UX Writer | scholar | Professor

Learning often requires productive friction; students grow by grappling with challenging concepts and assignments. Navigating a course, however, should not be a barrier to that learning. I design English courses and assignments using Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles to ensure that content is accessible, instructions are clear, and students can focus their energy on learning rather than on deciphering expectations.

My Ph.D. in Rhetoric has made me an expert in the art of persuasion, a lens I apply across a wide range of topics. My research explores the allure of AI tools, the appeal of conspiracy theories, and the storytelling strategies that make brands and cultural icons such as the Coca-Cola Company and Taylor Swift so compelling. Through this work, I study how people are persuaded and how effective communication shapes beliefs, behaviors, and user experiences.

I have passion for helping others find their passion. I teach mostly first-year courses on writing and research, and my goal is to welcome students into academia. My teaching strategies are informed by the power of listening and paying attention, both skills which are necessary to be an effective writer and researcher. My latest class design is called: Navigating Attention in a World of AI.

I'm an avid reader. I read 52 or more books a year for fun, I am a long-time user of Goodreads, with over 700 books logged on my virtual "shelves," and I have a passion for connecting my friends, family, and students with books they love. My favorite genres are classics, memoirs, literary fiction and non-fiction. I'm always seeking new knowledge and different perspectives, and I enjoy recommending books to my friends and family.