Degree – M.A. in English, MFA in Creative Writing, M.S. in Counseling and Student Personnel; all from Minnesota State Mankato Research interests – student resiliency and retention; trigger warnings and classroom civility

Favorite books – In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez (fiction); The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy (fiction); What the Living Do by Marie Howe (poetry)

Favorite quotes – “If you get tired, learn to rest, not to quit.” –Banksy

“Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” –John Lennon, “Beautiful Boy”

“Intelligent people don’t get bored.” –Mike Metzler, my ninth grade English teacher

Fun Fact – I’ve written more than 100 children’s nonfiction books, with topics ranging from dinosaurs to dance. My favorite is an illustrated sign language book called Time to Sign.