 I was born in Chicago. I went to a Bible school, Moody Bible Institute, and I went to Eastern College near Philadelphia. I was a religion major with a philosophy minor. I had a great job. I was a schoolless driver. I decided to go for a master's degree and a PhD so somebody could pay me to read. I started in CCU in 2002. The big thing that I've learned from Dr. Black has been just always be a seeker, seeking to understand more of other people's perspectives. Because that's the only way you're going to be able to engage with them effectively and lovingly. We often joke in the department that she's the adult in the room because she always knows what needs to be done and how to motivate us to get those things done. I think she's worked tremendously hard. She brings years of expertise and experience to the classroom. She's an asset to the English department and any student would be fortunate to have her as a professor. And she is the epitome of an English nerd, but she's just filled with so much intellect and so much wisdom and she loves her students very well. You can tell that by the way she invests into her lesson plans. Another way that I develop students besides giving them challenging text to read and talking about the text with them is living my life before them. I'm a mom. I'm a grand mom. I'm a life. I have a home nearby. They come to my home sometimes. And I was a foster parent for many, many years of my life. So there are other children who for a time in their life would have called me mom. I'm an avid gardener. I love art. I love pottery. I'm an adventurous cook. Students across CC have tasted my cooking. The number one thing that I want students to have grasped from me is that God loves everyone. God even loves the villains in the story. I think that love of language, I think it was born in me. I think it's part of who I am. I think it's what God's purposed me to do all along.