I have always loved to learn new things!  I think it keeps me young and curious about life in general.  

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School was always a fun and interesting place for me because it combined socializing with learning.  It's no wonder that I kept going to school until I received a Ph.D. from Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, in 1992.  I taught in the Modern Languages Department at Augsburg College for several years while raising my three daughters.  However, adjunct teaching positions don't pay very well, so I took an extension class in grant writing which moved me into the world of grants administration at the University of Minnesota for the remainder of my career.

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I'm retired from higher education now and loving it!  I never imagined a world where I could begin another "career" working for myself in the field for which I was trained -- literature.  I feel strongly that music and the arts make our world a better place and am an enthusiastic supporter of public TV and radio. I believe the arts can move us toward the common good, common ground, and our common humanity.

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Born in Iowa and raised in Minnesota, I have visited over 35 states in the U.S., and have lived in England, Mexico, and Germany.  My favorite places include the Grand Canyon, the BWCA, and NYC.