• 1991    Doctor of Philosophy, English, University of Kentucky
• 1998    Master of Arts, Written Communication, Eastern Michigan University
• 1984    Master of Arts, English, Ohio State University
• 1979    Bachelor of Arts, English, Ohio State University

• NEH Distinguished Teaching Professor in the Humanities, Madonna University, 2001-2003
• Chair, Department of English & Communication Arts, Madonna University, 1998-2000
• Editor, Madonna Mind, 1997-1999

• Department of English and Communication Arts, Madonna University, Livonia, Michigan
• Professor, 2004-Present
  Associate Professor, 2000-2004
  Assistant Professor, 1995-99
  Adjunct Instructor, 1991-95
• Department of English, University of Michigan-Dearborn, Dearborn, Michigan
  Adjunct Instructor, 1990-94
• Department of English, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
  Teaching Assistant, 1984-90
• Department of English, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
  Teaching Assistant, 1983-84

• 1994    Faculty Excellence Award, Madonna University
• 1987    Distinguished Teaching Award, University of Kentucky

"Sister's Story: A Performance Analysis of Why I Live at the P.O."
“‘I’ve knowed de lawd to use cuiser tools dan dat’: The Easter Service in The Sound and the Fury”
"Hurston's High John and Douglass's Root: The Art of 'Tropological Revision'"

“Losing Battles and One Writer’s Beginnings: Object, Story, and Memoir as ‘Life Review.’”
        Eudora Welty Newsletter 27, no. 1 (2003 Winter): 14-17.

“Grant Hill.” Great Athletes, Revision. Salem Press. 2001. (1000 words, by-line)

“Tommie Smith.” Great Athletes, Revision. Salem Press. 2001. (1000 words, by-line)

“Cow-Tail Switch: The Teaching and Storytelling of Gloria Lamb.” Madonna Mind 14 (2001): 7-13.

“John Henry Myth.” African American Encyclopedia, Revised Edition. Salem Press. 2000. (250 words, no by-line)

“Larsen, Nella.” African American Encyclopedia, Revised Edition. 2000. Salem Press. (250 words, no by-line)

“Till, Emmet.” African American Encyclopedia, Revised Edition. 2000. Salem Press. (250 words, no by-line)

“Circuit Riding.” The Supreme Court. Salem Press. 2000. (250 words, by-line)

“Poll Taxes.” The Supreme Court. Salem Press. 2000. (250 words, by-line)

“Sponsoring Students’ Work in the Madonna Mind.” Madonna Mind 10 (1999): 26.

"'Resisting Readers': Two Students Responding to Hurston's Their Eyes and Momaday's Rainy Mountain."
        Madonna Mind 6 (1996): 3-14.

“Portfolios in the Literature Classroom: Pedagogical and Assessment Tool.”
        Michigan College English Association Journal 1 (1995): 56-66.

“‘My name’s not Hugo, you fool. I’m JACK!’: An Analysis of Gurney Norman’s Ancient Creek.”
        Journal of Kentucky Studies 12 (1995): 119-27.

“The Personal Narrative in Fiction: Faulkner’s The Reivers.” Western Folklore 51 (1992): 11-21.

Professional Associations

• American Folklore Society
• Michigan College English Association
• Midwest Modern Language Association
• Modern Language Association
• National Council for Teachers of English
• Eudora Welty Society
• William Faulkner Society