I've been teaching in higher education -- at community colleges and universities -- for over twenty-five years, beginning my career as a teacher at a community college in 1995 in my Canadian hometown, and yes, Canada is where I was born. I got married to a Canadian in 1997 and moved with my husband to the U.S. in 1998 to pursue a Ph.D. in English Literature at UCSB after having completed a B.A. in English (Creative Writing emphasis) and an M.A. in English (Cultural Studies emphasis) at the University of Windsor. I started teaching at Oxnard College and Ventura College in 2005 as soon as I received my green card and thus permission to work outside the confines of my F-1/I-90 status as an international student. On a more personal note, we've been rescuing dogs since moving to California, whether as fosters or adoptees, and have been raising our daughter since July, 2010. While juggling research, reading, parenting, and teaching, I also write creatively every morning (see some publications below).