About

When I began my college education, I intended to be a teacher.  What I came to realize is that I love being an historian; I still wanted to teach, but hadn’t a clue what that meant or what it would take to accomplish this goal.  Leaving the safety of my undergraduate education, I embarked upon the long journey towards a Ph.D. in history.  To many in the business of academia, I did everything wrong.  I did not investigate graduate programs thoroughly.  I did not get funding.  I did not attend a top tier graduate program.  It took me thirteen years to get a M.A. and Ph.D.  I amassed a significant debt.  After all this, I do not have a tenure track job and the prospects of getting one are slim to none.  Do I regret my choices?  Not one bit.

I am many things.  I have taught history as an adjunct and now a continuing lecture (for the moment).  I have worked as an assistant director of a program dedicated to church-related higher education.  I am also a wife, Roman Catholic, a feminist, a dog-lover, an avid fan of bad TV movies, a daughter, a sister, a friend, and many other things.  When I am asked what I do professionally, my first instinctual answer is: I am an historian.  That is who I am amidst all these other things deep down to the root of who I am.  I am an historian.