I am an Associate Professor of Literature and Medicine and the Director of the Health, Medicine, and Society (HMS) Program at Lehigh University with a dual appointment in the Department of English and the HMS Interdisciplinary Program. I studied English as an undergraduate at California State University, San Bernardino, and went on to earn my Master’s and Doctoral degrees in English from the University of California, Riverside. 

​In addition to my academic pursuits in the Humanities, I have long held an interest in health and medicine. Prior to my undergraduate studies, I worked as an EMT and then pursued a degree in exercise physiology before focusing on English. While a student, I also worked as a fitness instructor at an addiction treatment facility, which solidified my interest in health and medicine leading to my completion of a Master’s in Public Health from the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College.

Ever since I can remember, I’ve always known I was destined for a career in academia. I am passionate and dedicated to sharing knowledge and love sparking curiosity and interest through teaching in an engaging, interesting, and thought-provoking manner. I’ve always found many subjects intriguing and captivating, motivating me to investigate and research as many sources of information as I could get my hands on. Looking back, it’s that passion and commitment to exploration and discovery that has contributed to my teaching, research, and publication success. 

Throughout my education and career, I’ve worked on several research projects and have been fortunate to be involved with work published in a variety of different journals and media outlets. Check out my complete curriculum vitae below, and contact me with your questions or if you’d like more detailed information on what I’m working on now.