I grew up in Rocky River, Ohio. I received my Bachelors degree from Kent State University. My major is English, but I also concentrated on Romance Languages and Music. After graduation from Kent State, I completed Masters level coursework in Education and Literature. I also lived in Italy for two years where I studied Piano Performance, Music Theory, and Italian at the Conservatory of Naples. I have taught and tutored students of many ages and backgrounds. I am an adjunct faculty member at a few local career colleges where I teach English Composition, Public Speaking, Business Writing, and Computer Applications. I also teach Piano and Music Theory privately. I have also worked with students in vocational rehabilitation where I concentrated on employment training. I am passionate about teaching and am rewarded by my students' success. I dedicate a lot of time to get to know my students, understand their learning styles, and address any barriers to learning. I work hard to assure my students understand the material very well. At the same time, I work with my students on study skills, so they will continue to be successful learners. I also share my passion for academics to inspire my students to become life-long learners. In my spare time I pursue my hobbies of music composition and creative writing, and most of all, I spend a great deal of time out in nature--hiking, climbing, and walking. I also love gardening!