My path has always followed story. For nearly two decades, I’ve worked in higher education, where my teaching has centered on writing and creative expression, and my administrative work has supported faculty development and student success initiatives.

My research explores how identity and resilience emerge from place. I’m especially drawn to the ways Appalachian students navigate growth and grit, and how their experiences challenge traditional narratives. In my creative writing, I return often to themes of belonging and transformation, examining the tension between memory and possibility.

Place-based learning has shaped everything I do. I believe that where we’re from influences how we think, how we teach, and how we grow. That belief has guided my work in classrooms, in workshops across the region, and in the communities I serve. I’ve trained with Harvard’s Women in Higher Education Leadership Institute and earned certification as a DiSC facilitator, which enables me to design experiences centered on connection and storytelling.

As a writer, I continue to publish work that reflects on identity and voice. As a speaker, I bring those ideas into conversation to offer keynotes and workshops that help others explore their own stories and turn them into strength.

For me, storytelling is more than expression; it is a way of making meaning. When we share our stories, we invite others to see us more clearly and to reflect on their own paths. My work blends scholarship with creativity. I draw from research in education and Appalachian studies, but I also lean into the power of narrative to foster growth. Whether I’m guiding a classroom discussion, facilitating a workshop, or mentoring a writer through a manuscript, I return to the same core idea: our stories hold strength.