“I started my career as an architect but always wanted to pursue writing. I didn’t have the academic background in English or Creative Writing as an undergraduate, so after receiving the Fulbright scholarship I decided to enter the MALS program at Dartmouth College. Here I have been able to successfully fuse my prior experience in design with my interest in writing and its pedagogy.
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“With a background in music and theatre, as well as creative writing, I’ve been an advocate for breaking down cultural barriers through the arts. The full-length plays I’ve written for children, as well as the musical theatre revues I’ve directed for adults, have had this goal in mind. While pursuing an M.F.A. in creative nonfiction at Vermont College of Fine Arts, I traveled to Slovenia and was inspired by the rich literary landscape, which included the crossing of the written word and the performing arts.
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“I live in the Upper Valley and my passion is working with homeless families and youth. I obtained my current position as a family case manager at the Upper Valley Haven, in part, because I am a MALS student. The shelter’s leadership was looking for someone who already had a master’s degree and although I am still currently a student, they hired me partly because of the exceptional reputation of the program knowing that I had a few classes left to earn the actual degree.
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“I didn’t plan to return to Dartmouth after being here as an undergraduate. I had earned my degree in biochemistry/molecular biology and, although I soon discovered that the lab wasn’t for me, I was advancing my career in fulfilling ways. I worked in the Department of Family Services in Clark County and then went on to work on Capitol Hill as constituent liaison for one of the Senators from Nevada. But, I also had been writing poetry for years and had kept it in the background. And then it struck me that maybe I should consider pursuing writing more seriously.
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“I’m currently the minister at the Unitarian Church in Woodstock. I came to Dartmouth feeling compelled to refresh my thinking and get back into study and expand my awareness. Coming to MALS was synaptic; it brought about a myriad of connections and opportunities together for me both personally and professionally.
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