From the Dean:

What I do

Education

University of California at Berkeley
PhD , Comparative Literature, 1991
(Medieval Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese)
MA, Comparative Literature, 1983
(Modern Latin American and American)
AB , Comparative Literature, 1981
(Spanish and English)

Master Online Teacher Certificate, 2003 . Illinois Online Network, University of Illinois.

Delivering Effective Professional Development; Foundations of Effective Teaching I, 2004 . American Federation of Teachers, Educational Research and Dissemination.

Academic Employment

Eastern Illinois University
Dean of The Honors College, 2004-present
Professor of English, 2002-present
Associate Professor, 1997-2002
Assistant Professor, 1994-1997
Medieval Studies Minor faculty, 2002-present

Iowa State University
Adjunct Assistant Professor of English, 1991-1994

Raritan Valley Community College , Somerville, NJ, 1990-1991
Adjunct Instructor of English

Honors and Fellowships (Selected)

EIU Achievement and Contribution Awards, Service Category, 2003, 1999
EIU Achievement and Contribution Awards, Balanced Category, 2001, 1997
EIU Summer Research Grants, 2003, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997
EIU Technology-Enhanced and Delivered Education Grants, Fall 2002, Fall 2001, Spring2001
EIU Professor Laureate, 1998
EIU Distinguished Honors Faculty Award, 1998
NEH Summer Seminar for College Teachers, "Rome in the Age of Augustus," 1997
NEH Summer Stipend, 1995
NEH Summer Seminar for College Teachers, "The Oral Tradition in Literature," 1992

Recent Local Presentations and Other Professional Activities

"Scheherazade." Presentation as part of Booth Library celebration of Elizabeth I. Panel entitled, "Women of Power, Women of Culture, Elizabeth's Medieval Heritage." 11 March 2004.
Staff, 2003 Wakonse Collaborative Conference for High School and College Teachers.
Presenter, Master Class in the Humanities. 2002 Wakonse Conference on College Teaching.
Facilitator, "Balance in Life and Work." 2002 Wakonse Conference on College Teaching.
Facilitator, "Spirituality and Professionalism." 2002 Wakonse Conference on College Teaching.
Brown Bag Roundtable. "Service Learning: Bringing Public and Academic Folklorists into Partnership." 2001 American Folklore Society Annual Meeting.
Program Planner, Illinois Philological Association, 1997-1999
"Using the Interview: A Composition Committee Workshop" EIU English Department. 19 November 2002.
"I Can Speak English!" (Technology in English Studies), EIU School of Technology Centennial Lecture Series, November 2002.
Moderator, New Faculty Panel. EIU New Faculty Orientation, August 2002.
Faculty Commencement Speaker, Eastern Illinois University, December 1999 and May 2000.
Panelist, 38th Annual Eastern Regional History Fair, Eastern Illinois University, 25 March 2000.

Academic Service (Selected)

National
American Folklore Society Liaison to the Modern Language Association, 2004-present.

State Illinois Online Network. Quality Online Course Initiative, 2004- Illinois Folklife Society, Treasurer and Board Member, 1999-presen Illinois Philological Association, President 2000-01;Vice President, 1999-2000; Executive Secretary, 1996-1999; Founding member, 1996-present

University
Tarble Arts Center Advisory Board, 2000-present
Omicron Delta Kappa, EIU Circle Faculty Secretary, 2002-present
Faculty Circles Mentoring Program Coordinator, 2002-2004
Faculty Development Steering Committee 2002-2004, (chair, 2002-2003)
Writing Competency Exam Trainer, 1997-2004
IFT/AFT Delegate, 2000-2004
University Professionals of Illinois Delegate, 1996-2004
VPAA Search Committee (chair), 2000-2001
Faculty Senate, 1997-2000 (chair, 1999-2000)
Presidential Investiture Planning Committee, 1999
CAA Subcommittee on Theme and Goals of General Education, 1999
Presidential Search Committee, 1998-99

Memberships

National Collegiate Honors Council
Association for General and Liberal Studies
Modern Language Association American
Folklore Society
Illinois Folklife Society Illinois
Philological Association

:: Honors College :: Eastern Illinois University :: Booth House 600 Lincoln Avenue :: Charleston, IL 61920-3099 :: :: Telephone 217-581-2017 :: Fax 217-581-7222 :: Toll-Free 1-888-440-4664 ::
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From the Dean: What I do