This section offers content related to me outside of my campus life, including a brief history (see below), some notes about me as a teacher and person, a family photo album (down for updates), and some other bits. Do not feel obligated to read or view, but dig in if you are interested.
SVSU hired me at Thanksgiving 2004 to join its faculty. I was brought here to participate in the continuing development of SVSU's Professional and Technical Writing Program.
I completed my Ph.D. in Rhetoric and Technical Communication at Michigan Technological University in Houghton, Michigan in 2000. I began as a materials science major at that same institution back in 1986. I completed all of my degrees in technical communication, however, including a B.S. in Scientific and Technical Communication, and an M.S. in Rhetoric and Technical Communication.
My first faculty appointment was at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, Iowa, where I helped build the Professional Writing Minor in the English Department. Despite the presence of fantastic colleagues and phenomenal students, the opportunity to return to Michigan was simply too great to pass up.
You will of course come to your own conclusions about me if we have the chance to work together. Here are some things I think are accurate to help you on your way.
I have been teaching in college-level and other classrooms in one way, shape, or form since about 1990. (If you count tutoring, my teaching experience goes back even further.) I have coached youth sports (soccer and basketball) for several years. In addition, I have almost always found a way to do some sort of administrative work. (I served on departmental committees even as a undergrad at Michigan Tech.) I have worked as a consultant for individual clients as well as large corporations. I am a writer and teacher, both by profession and passion.
I do my best to be a good colleague, a good teacher, and a good person. I try to be a simple read: what you see is what you get. Laughter comes easily to me, even in the face of difficulties and challenges. Sometimes the only thing left to do is smile. But life hands me plenty to be genuinely happy about every day as well. I try to be as respectful, honest, patient, and helpful as I can. Sometimes that comes easily too. Sometimes people present me with challenges that make it difficult to live up to that pledge. Treat me with respect and you will get the same in return.
I do my best to be available within reason to my colleagues and students. I have a life outside of campus, but I take my professional responsibilities very seriously. I truly enjoy being a faculty member, in every way that demands of my talents and time. Don't ever hesitate to stop by or contact me if you need help with something. My door is almost always open.
Because I am generally laid back, students sometimes think they can take advantage of my good nature. Don't. It is easy to establish trust and goodwill with me, but difficult to earn it back once it is lost. I am a professor to my students. Although that may mean a lot of different things to different individuals, it never means parenting. I won't raise an eyebrow or call you up if you show up late to class (or not at all), but it certainly won't help you keep my faith in your professionalism if a real crisis presents itself.
Students should understand that we have responsibilities to one another. That is, you should not assume that your education is my responsibility; if you are not involved in your own education, I can't do much to help you. I encourage every student to take an active role in her or his own professional development. The people who do so always get more out of my classes than the ones who don't.