I received my Bachelor's degree in English with a Creative Writing emphasis and German minor from Metropolitan State College of Denver in 1981. I later finished my Master's and Ph.D. in Folklore & Mythology from UCLA, with a specialty in Medieval Celtic Literature and Languages; I have also published a number of academic articles in the field of Celtic Studies. In addition to eleven years as a community college instructor in English Composition and Literature and serving on the faculty of Regis University's Online Irish Studies Program, I have tutored English Composition for the past twelve years in the Writing Centers of three different community colleges in the Denver area. A particular joy of mine is working one-on-one with students to improve their analytical and argument essays, which shows off their skills in critical thinking, research, and precise documentation. My tutoring style is interactive and positive; I attempt to engage the student in a productive dialogue about the purposes and goals of the assignment while identifying specific areas for improvement. My approach is always focused on helping the student become a better, more confident writer and thinker, not just on making the paper itself better. Outside of the academic world I love hiking in the mountains, animals, domestic and international travel, live music of many kinds, movies, time with family, and visiting new restaurants with friends.