EDUCATION Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, June 2000 Secondary emphases in Teaching Creative Writing; Literary Editing and Design Eastern Washington University, Cheney, Washington Overall GPA: 3.94/4.00 Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, December 1996 Minor in Environmental Studies Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio Overall GPA: 3.42/4.00   ACADEMIC AWARDS & HONORS Nomination, Faculty Award for Teaching, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY, academic year 2007-8 Graduate Assistantship: Tuition waiver and stipend, academic year 1999-2000 Graduate Assistantship: Tuition waiver, academic year 1998-9 Dean’s List, All “A”: Spring 1996, Fall 1995, Spring 1995, Fall 1990 Dean’s List, 3.5 and Above: Fall 1996   WRITING AWARDS, GRANTS, & HONORS Dorothy Norton Clay Fellowship, The Mary Anderson Center for the Arts, Mount St. Francis, Indiana, 2007 Bernheim Writer-in-Residence, Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest, Clermont, Kentucky, May-Aug. 2006 Grand Prizewinner, Santa Fe Writers Project 2005 Awards Program 1st Place, Many Mountains Moving 2005 Flash Fiction Contest Finalist, Glimmer Train Stories October 2003 Poetry Open Finalist, Glimmer Train Stories April 2003 Poetry Open 1st Place, Eastern Washington University MFA Short Story Competition, to represent EWU’s Creative Writing Graduate Program in its entry to Best New American Voices 2000 Ohio Public Images Award of Merit, in the category of writers in daily newspapers with a circulation of less than 100,000 (1996)   PUBLICATIONS (listed by genre) Creative nonfiction “Holy.” Rock & Sling: A Journal of Literature, Art, and Faith 3.1 (Spring 2006): 46-48. “Itam.” A Life Inspired: Tales of Peace Corps Service. Washington, DC: U.S. Peace Corps, 2006. 89-95. “The Missionary Position: A Personal Exploration of the Politics of Persuasion in Central Asia.” Rock & Sling: A Journal of Literature, Art, and Faith 2.1 (Spring 2005): 84-117. “ Silk Road Tales.” Peace Corps in Central Asia . CD-ROM. Washington , DC : U.S. Peace Corps, 2004. “A Day in the Life: Kazakhstan.” 3 July 2003. U.S. Peace Corps. Reprinted in Peace Corps in Central Asia. CD-ROM. Washington, DC: U.S. Peace Corps, 2004.   Fiction “The Great Silver Cactus of Driggs, Idaho.” Lake Effect 12 (Spring 2008): 22-31. “Accomplices to a Tradition.” Rosebud Magazine 38 (Spring 2007): 68-71. “Every Living Thing That Moves.” Isotope: A Journal of Literary Nature and Science Writing 4.2 (Fall/Winter 2006): 40-47. “Stars.” sfwp.org: an online literary journal. 24 April 2006. The Santa Fe Writers Project. “Nuclear Toughskins.” Many Mountains Moving Online. 31 Jan. 2006. Reprinted in Many Mountains Moving 7.1 (Fall 2006): 13-14. “The Priest.” Rock & Sling: A Journal of Literature, Art, and Faith 1.1 (Fall 2004): 68-84. “Going for Broke.” Scent of Cedars: Promising Writers of the Pacific Northwest . Ed. Anne Schroeder. Santa Margarita: Russell Dean & Co., 2002. 155-175. Reprinted in Aethlon: The Journal of Sports Literature 20.2 (Spring 2003): 65-81.   Nonfiction—Author Interview “Digging In: Wendell Berry on Small Farms, Local Wisdom, and the Folly of Greed.” The Sun 391 (July 2008): 4-11.   Nonfiction—Book Review Review of Peter Chilson’s Disturbance-Loving Species (New York: Mariner Books, 2007). Washington State Magazine 8.1 (Spring 2008): 60.   Nonfiction—Journalism Approximately 300 by-lined publications from 1992-2001 in the Boise Weekly, Bowling Green (Ohio) Sentinel-Tribune, Cleveland Scene Magazine, Coeur, Communiqué, Hilltopics, Park City (Utah) Mountain Times, This! Magazine, Wood Lane News, and WSU Week.   Poetry “Little River Almanac.” Blue Earth Review 5 (Spring 2007): 57. “Lake.” Permafrost 27 (Summer 2005): 70-75.   Academic “Differences Between the American and Kazakhstani Higher Education Systems: How Understanding Them Will Aid the Current Educational Transition.” Международное сотрудничество и прогрессивные технологии в высшем образовании (International Partnership and Progressive Technologies in Higher Education). Almaty: IPPT, 2005. 5-20. “Differences Between the American and Kazakhstani University Systems, and How Understanding Them Will Aid the Coming Educational Transition.” Improving English Language Instruction: “The Long Winding Road.” Shymkent: Miras University, 2004. 50-63. “Introducing Critical Thinking into the EFL Classroom.” Труды Международной Научно-практической конференции «Новые образовательные технологии как фактор устойчивого развития экономики» (Works of the International Scientific-Practical Conference “New Educational Technologies as a Factor in the Stable Development of the Economy”). Shymkent: Miras University , 2003. 372-6. “Using Creative Writing in the EFL Classroom.” Труды Международной Научно-практической конференции «Новые образовательные технологии как фактор устойчивого развития экономики» (Works of the International Scientific-Practical Conference “New Educational Technologies as a Factor in the Stable Development of the Economy”). Shymkent: Miras University, 2003. 379-83.   UNIVERSITY TEACHING & HIGHER EDUCATION EXPERIENCE Writing Instructor/Managing Editor, Alligator Juniper, Prescott College, Prescott, AZ, academic year 2008-9 Visiting Assistant Professor in Creative Writing, Western Kentucky University, academic year 2007-8 English and Creative Writing Instructor, Western Kentucky University, academic year 2006-7 English Instructor, Academy of Languages, Shymkent, Kazakhstan, academic years 2002-3, 2003-4, and 2005-6 (Fall semester) Manager, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, Edmund S. Muskie Graduate Fellowship Program, International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX), Almaty, Kazakhstan/Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Oct. 2004-Oct. 2005 English Instructor, Washington State University, Pullman, Wash., academic year 2001-2 Information Specialist II, Washington State University, July 2000-Aug. 2001 Director, Writers in the Community, Eastern Washington University, academic year 1999-2000 Assistant Director, Writers in the Community, Eastern Washington University, academic year 1998-9   UNIVERSITY COURSES TAUGHT American Literature Fiction Writing Technical & Professional Writing Conversational English Introduction to College Writing Writing About Literature Creative Writing Introduction to Literature Writing in the Disciplines Critical Thinking Introduction to Writing Written English   WRITING & EDITORIAL EXPERIENCE Technical Writing Skills Consultant, Academy for Educational Development, USAID/CAR Regional Training Program, Almaty, Kazakhstan/Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Sept. 2004 Editor, Washington State University Press, Pullman, Wash., Nov. 2000-Aug. 2001 Production Editor, Willow Springs, Spokane, Wash., Jan. 1999-June 2000 Assistant Editor, Willow Springs, Sept.-Dec. 1998 Intern, Eastern Washington University Press,  Spokane, Wash., Winter 2000 quarter Arts Editor, Boise Weekly, Boise, Idaho, July 1997-Aug. 1998 Religion Editor, Sentinel-Tribune, Bowling Green, Ohio, Feb.-June 1997 Staff Writer, Sentinel-Tribune, Nov. 1994-Feb. 1997   Workshops & Seminars Conducted “Solitude and Story: A Contemplative Writing Workshop” (co-leader with Dianne Aprile) Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest, Clermont, KY, 17-18 May 2008 “The Golden Road to Samarkand (or Any Other Destination, Including Home): Writing About Place” Winter Wheat: The Mid-American Review Festival of Writing, Bowling Green State University, 10 Nov. 2007 “Without and Within: Nature as Catalyst for Writing” Bernheim Writer-in-Residence public workshop, Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest, Clermont, Kentucky, 16 July 2006 “How to Write a Winning Statement of Purpose” Teachers of English of Shymkent (TESh) workshop, Shymkent, Kazakhstan, 9 Feb. 2006 U.S. Government Exchange Program Alumni Workshop, Almaty, Kazakhstan, 28 Sept. 2005 “Differences Between the American and Kazakhstani Higher Education Systems: How Understanding Them Will Aid the Current Educational Transition” Second Republic of Kazakhstan Workshop on International Partnership and Progressive Technologies in Higher Education, Almaty, Kazakhstan, 28 April 2005 “Differences Between the American and Kazakhstani University Systems, and How Understanding Them Will Aid the Coming Educational Transition” TESh workshop, Shymkent, Kazakhstan, 11 May 2004 Fourth National Association of Teachers of English of Kazakhstan (NATEK) Conference, Shymkent, Kazakhstan, 23 April 2004 “How to Write American-Style CVs, Resumes, and Cover Letters” TESh workshop, Shymkent, Kazakhstan, 9 Oct. 2003 “Introducing Critical Thinking into the EFL Classroom” U.S. Peace Corps Kaz-17 Pre-Service Training, Panfilova, Kazakhstan, 17 Aug. 2005 Second Central Asian Teachers of English Conference, Turkistan, Kazakhstan, 19 June 2003 Third NATEK Conference, Shymkent, Kazakhstan, 17 June 2003 U.S. Peace Corps All-Volunteer Conference, Arasan, Kazakhstan, 26 March 2003 TESh workshop, Shymkent, Kazakhstan, 11 Dec. 2002 American Councils for International Education (ACCELS in Kazakhstan) seminar, Shymkent, Kazakhstan, 7 Nov. 2002 “Using Creative Writing in the EFL Classroom” Third NATEK Conference, Shymkent, Kazakhstan, 17 June 2003 TESh workshop, Shymkent, Kazakhstan, 15 April 2003   SPECIAL TRAINING CONDUCTED Education Specialist Assistant, U.S. Peace Corps Kaz-13 Pre-Service Training, Yesik, Kazakhstan, June-July 2003   SPECIAL TRAINING RECEIVED U.S. Peace Corps Kaz-11 Pre-Service Training, Almaty/Kainazar/Talgar/Yesik, Kazakhstan, June-Aug. TEFL Technical Program (86 hours) Russian-Kazakh Language Program (138 hours) Cross-Cultural Program (40 hours) Immersion Teaching/Practicum (40 hours): Gymnasium No. 8., Talgar, Kazakhstan, 1-2 July and 5-9 Aug. 2002; Institute of Languages and Translation, Almaty, Kazakhstan, 29 July-2 Aug. 2002   SELECTED MEMBERSHIPS & VOLUNTEER SERVICE ACTIVITIES Association of Writers and Writing Programs: Member, 2000-present Modern Language Association: Member, 2007-present U.S. Peace Corps Kazakhstan/U.S. Agency for International Development: Small Project Assistance Grants Committee member, Nov. 2004-Oct. 2005 U.S. Peace Corps Kazakhstan: TEFL volunteer, June 2002-June 2004 Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (international university advancement organization): Member and active participant, July 2000-Aug. 2001 Log Cabin Literary Center (Idaho Writers’ Center): Member and active participant, 1998-9 Idaho Press Club: Member, 1997-8 Undergrowth (BGSU-sanctioned undergraduate creative writing club): Active participant, Fall semester 1995-Fall semester 1996 BGSU Creative Writing Alumni Association: Undergraduate Representative, Spring 1996   Selected Public Readings “Jazz and the Spoken Word”: The Jazz Factory, Louisville, Kentucky; 25 July 2007 “Magic at the Mount”: The Mary Anderson Center for the Arts, Mount St. Francis, Indiana; 9 June 2007 Faculty Reading: Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, Kentucky; 27 March 2007 Third Tuesday Coffeehouse series sponsored by Brescia University: Woodward’s at the RiverPark Center, Owensboro, Kentucky; 20 Feb. 2007 “Jazz and the Spoken Word”: The Jazz Factory, Louisville, Kentucky; 16 Aug. 2006 Bernheim Writer-in-Residence Public Reading: Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest, Clermont, Kentucky; 9 Aug. 2006 Muhammad Ali Center, Louisville, Kentucky; 27 July 2006 “Jazz and the Spoken Word”: The Jazz Factory, Louisville, Kentucky; 19 July 2006 Reading from A Life Inspired: Tales of Peace Corps Service: Hamilton County Public Library, Cincinnati, Ohio; 28 June 2006 U.S. Embassy in Almaty Poetry Series: Coffeedelia Coffeehouse, Almaty, Kazakhstan; 28 July 2005 MFA Thesis Reading: City Hall, Spokane, Washington; 8 June 2000 “Get Lit!”: As a scheduled reader at the “Get Lit!” literary festival, Tai on First, Spokane, Washington; 22 Oct. 1999 “A Gilded Evening”: Paid reading of the works of Mark Twain, Boise Art Museum, Boise, Idaho; 11 June 1998 BFA Thesis Reading: Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio; December 1996   Languages Russian American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages conversational score of “intermediate mid,” March 2004 Spanish SPAN 101: Elementary Spanish I (4 credits), SPAN 102: Elementary Spanish II (4 credits), and SPAN 201: Intermediate Spanish (3 credits), Bowling Green State University, Spring 1995-Fall 1996