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