I attended UVA-Wise (which was then Clinch Valley College) for my undergraduate education, which I now know was one of the best decisions I've made. Smaller class sizes, dedicated faculty who contribute to their fields, and the beautiful setting are excellent reasons for choosing this school. This college also cultivates culture and an awareness of our history, which is important to me as a faculty member and a native of central Appalachia.

1. Do more than what's expected of you and get to know your faculty. When it's time for reference letters, your professors will remember you for that.

2. Regardless of whether you are from Appalachia or the eastern shore, be open to different varieties of language, traditions, and perceptions. You can learn as much outside the classroom as you can inside.

3. Embrace the variety of courses you are taking in your first two years.

While some of them may seem superfluous if you have already decided on your major, keep in mind that everyone needs to know a little bit about everything.

That's why you choose a liberal arts school.

4. This advice may seem obvious, but don't plagiarize. On top of the possibility of getting kicked out of school, no one wants to be remembered as a liar and a thief. If in doubt about whether you are plagiarizing, inform yourself by asking one of us. Never, never take short cuts with your work (see #1).

I love history, so anything "old"--old houses, old towns, cemeteries, antiques--interests me if there's a story behind them! I also enjoy a good ghost story and Halloween is one of my favorite times of year.

I rank at the brown belt level in my karate system.

I root for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

I have a Golden Retriever named Sadie and a cat named Sophie.

I attended UVA-Wise, Virginia Tech, and Indiana University of Pennsylvania. I taught four years of high school before moving into the

college classroom. Now, in addition to teaching communications courses as well as Appalachian Literature, I direct the Appalachian Writing Project.

We promote K-12 teacher research and professional development, and our teachers offer inservice workshops on writing across the disciplines throughout the

region.