Fun Facts

I love to read! Much to the dismay of my loved ones, I have a very large collection of books. The collection ranges from a 1200-page Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism to Harry Potter, but I embrace them all equally. I have two dogs named Marley and Sookie--a lab-chow mix and Yorkshire terrier, respectively. (They are quite a pair!) On my days off, I love to go hiking, jogging, or swimming. My absolute favorite place in the world is the Pacific Northwest, and I hope to someday live there.

About Me

I graduated magna cum laude from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Arts in English literature in December of 2011. I hope to eventually return to ASU to obtain a Master of Education. English was always my favorite subject in school, from when I was only six and helping my older brothers with their spelling to my senior year as an undergraduate. To me, there is nothing greater or more powerful than literature to inspire and move an individual; it has certainly done so for me, and I want to share that with others. I also firmly believe in the ability of writing to transform someone completely. I think that, in this society, a greater focus on education, on reading and writing especially, can give hope to people that are under difficult circumstances. The ability to think critically, respond meaningfully, and write clearly provides a basis for a much broader range of communication and understanding. My goal is merely to share this love for literature and writing and to help others see the benefits of education along the way.

I was involved in a 2011 summer internship at ASU entitled the PEN Project, which was conducted online in coordination with the New Mexico Corrections Department. Interns were responsible for reading approximately three to four works of writing each week and providing detailed responses. In this internship, I employed critical writing and phoenix">tutoring theory, contributed to prisoners' understanding of themselves as writers, and provided thoughtful feedback to each individual on a weekly basis. The internship solidified my belief that anyone, from any background or level of education, can learn and grow when allowed the opportunity. It was also one of the most meaningful experiences I have had in my time at ASU.

I believe that the most important, and often most difficult, aspects of writing are brainstorming, content, and organization. The writing process is never an easy one. When most people hear the phrase “writing process,” they think o