I am a graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park, where I earned a Ph.D. in Rhetoric and Composition. I have been teaching college writing courses such as Introduction to Academic Writing, Writing about Literature, and Advanced Composition since 1999. Throughout most of my undergraduate and graduate studies, I tutored students in reading, writing, and grammar. Also, I taught and tutored students preparing for the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) from 2003-2011. Teaching and tutoring are acts of service based on my obligation to care for the intellectual, economic, and cultural development of my students. Teaching and tutoring are lifetime pledges to show my students the goodness that is in them and in the world. By fostering an atmosphere of positive expectations from the outset, I imbue my teaching with a sense of faith by showing my students that I believe in them and in their ability to succeed.

Knowing that all students have a right to high-quality education, I challenge my students during our tutoring sessions to do more than absorb material for an examination or a paper. I keep their eyes on the big picture of their work as they practice self-discipline, perseverance, and commitment. In this way, my students learn that they are strong, that they have worth and that they can endure. Also, I encourage my students to think critically about our lessons outside of our tutoring sessions so that they can communicate their ideas effectively as responsible and productive members of our democracy. I remind my students that effective communication in writing comes with mastering the conventions of edited American English so that their writing flows intelligently and coherently with grace and sophistication. As my students write this way, they become stronger versions of themselves as they evolve on a progressive, on-going continuum. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, exercising, playing chess, and meditating.