poet|writer|editor
photo by Dark Lab
photo by Rachel Durrent
BACKGROUND
I'm a Mississippian living in Dothan, Alabama by way of Washington, DC, Tennessee, and Texas. Mom of three; wife of one; collector of 37 mismatched teacups.
EXPERIENCE
After beginning my career at the National Endowment for the Arts in Washington, DC, I spent years teaching writing and working one-on-one with writers at the University of Maryland, Columbia State, and Del Mar College. My work has always centered around words, people, and the details that bring big ideas together — from writing features for regional publications to supporting thousands of attendees and groups through the logistics of FDIC International. Whether editing a draft, interviewing a subject, or coordinating moving parts behind a large-scale event, I’m drawn to work that requires curiosity, organization, and thoughtful attention to detail.
Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, Poetry (2014)
University of Maryland, College Park
Title of Thesis: The Weight of Living directed by Dr. Elizabeth Arnold. Committee members: Dr. Stanley Plumly, Dr. Joshua Weiner, and Michael Collier.
Bachelor of Arts in English and Political Science (2010)
University of Mississippi, Oxford
Professional Writing Consultant, Del Mar College (2016-2021)
English Composition Instructor, Columbia State Community College (2014-2015)
American Literature Instructor, Columbia State Community College (2014-2015)
Composition and Rhetoric Instructor, University of Maryland (2012-2013)
Literature Division Graduate Intern, National Endowment for the Arts (2012)
2022 Fish Poetry Prize, judged by Billy Collins, Fish Publishing
2022 Literary Artist Fellowship Grant in poetry, Mississippi Arts Commission
2013 Lannan Poetry Fellow, appointed by The Folger Shakespeare Library
2013 Academy of American Poets Poetry Prize, University of Maryland
2010 Ella Somerville Award in Poetry, University of Mississippi
Professional Writing Consultant at The Stone Writing Center
• Del Mar College, Corpus Christi, TX
• Tutored students and community members, helping their writing and research skills in communicating critical thought. Clients included individuals who were ESL all the way to PhD students.
• Supported student learning of grammar, composition, and research through instruction, resources, and technology.
English 1010: “Composition 1”
• Columbia State Community College, Nashville, TN
• Introduced students to writing and evaluating argumentative essays, developing awareness of rhetorical techniques used in persuasive writing, and applying argumentative elements and research in assigned papers.
ENGL 2130: “American Literature”
• Columbia State Community College, Nashville, TN
• Survey of American Literature is a reading course that focuses on critical analysis of representative works from the Colonial era to the present.
ENGL 1101: “Composition and Rhetoric”
• University of Maryland, College Park
• Introduced students to personal and argumentative writing through a teaching method rooted in process pedagogy.
The Bend Magazine
“Seven Most Beautiful Women Inside and Out”
“Legacy of the Lexington”
“Atelier Salon”
“One Tequila, Two Tequila, Three Tequila, More!”
“Hospital Heroes: The Pivotal Profession of Nursing”
“The Harbor Playhouse Theatre: Works of Art By the Community and For the Community”
“Live with What You Love”
“Stop and Smell the Rosé: Homegrown Hobby to Burgeoning Business”
“Beauty and Taste”
“Tragedy to Treasure”
“Staying Afloat”
Portico Jackson Magazine
“Museum Makers and Storytellers”
“Family Fare”
“Media Room Makeover”
“ArtHunt Gallery”
“Ridgeland Festival Weekend”
“Lost Cities of Mississippi”
“Every Little Thing They Do Is Magic: Love, Art, and a Whole Lot of Glitter”
“A Musical Mission: an Inside Look Into the Talented Group Preserving Some of Mississippi’s Oldest Music”
Inspire Coastal Bend Business and Medical Magazine
“Passion and Progress: Business Cover Story”
“Caribbean Crusade: A World-Class Endeavor by the Texas State Aquarium”
“Energy to Expand: Business Cover Story”
The Scout Guide—Jackson, Mississippi
“Tie the Knot on Trend”
Mississippi Magazine
“Cryotherapy”
