Her research interests include lesbian and queer literature and history. Her long-term research is on the trajectory of lesbian literary theory and history as exemplified in the case of Gale Wilhelm, who wrote We Too Are Drifting (1934), the first lesbian novel in the United States.

• PhD, English, University of Toledo, 2000
• MA, English, University of Toledo, 1994
• BA, English and Psychology, Heidelberg College, 1991

Awards:

• Student Award for Faculty Excellence (SAFE). Student Senate, Grand Valley State University, 2011.
• Civic Engagement Fellow, National Women’s Studies Association, Teagle Foundation Grant (2010-11)
• Pew Teaching Excellence Award. Grand Valley State University (2010)
• Celebrated Faculty Member Award. Office of Housing and Residence Life, Grand Valley State University (2009)
• Award for Outstanding Contribution to Students. Housing and Residence Life Faculty Fellows Committee, Grand Valley State University (2007-08)
• Someone Who Really Makes a Difference at GVSU Award. Housing and Residence Life, Grand Valley State University (2008)
• Faculty Participant, National Institute for Technology and Liberal Education. Fourth Annual Al-Musharaka Seminar on Collaboration and Technology in Teaching about Arab, Islamic and Middle Eastern Cultures. June 16-22, 2005.
• Faculty Fellow. Hewlett Grant for Pluralism and Diversity, Hamilton College, 2004-05.
• Faculty Fellow. Emerson Grant. Faculty-Student Collaborative Research, Hamilton College, 2004. 

Scholarly Achievements and Publications:

Editor in Chief. “Gale Case Studies: Intersectional LGBTQ Issues.” Archives of Sexuality & Gender: LGBTQ History and Culture Since 1940. Cengage Learning, 2018-present.

Guest editor. Special issue of The Journal of Lesbian Studies on the Influence and Legacy of Barbara Grier. 18.4 (2014).

Unsexing Gender, Engendering Activism: Readings in Gender Studies. 2nd ed. Edited with Julia Mason and Ayana Weekley. Dubuque, IA: Kendall Hunt, 2015. Print

“Introduction: The Influence and Legacy of Barbara Grier.” The Journal of Lesbian Studies. 18.4 (2014): 310-315.

Guest editor. Special issue of The Journal of Lesbian Studies on the Influence and Legacy of Barbara Grier. 18.4 (2014).

“Theorizing, Teaching and Creating “Theorizing, Teaching and Creating Change: Feminism, Rhetoric and Activist Pedagogy for Women’s Studies.”Atlantis: Women’s Studies Journal 35.2 (Spring 2011). Print.

“Caramel and Under the Bombs.” Signs: Films for the Feminist Classroom 3.1 (2011). Web

Unsexing Gender, Engendering Activism: Readings in Gender Studies. Edited with Julia Mason. Dubuque, IA: Kendall Hunt, 2009. Print.

“The Furies,” “Nancy Toder,” “Alice Bloch,” “Camarin Grae,”  “Noretta Koertge” and “Judith McDaniel.” John Hawley, editor. Westport, CT: Greenwood, 2008.

“Del Martin.” Significant Contemporary American Feminists. Jennifer Scanlon, ed. Westport, CT: Greenwood, 1999.

“Gale Wilhelm,” “Marcia Freedman, ” “Carol Seajay,” and “Dee Mosbacher.” Gay and Lesbian Biography. Michael Tyrkus, editor. Detroit, MI: St. James Press, 1997.