graduate Teaching Assistant.
• English Teacher, U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer 1987–1989 U.S. Peace Corps: Tanzania, East Africa  Redesigned Intensive English Program for incoming students.  Taught reading, composition and grammar at a technical secondary school.  Established and directed the student drama club, created library system, & edited Tanzanian Peace Corps volunteer newsletter, Labda Kesho (Maybe Tomorrow)

Education & Honors:

• M.A. English Literature1992 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign§ Graduate Areas of Concentration: Early American Literature, Post Colonial Literature & TESL. Received campus recognition for Excellence as a Teaching Assistant.B.A. English Literature1986 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign  
• Graduated Magna Cum Laude; earned high distinction from Department of English.  University Honors: Bronze Tablet recipient for graduating in upper 3% of undergraduate class.  James Scholar, Member of Phi Kappa Phi, Golden Key and other honor societies.
• Additional Education & Training The Traveler’s Mind Writing Workshop 2004 Tlacotalpan, Mexico Completed fiction and creative non-fiction writing workshop led by author and teacher, Martha Gies. Iowa Summer Writing Festival1995, 1997, 1999 Iowa City, Iowa
• Completed a variety of intensive writing workshops on fiction & creative non-fiction .Intensive Spanish Institute1986 University of Salamanca: Salamanca, Spain
• Earned Certificate of “Excellent Performance” at the Intermediate Level during a summer program at the Intensive Spanish Institute in Salamanca, Spain.

Community Activities & Interests:

• Board Member of: Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition, Copper Country Guatemalan Accompaniment Project, the Heart & Hands of the Keweenaw Award Selection Committee, North Country Trail Association (Copper Country Chapter).Interests: Gardening, bicycling, pottery, reading, trail building. Volunteer participant in Michigan’s annual DNR Frog and Toad Survey.
  
  

Publications:

“On the Trail At Eco-Friendly Races.” Running Times, June 2005, pp. 60-61.

“Sworn to a Place.” Traverse Magazine, August 2004, pp. 100-109.

“Pedal Powered Profit.” Velo Vision, March 2004, pp. 10-12.

“A Tale of Their Own: The Collaborative Work of Hugh Ralinovsky and Mary Ann Predebon.” Ceramics Monthly, May 2003, pp.56-58.

“At the End of the Earth: Communication Towers at Brockway Mountain May Pose Threats to Migrating Birds.” The U.P. Environment, Volume 28, Issue 2, July 2002.

“When Politics and Personalities Collide.” Copper Country Guatemalan Accompaniment Project (CCGAP) Newsletter, April 2002, Number 24.

“Pedaling Out of Poverty: Highland Cooperatives Develop Economic Self-Sufficiency.” Report on Guatemala, Volume 23, Number 1, Spring 2002.

“Stolen Afternoon.” Traverse Magazine, August 2000, pp. 56-61.

“The Bat Squad.” Traverse Magazine, October 1998, pp. 38-43.

“Atop the Snow and Good to Go.” Traverse Magazine, January 1998, pp. 36-40.

“Frog Watch.” Traverse Magazine, March 1997.

Review of Pretend Soup and Other Real Recipes by Mollie Katzen. Mothering Magazine, Spring/Summer Issue 1997, p. 52.

“Kids, Culture & Cappuccino: Is there Room at the Coffee House?” Upper Peninsula Post, November 12, 1995.

“The Writing in the Web,” Upper Peninsula Post, October 1, 1995.

“Bobby and the Bubble Wing Barbie,” Peninsula News, May 28, 1995.