Hi! thanks for stopping by! 

Ever since I was a little girl, I've loved books. My mom tells me that before I was three years old, I had memorized my favorite book, Hansel and Gretel, and could say the words while I turned the pages. I fooled a few visitors into thinking I could read at the age of two. In college I thought I wanted to go to law school, but when I took a class that explored the field of law, I decided that I would probably really like law school, but would hate being a lawyer, so I switched my major to English Education and became a high school English teacher. I loved my high school students and loved teaching, but I also really love being a student, so after my first year teaching, I went back to grad school and got my master's in English from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. After I finished my master's degree, I went back to teaching and taught at an alternative high school (where the "bad" kids got sent--for the record, though, I don't think any of them are/were "bad") in Alexandria, VA. That is one of my most rewarding and life-changing opportunities. I eventually moved back to Utah, taught high school in Salt Lake City (at my high school's rival school) and got married. Knowing my love of being a student, my husband encouraged me to go back to school, so I started a PhD program at the University of Utah in Educational Psychology with an emphasis in Reading & Literacy. Throughout my program, my research has focused on diverse and global children's and young adult literature and writing instruction. A few years into my program, we added twin girls to our family. All of my experiences have developed my passion for diverse and global literature. I want my girls to grow up to be globally-minded, responsible citizens, and I'd love to help you find ways to learn about the world through books.