About Me
Originally from Saginaw, Michigan, I received my B.A. in Theatre from Saginaw Valley State University. After graduating, I moved to Bowling Green State University in Ohio to pursue both my M.A. and Ph.D. in Theatre. While there, I also earned a Certificate in Performance Studies. After a couple years as an adjunct, I moved to Laramie to teach theatre history, backgrounds of dramatic literature, directing, acting, and performance studies at the University of Wyoming. As part of the performance faculty, I direct or dramaturg 1-2 productions per year.
I first got into theatre at the tail end of my freshman year of highshool, when my older brother recruited me to be a stage hand on Hello Dolly!. That summer, I earned my first acting role, as “A Man From Among the Dead” in Our Town. By the time we closed I had the “bug,” and haven’t left the theatre since.
My father was a welder in a sugar processing plant before becoming an international vice president for a bakery and grain millers union. While spending time with him in meetings, visiting factories, joining pickets/strikes, and taking part in the annual AFL/CIO Union Industries show, I got to learn about solidarity, sacrifice, community, and advocacy. Likewise, my mother exemplified hard-work and sacrifice as she raised me and my equally obstinate older brother, largely on her own as dad traveled for work.
I have had the great fortune of being married to my best friend and high school sweetheart for more than twelve years. She is the constant in my life and the lives of our two children, and is an amazing educator and artist in her own right.
Outside of theatre and parenting, I spend as much time as possible cooking, baking, reading, hiking, and playing video games with dear friends from across the country. I have spent more time watching Star Trek (in every iteration) than is healthy and have begun to slowly indoctrinate my children into nerd culture.
I am a “leap before looking” type of person and love to try new things and to learn new skills. Most of all, I love sharing experiences, telling stories, and laughing with the people I love.