I am a veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard where I was a drill instructor (yes, really!), a firefighter and an EMT. After the military I graduated from Central Michigan University where I majored in Psychology. I also concentrated in Biology with coursework in Genetics, Neuropsychology, Environmental Biology. I was a Graduate Assistant in Psychology and performed research in Experimental and Social Psychology. I homeschooled my children until middle school. I developed my own curriculum that included a wide variety of resources. During this time I taught writing and grammar for high school students in our homeschool co-op. I returned to work as the Director of Religious Education for our church, teaching religion in our K-6 private school as well as leading adults in book study discussion groups. Currently, I am a Department Administrator at Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan. I provide English tutoring to international researchers and junior faculty. I have had the opportunity to assist international faculty with manuscript editing for publication. I also co-wrote a curriculum for English learners on Professional Writing in the Workplace and Resume writing. I volunteer with a local literacy group tutoring English Learners both in general English and for those who are preparing for the TOEFL exam. I am currently a graduate student studying Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. I love to write for academic purposes! In my free time, I like to sew, read, and cook. I don't participate in sports (no running unless I am chased by something really scary) but I like to watch them! I am a lifelong learner and a strong advocate for education. I believe that a well-rounded education is important to be a responsible global citizen. Patient, thoughtful teaching can inspire and motivate students. My students' success is my favorite thing to celebrate!