Why FSU?

My creative writing is often very influenced by research and experience, and often, my writing explores the natural world. I was interested in the landscape surrounding Tallahassee as well as the research that was being done at the university and the ability of students to have access to knowledge through programs like the FSU Coastal and Marine Laboratory Lecture Series. FSU also has a growing ecocriticism department, which seems somewhat rare among universities, and this was an area I was interested in gaining more knowledge—it's now my minor area of study. And of course, FSU has a very highly rated Creative Writing Program in the Department of English with amazing faculty who I was interested in learning from.

Motivation to pursue a graduate degree

I am drawn to academia because I'm curious about and fascinated by everything around me. I love being in a place where I am constantly learning, whether from my own research or from the writing my students produce. I also wanted more teaching experience and the time and ability to work on my writing.

Importance and/or impact of research and work

“Nature writing” is a genre of creative writing I find compelling both because it aligns with my personal interests and because I see enormous potential in the genre. There is an enduring problem of diversity and representation in nature writing; the genre has long been critiqued for perpetuating overused tropes that exclude varied perspectives. For example, one of the most common tropes is one perpetuated by Henry David Thoreau wherein nature should be utilized for solitude and isolation, a trope that preserves nature for a select few who are privileged to escape into wild places. Through my writing, I explore how nature can become a more inclusive space—a space of belonging—especially for neurodiverse individuals and people who might benefit from community rather than isolation.

Career aspirations

As a teacher, I want to foster a love of creative writing in my students and help them deepen their understanding of craft. As a writer, I want to add depth and complexity to the nature writing genre by widening the scope and perspectives that are valued in this type of writing.

Advice for anyone considering graduate school

There are so many opportunities available in graduate school—take advantage of as many as you can. Apply for fellowships and grants, attend conferences, and really utilize resources offered to you.

Accomplishments during graduate career

My dissertation is a collection of essays on birds and mental illness, and I have published some of those essays in journals such as Hobart Pulp, The Citron Review, and Entropy. I have also published an essay on teaching in assay: a journal of nonfiction studies, and was recently nominated for "Best of the Net," an anthology of the best creative writing from the internet, for my piece "On Weeds and Healing" in The Dodge.

I am also a recipient of a few awards from the Department of English: The Adam M. Johnson Endowed Award for Excellence in Creative Writing, Sassaman Graduate Critical Writing Award, and William Lee Pryor English Award.