I earned my Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Commercial Art at Ohio State University, but it didnt take me long to realize that working behind a drawing board all day was not my life ambition. I wanted to teach. So back to school I went to get certified as an English teacher. Now I have a Masters Degree and a PhD from the University of Oregon. And for nearly forty years, Ive taught a wide range of subjects in middle schools, high schools, and colleges: English, Speech, and Composition as well as Theater and Acting. But by far my greatest passion is teaching Writing and Composition. Like many educators, I believe that good writing is a predecessor to greater success in life; but Im also convinced that good writing is a skill you can learn, not simply a talent youre born with. Thats what makes teaching writing so important to me: I love to help students discover what theyre doing wrong in their compositions and what they can do to create writing that is more powerful and effective. At the same time, I try to impart an appreciation for words and language, grammar and literature, spoken and written. I love reading, writing, watching movies, and shopping for antiques in my spare time.