My philosophy of teaching draws from critical pedagogy and the idea of a student-centered classroom. My job is less about teaching than about helping students to learn. I choose texts that are classic, provocative, beautiful, challenging, weird, fun, or some combination of those. I sometimes ask students to suggest readings and I always welcome suggestions, even if I don't incorporate them immediately into a given class. I sometimes provide background information but always want to know how students respond to materials. I ask questions and I solicit them. I provide exercises, facilitate discussions, offer feedback, and press for clear, cogent, critical thinking and writing. On a good day, I learn things myself.

I helped found the Women's and Gender Studies program at Willamette. I teach courses in American literature, literary and feminist theory, science fiction, fairy tales, and film studies.

My own writing has focused on feminist and queer theory, narrative studies, and, increasingly, on film.