I'm originally from Baltimore County (Essex, to be exact. Yes, beautiful, scenic Essex.) I attended Kenwood High School, where I needlessly stressed myself out as a student in the IB program and served as president of the band nerds. I went to the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), planning to double-major in English and biology. After discovering that-- surprise!-- biology requires calculus and chemistry, I took the easy road and changed my major to English, later adding history. As part of my Humanities Scholarship, I was able to spend a year studying at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland, where I took classes in late medieval Scottish lit, Celtic lit and art, and Scots Gaelic (which I promptly forgot). I also had the chance to travel to various places in the British Isles, including Edinburgh, London, Loch Ness, and Dublin, and went on spring break to Paris. Returning to UMBC, I finished up my BA in English and history, and applied to various medieval studies and medieval lit programs all over. I was accepted at the University of York's Centre for Mediaeval Studies, so I returned to Britain and earned an MA in Early Medieval Studies (my areas of focus were Old Norse and Anglo-Saxon art and literature). While there, I participated in the university's Gilbert and Sullivan society, performing in their production of "The Gondoliers," and played the roles of Guinevere, Valkyrie #2, and Borachio in shows with the Lords of Misrule. I kept travelling... some friends and I planned and went on a trip to Berlin, Oslo, and Copenhagen. Coming home, I took a year off and put myself through the hell of substituting at Kenwood... let me just say it was a trial by fire, but I survived. I "taught" (read: young-adult-sat) drama and music tech classes for a month, then did my best to teach freshman biology classes for another month. I decided that I'd had enough, and returned to UMBC to teach the brilliantly titled "Rings, Cauldrons, and Cattle-Raids: Mythologies of the North."

Sometime that spring, I found out I had been accepted to begin a PhD program at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo (that's where all the Elvis sightings happen. At the Burger King here). So I'm currently a Doctoral Associate at Western, working toward a degree in English literature. I've taught classes in literary interpretation, composition, and currently teach a course in myth and the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien. Outside of school, I'm a big fan of Jim Henson and the Muppets, and like to watch old episodes of Fraggle Rock when I need to unwind... or Law & Order: SVU marathons, or Top Chef marathons, or Family Guy, whenever it's on. My favorite authors (besides Tolkien) include Barbara Kingsolver, Philip Pullman, Stephen King, and (duh) J.K. Rowling. I also love musical theater (particularly making a spectacle of myself onstage). Check out some of the troupes and shows I've been in:

University of York Gilbert & Sullivan Society: The Gondoliers (2004)

British Theatre Guide's Review: Lords of Misrule at the University of York's production of "Much Ado About Nothing"