Select Positions

  • Faculty in Residence, University Housing, University of Arkansas (August 2014-present)
  • Co-Director, Job Market and Professional Training for English Graduate Students, University of Arkansas (August 2014-2017)
  • Chair, Diversity Implementation Team, University Office of Global Programs, Penn State University (January 2011-July 2014).
  • Staff Team Co-Chair, Commission on Racial/Ethnic Diversity, Penn State University (2012-2013).
  • Co-Chair, Commission on Racial/Ethnic Diversity, Penn State University (2011-2012).
  • Secretary and Executive Leadership Team Member, Commission on Racial/Ethnic Diversity, Penn State University (2011-2012).  Simultaneously served as Co-Chair Elect.
  • President, English Graduate Organization, Penn State University (2005-2006).
  • PhD Representative, English Graduate Organization, Penn State University (2004-2005).
​

Penn State Emerging Leaders & ​StrengthsFinder 2.0 Leadership Series

I'm a member of the 2012 cohort of Penn State Emerging Leaders (PSEL), a competitive, year-long leadership development certificate program. I learned a lot about myself from this program through its heavy emphasis on self-assessment, reflection, and independent workplace learning that includes leadership interviews, job shadowing, and creating a "personal board of mentors." 

I also completed an additional leadership program based on the StrengthsFinder 2.0 program, divided into 5 sessions on the following topics:
  • Recognizing Your Strengths
  • Communication Skills
  • Creating an Empowered Workplace
  • Human Resources Policies and Procedures
  • Project Management

My top 5 strengths (and how they translate into transferable skills):
  1. Context: A cultural historian by training, I find a lot of meaning in the past.  I believe that we need to have a solid grasp of the past to understand where we are in the present, and to prepare for the future. I am good at approaching a problem from many different perspectives, often "seeing the unseen" challenges.
  2. Ideation: I am fascinated by ideas and can find connections among disparate bits of information. My favorite activity is brainstorming. (Personally, I think this should be at the top of my list, but so goes this assessment.)
  3. Learner: I am primarily motivated by learning new information, technology, or skills. I measure a good day by how much new knowledge I've gained.  I am an experienced researcher and thoroughly enjoy taking on new challenges.
  4. Input: I'm an information junkie. I read, read, read.  I can lose myself in any research topic. However, I take all information with a grain of salt and bring a healthy dose of skepticism to all new information I encounter.
  5. Strategic: I am most interested in how big ideas are connected through a series of smaller, interconnected parts. In a group meeting or discussion, I am often the one listening for how each person's individual contributions links up to a greater goal. I am good at finding points of overlap among seemingly disconnected pieces of information.
  6. Achiever: I thrive on being busy, as long as I am busy in a creative and challenging way. (This used to be my #5 the first time I completed StrengthsFinder in 2012, but got debunked more recently.)