I have taught Women's
and Gender Studies, Comparative Literature, Expository Writing
and French language and literature at Rutgers.
I even taught Shaping a Life about a million years ago. Most recently I
developed a Women's and Gender Studies course on Women and Advertising
which is usually offered in the summer and winter sessions.
I was born and raised in
Baltimore, Maryland. I enjoy cooking, reading, movies, and
Scrabble, among other things. I am interested
in anthropology and like watching nature shows on PBS. Favorite
music includes Ella Fitzgerald, Joni Mitchell, the Beach
Boys, classical music, and lots of random stuff. In February of 2000 I
appeared
on the game show "Who Wants to be a Millionaire," but tragically failed
to get into the "hot seat." Several of my WCS students were huddled in
a Rutgers dorm room ready to be a phone-a-friend, but that call never
came!
Finally, I believe that FUN is a quality that is sadly too often
overlooked
in college (and other) classrooms. If you are thinking about being a
teacher I invite you to come have a chat about your plans sometime.
Some quotes that I like:
"Teachers have to impart a body of knowledge, but learners have to discover that knowledge for themselves in order to internalize it -- how can teachers at the same time give it to them and make them discover it on their own? This question is the fundamental paradox of education." Claire Kramsch
"Teaching is a performative act. And it is that aspect of our work that offers the space for change,invention, spontaneous shifts, that can serve as a catalyst drawing out the unique elements in each classroom. To embrace the performative aspect of teaching we are compelled to engage "audience," to consider issues of reciprocity. Teachers are not performers in the traditional sense of the word in that our work is not meant to be a spectacle. Yet it is meant to serve as a catalyst that calls everyone to become more and more engaged, to become active participants in learning." bell hooks, from her book Teaching to Trangress, (Routledge, 1994)