I have been variously described as "resilient, resourceful, and relentless"; "a real tough lady"; and "like Fiddler on the Roof gone trash." I should more properly describe myself as a storyteller, teacher, historian, and critic with capacious intellectual interests, strong personal commitments to equity and justice, and a surprisingly tender heart. Here at Vitae, I write about identity, intersectionality, and mental health in the academy (and everything in between).

I received a B.A. with highest honors in American Studies from Smith College and an M.A. in United States history from the University of California, Berkeley, where I am completing a dissertation that involves watching a lot of television. That project is going to take . . . as long as it takes. I also studied nonfiction writing and radio production at the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies and received further radio training at Chicago Public Radio.

Some dubious personal and professional accomplishments include serving as a first-round juror for a Jewish poetry contest, officiating several weddings, training for and completing a 100-mile bike ride, and moving across the country with two cats and a dog. I like big earrings, lime seltzer, yoga, rock climbing, biking, and strong coffee.

I sometimes write under a pseudonym, but that's more "open secret" than "secret identity."