Biography
As a lifelong learner and avid gardener, I'm thrilled to find myself managing the Master Gardener Program. I enjoy working with—and am learning so much from—Master Gardener volunteers and county program coordinators.
I am, first and foremost, an educator who enjoys engaging with all kinds of people. Throughout my career, I have focused on designing inclusive, meaningful learning experiences—digital and analog—and leading teams that do the same. My work as statewide manager of the OSU Extension Master Gardener Program builds on my extensive expertise and experience in formal and informal learning environments. Before arriving at OSU, I served Boise State's students as an associate professor of History and supported faculty as associate director of the Center for Teaching and Learning. My professional experience includes instructional design, faculty development, academic and emerging technologies, exhibition design, and open educational resources, as well as writing, marketing, and publishing.
As an academic, I have taught courses in history, American studies, gender studies, education, museum studies, literature, and composition. As an historian, my research has focused on the experiences of women scientists working in natural history institutions like museums, botanical gardens, herbaria, and zoos. I also have investigated how laypeople use the past and "do" history, especially using social, digital technologies. I hold a Ph.D. in cultural studies and an M.A. in creative writing from the University of California, Davis. My B.A. is in English from Grinnell College.
