Sept. 25, 2007 issue

I teach at EMU because EMU students give me hope; hope for a brighter day, a better way, a more humane world.  Their energy, dreams, abilities and ideas inspire me and get me up each morning. I believe that, with faith and sweat, all things are possible.

I try my best to show my students that they share common ground, and to create an environment of trust. I also carry these values while working with the talented graduate students in the Literature Center and competitors on the legendary EMU Forensics team.

I teach at EMU because this community is my home and EMU is my family.  I came here 30 years ago as a first-year student on academic scholarship, pregnant, barely married and very scared. A handful of EMU professors quickly allayed my fear. They opened their hearts and minds, their homes and classrooms, and helped me to learn that education really is the key to liberty. I raised both of my daughters in this community.

Half of my family and most of my friends are EMU alumnus, and I am tremendously proud of their accomplishments. I teach at EMU because EMU teaches me. And while I have taught and still teach K-12 part-time throughout this county, currently with the Ypsilanti Public Schools, Eastern is my anchor. I have huge respect for my colleagues and my concern for these wonderful, hardworking EMU students knows no bounds. EMU is the students and their dreams. It has been a richly rewarding 30 years and I look forward to a few more.

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