My Name Would Be Here,
But I'm Being, Anon, a Mouse
Education
Doctor
of Philosophy, English, ABD.
Kent State University, Kent, OH
Dissertation: The Sense and Sensibility of the Nineteenth-century Fantastic
Committee: Dr. Kathe Davis (CD), Dr. Margaret Shaw (CD), Dr. Donald Hassler, Dr. Mark Bracher, Dr. Julia Gergits
Courses finished (3.789); Language: Latin
Specialties: Nineteenth-century British Literature, Jane Austen, and Twentieth-century British SF&F Satire.
Science
Fiction Foundation Masterclass. London, England. June 20-22, 2008.
Master
of Arts, English (4.0), May 2004
Youngstown State University, Youngstown, OH
Thesis: “Aspects of Humanity: The Discworld Novels of Terry Pratchett”
Committee: Dr. Julia Gergits (D), Dr. Thomas Copeland, Dr. Stephanie Tingley
Bachelor
of Arts, English; Minor, History, Magna Cum Laude, May 2002
Youngstown State University, Youngstown, OH
Dean’s List
Lakeland
Community College, non-degree
seeking student, June 1997
Kirtland, OH
Dean’s List
Professional Activities
Peer Reviewer
· Journal of the Fantastic in the Arts. Dracula. 2009.
· Journal of the Fantastic in the Arts. Dracula and Psychoanalytic Theory. 2009.
· Journal of the Fantastic in the Arts. Fantasy and Cultural Studies. 2008.
Selected Publications
· “The 19th-Century Foundations of the Discworld.” New York Review of Science Fiction, July 2009.
· “Impressed By Our Leadership.” Fantastic Machinations. David G. Hartwell and Judy Collins McCormick, Eds., 2009.
· “Greebo,” “Parody,” “Vimes, Samuel,” “Weatherwax, Lily,” “Weatherwax, Granny,” “Websites,” and “Witches.” A Fan’s Companion to Terry Pratchett. Ed. Andrew Butler, Greenwood Press, 2008.
· Review of The Matrix Trilogy: Cyberpunk Reloaded, Science Fiction Studies, Volume 34, 2007.
· Reviews for New York Review of Science Fiction, 2004-present, including Brian Francis Slattery’s Spaceman Blues, Michael Arnzen’s Play Dead, James Patrick Kelly’s Burn, Wil McCarthy’s To Crush the Moon, and Frank M. Robinson’s The Donor.
· “Reinventing the Spiel: Old Stories, New Approaches.” with Dr. Joseph L. Sanders, The Sandman Papers, Fantagraphics, May 2006.
· Review of AlienWoman: The Making of Lt. Ellen Ripley. Journal of the Fantastic in the Arts 16.2, Spring 2006.
· “A Pussy in Black Leather: Greebo and the Queer Aesthetic.” Vector #240, British Science Fiction Association, Mar/Apr. 2005.
· Cover Review of Orjan Westin & Marco Villalta’s Ill in Anorankhmar. Mad Cow Press, 2004.
· ”Death and the Maiden: Using Ultimate Reality to Realize Ultimate Humanity.” Guilty of Literature, Second Edition. August 2004.
Conference Participation
· “The 19th-Century Foundations of the Discworld.” International Conference on the Fantastic in the Arts, March 22, 2009.
· “Recent Dracula Scholarship/Vampires and Immortality” Panelist, International Conference on the Fantastic in the Arts, March 22, 2009.
· “Smut and Nothing But.” Panelist, International Conference on the Fantastic in the Arts, March 21, 2009.
· “Guilty of Literature: The Nineteenth-Century Discworld.” 2008 Discworld Convention, August 23, 2008.
· “In the Dark of the Knight: Chaucer’s Meditation on Death, Dying, and Acceptance.” International Conference on the Fantastic in the Arts, March 22, 2008.
· “Smut and Nothing But.” Panelist, International Conference on the Fantastic in the Arts, March 21, 2008.
· “Boxed In: Representing Alternative Sexualities on the Social Internet.” Conference on College Composition and Communication, March 2007.
· “Angels Would Fall: Melissa Etheridge’s Representation of Lesbian Sensibility Through Visions of Heaven and Hell.” International Conference on the Fantastic in the Arts, March 2007.
· Discussion Chair: “Making Mr. Right: Discussion with Jane Donawerth”
· “A Pussy in Black Leather: Greebo, the Disc’s Queerest Cat.” Discworld Convention, 19 August 2006.
· “Through Unlikely Channels: Fostering Empathy and Emotional Literacy Using Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” Science Fiction Research Association, White Plains, 24 June 2006.
· “So Whaddya Want, a Cookie?: or, the Intrinsic Hope of William Gibson’s Neuromancer.” International Conference on the Fantastic in the Arts, March 2006.
· “If It Isn’t a Story, How Do You Explain the Soundtrack?: the Moral Dangers of the Epic Narrative in Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” Science Fiction Research Association, Las Vegas, 24 March 2005.
· “A Pussycat in Black Leather: Greebo and the Queer Aesthetic.” International Conference on the Fantastic in the Arts, 18 March 2005.
· SFRA website design team, 2004-2006.
· “Hot Victorian Vampire Nights: Artistic License and Coppola’s Voluptuous Visualization of Lucy Westenra.” Science Fiction Research Association, Chicago, 04 June 2004.
· “Not-So-Modest-Proposals: The Satiric Reality of Samuel Vimes and the Ankh-Morpork City Watch.” International Conference for the Fantastic in the Arts, 25 March 2004.
· “The Maiden, the Mother, and the…Other One: The Goddess of Terry Pratchett.” Science Fiction Research Association, 30 June 2000.
Offices Held
· Lord Ruthven Assembly, President. 21MAR08-present.
· International Association for the Fantastic in the Arts, Executive Board: Membership & Registration Coordinator. Appointed 13 OCT 06, active 18 MAR 07-present.
· International Association for the Fantastic in the Arts: Division Head for Visual and Performing Arts, 16 MAR 06-16MAR07.
· SFRA 2000 planning committee
Selected Awards & Scholarships
· Nomination for Outstanding Teacher Award KSU 2006
· Edna K. McDonald Cultural Awareness Award 2004
· Robert R. Hare Award for Literary Criticism 2003
· David Ives Endowment for Excellence in the Humanities 2001
· Lakeland Distinguished Service Award, Lakeland Community College 1997
· Commendation, Ohio Representative Ron Young 1997
· Campus Activities Board Service Award, Lakeland Community College 1996–97
· Campus Activities Board Service Award, Lakeland Community College 1995–96
· Bluejacket of the Quarter, First Quarter, Naval Air Station Detroit 1993
· Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist, Naval Air Station Detroit 1992
Other Employment and Experience
· Proofreader, Loose Id Press 03/07–present
· Web Designer, Rackstraw Press 02/07–present
· Literature Intern, Dr. Michael Finney, YSU English Dept. 08/03–12/03
o Don DeLillo’s Americana
· Project ARETE II YSU Summer Writing Camp Fellow 06/03
· Reporter/Copy Editor, Gazette Publishing; Jefferson, OH 09/96–06/97
· Public Relations Office, Lakeland Community College 1996
· News Editor, Lakeland Community College, The Lakelander 09/96–06/97
· United States Navy, AT3(AW) 07/90-03/94
o Security Specialist, NAF Detroit 06/91–03/94
o Instructor Basic Course, NAF Detroit 08/92
o Law Enforcement Training, NTTC DET Lackland AFB 05/91–06/91
o AV A School, NATTC Millington, TN 10/90–04/91
Other Professional Associations & Memberships
· President, Lord Ruthven Assembly 03/22-Present
· Youngstown State University Alumni Association 04/04–Present
· Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, Chapter 143 03/04–Present
· International Association for the Fantastic in the Arts 09/03–Present
· Science Fiction Research Association 03/03–Present
· President & Website Designer, YSUnity 02/02–03/04
· Golden Key Academic Honor Society 02/02–Present
· Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership Honor Society 02/02–Present
Volunteer Activities
· Founder and Moderator, FreecycleYoungstown 05/04–Present