About Me

My Interests: poetry; intergenerational storytelling; public libraries and social justice; choral music; peace studies; creative writing pedagogy; Anabaptism today in America; women and gender studies, the arts' role in sustainability.

My Ongoing Objectives

• To make work and community grounded in the urgent play of creativity and lasting connection.

• To practice and encourage everyday nonviolence as an integral part of writing/mentoring/learning.

Education & Training

• Certificate in Mediation Training, Athens, Ohio, 2012

• Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, Bennington Writing Seminars, 2009-2011
  Research Focus: “Possible Plowshares for ‘Millennial’ Poetry Workshops: A Pedagogy of Peace”

• Masters in English, Ohio University, 2005-2007
  Thesis: “Reclaiming Self While Bridging Worlds in Confessional Mennonite Poetry”

• Bachelors in Musical Theater Writing & Music Composition (original degree), Otterbein University, 1999-2004

• Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholar, University of Leeds (Leeds, England), 2001-2002

Accolades

• 2020 and 2014 Ohio Arts Council Individual Excellence Awards, poetry

• Semi-finalist, Sundress Publications open manuscript call, What I say to this house, 2019

• 2019 Pushcart Prize nominee, “If I Had It in Me, I’d Make a Grocery List Worthy of My Century” in Sweet Lit.

• Finalist, 2018 Gazing Grain Press All-Genre Chapbook Contest, What I say to this house (poetry)

• 2014 Recipient, Art Gish Peacemaking Grant, Appalachian Peace and Justice Network

• Finalist: 2013 Frost Place Chapbook Fellowship, Bull City Press

• Finalist: 2013 Ruth Stone Poetry Prize from Hunger Mountain

• Finalist: 2012 Janet B. McCabe Poetry Prize, Ruminate Magazine

• 2011 Young Alumni Creativity and Research Award, Otterbein University

• 2004 Florence Kahn Memorial Chapbook Award, National Federation of State Poetry Societies

 Teaching/Tutoring Experience

• Reading/classroom visit, Goshen College. Goshen IN (November 2018)

• Co-leader, Poetics of Place poetry retreat at Laurelville Retreat Center, PA (June 2018)

• Workshop presenter at Women Doing Theology: Talkin ‘Bout a Revolution conference, Women in Leadership, Mennonite Church USA (November 2018)

• Ohio University, guest poet/undergraduate poetry workshop leader, Athens OH (October 2017)

• 2016 Guest workshop leader: Ohio Poetry Association

• 2005-2015, Ohio University, Dpts. of English, Classics & World Religions, eCampus

  • Courses: Writing and Rhetoric I and II; Creative Writing: Poetry; Original course: Poetics of War and Peace (undergrad workshop); Women and Writing; Difficult Dialogues: Religion, Gender, and Sexuality; online facilitator for undergraduate and graduate courses in Business Communication

• Guest lecturer/workshop leader: Bluffton University, Otterbein University, Rutgers University

• 2009-2015, Student Writing Center, Ohio University

  • Professional tutor (2009-2015) and Associate Coordinator (2010-2014)

• 2007, Hocking College, Dpt. of Music

  • Songwriting, Performance, piano and voice lessons

    Writing life:

• “Kintsugi as Bob Marley, Yo La Tengo, Thelonious Monk, and Over The Rhine," "My Darling, You Aren’t Mine" "100% illuminated," and "Late to the Table" in the New Ohio Review (July, 2024).

• Illuminated fraktur poem series with visual artist Lynn Sommer: exhibits/readings with poet Julia Spicher Kasdorf and photographer Steven Rubin, Lancaster, PA (May 2024) *Juror’s Prize, hi(STORIES) exhibit at Majestic Galleries, Nelsonville, OH (Sept 2024)

• “The Root Together” in Hunger Mountain (February 2024)

• “Ceremony of Belonging” in Change Seven (October 2023)

• “Fire Instead” and “Thank yous” (music and lyrics), performed by Calliope Feminist Choir, Athens, OH (May 2023)

• 2023 {Re}HAPPENING, What I say to this house, Black Mountain College, Asheville, NC (April 2023)

• “With So Many Military Metaphors During the Pandemic, I Think of the Civilian Public Service Boys Yet Again”; “Daily Practice”; and “After Hearing of Another Miraculous Pregnancy While Re-reading ‘Traveling through the Dark’” in the Friends of William Stafford Journal/Newsletter (November 2022)

• Panelist at LitYoungstown (October 2022)

• “Both Goal and Medicine” in Rattle (April 2022)

• “Choreography of the Barren” in I Thought I Heard a Cardinal Sing: Ohio’s Appalachian Voices (MArch 2022)

• Longlisted for the 2021 Sappho Prize for Women Poets from Palette Poetry

• Featured guest on “River of Words” podcast, hosted by Athens, Ohio poet laureate, Wendy McVicker (July 2021)

• Tupelo Press “30/30” volunteer poet for April, 2021 (writing and posting a poem/day for a month to help raise funds for under-represented voices)

• Mennonite Literature virtual reading (December 2020)

• Guest on Read.Pray.Write podcast. August, 2019.

• Co-editor of spring 2019 issue of the Journal of Mennonite Writing: “Traditions in Translation” with Anita Hooley-Yoder.

• Panelist, New Old Image eXchange conference, Ohio University, Athens OH, Feb 2019.

• “If I Had It in Me, I’d Make a Grocery List Worthy of My Century,” Sweet Lit (January, 2019) *Nominated for a Pushcart Prize.

• Collaborative work in Ginger (Issue #14, Fall 2018)

• Athens Community Arts & Music Festival and SpeakUpWoMEN event, Athens OH (August 2018)

• "A Birth, a Flag, and My Introduction to Military Erotica": an essay in the Journal of Mennonite Writing (August 2018)

• Connotation Press: 3 poems and an interview (June 2018)

• Technology & Faith: article in The Mennonite (April 2018)

• Ohio University, guest singer-songwriter, Acoustic Showcase, Baker Center, Athens OH (2017-2019)

• Mennonite Arts Weekend, Cinci OH, presenter/guest poet (February 2018)

• Jean and Louis Janzen Writers Series, Fresno Pacific University, Fresno CA with collaborator, artist Astrid Kaemmerling, PhD, (January 2018)

• Crossing the Line: Women of Anabaptist Traditions Encounter Borders & Boundaries, Eastern Mennonite University (VA), presenter and featured poet (June 2017)

• Bennington Reading Series, Cornelia Street Cafe, NYC (April 2017)

• Judge, Poetry Out Loud, SE Ohio semi-finals, 2017-2023.

• Voices Together: Mennonite Worship & Song Committee (hymnal text sub-committee, volunteer screener), 2017-18

• Upside Down Living Bible study series, Faith and Technology (MennoMedia), May 2017

• "New Monasticism, Old Homesickness" (multi poetry book review/essay) in Image, January 2017

• "St. Francis Appears..."; "St. Francis Considers..." in Image, March 2015

• Review/Essay: Brian Turner's My Life as a Foreign Country in Brevity, September 2014