Saint Michael's College

Title: Associate Professor of Education

Education: A.B. Smith College; M.A., Ed.M., Ed.D. Teachers College, Columbia University

Areas of Expertise/Research Interests: Literacy; Children's Literature; the Teaching Gardens of Saint Michael's College; the role of first-hand experiences in reading, literacy and museum education

Testimonial: At Saint Michael's my teaching is closely related to my intellectual passions: Children's literature, reading, and experiential learning.

What is your favorite class to teach, and why? How can you not love a course where you get to reconnect with Wilbur, Harry Potter, and Knufflebunny? In Children's Literature, my students and I enjoy these books and also develop lenses through which to examine them and reader response in terms of gender, developmental characteristics, culture, and literary motifs.

What kinds of unique opportunities are available to students in your classes or department? Education students collaborate with biology students on the Teaching Gardens of Saint Michael's College. Students in the Children's Literature and Botany courses research children's books featuring flowers and plants for the "Books in Bloom" garden. Together, we design learning materials and experiences in addition to tours for the Saint Michael's College and wider communities.