I am routinely reminded by my students, friends, and family that I am a total nerd. I embrace that! Among things I completely geek out over:
SCHOOL – If being a student was a full-time career, I’d sign up in a heartbeat! As it is not, I teach. And I love it! I’m always trying to innovate, to learn, and to build on the tried-and-true with new ideas and approaches.
My Top 3 Educational Experiences :
1. Studying abroad (Nantes, France; Lyon, France)
2. Being a class of 2018 NEA Foundation Global Learning Fellow
3. My First Term Seminar about social activism at Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, MN
GRAMMAR – There’s something about grammar in any language that is so beautifully fascinating to me, and I think the Oxford comma is one of mankind’s greatest accomplishments. I don’t condone “drill and kill” instruction, but there is something special that happens when you can break down languages in a fun way that helps kids understand the interconnection of our linguistic heritage with others around the world.
My Top 3 Grammatical Pet Peeves:
1. Love, The Smith’s on holiday cards
2. possessive vs. plural errors on advertisements for businesses*
3. misspelling of French words on American businesses*
*both fantastic ways to make me not patronize your business
INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL – You know that feeling when you check another country off your list on the Been app? I live for that! Regularly taking students abroad has been among the most rewarding professional experiences of my career, and teaching seniors how to travel cheaply after they’re on their own is always a part of spring semester.
My Top 3 Travel Experiences:
1. honeymoon to New Zealand (adventure on the south island!) and Tahiti
2. backpacking through western Europe with my best friend
3. safari at Pilanesberg National Park in South Africa
ROCK MUSIC – My absolute dream job? Photographer for Rolling Stone. I love everything having to do with rock (good rock…not anything like Nickelback…I’m not a heathen). My dog’s name is Fender, my son’s middle name is McCartney, my daughter’s name is steeped in rock history (including being partially named after a Guns n’ Roses song), and I love everything Dave Grohl.
My Top 3 Concert Experiences:
1. Seeing Paul McCartney live. He is a god.
2. Seeing Aerosmith when I was 19. Front row. Steven Tyler sang to me, and Joey Kramer handed me his drumstick.
3. Seeing/Hearing Eddie Van Halen play “Eruption” live. Twice.
4. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers concert at Red Rocks
5. U2 in the pouring rain at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
Oh? That was more than 3? Oops.
