I am a South Carolina native who has lived in Tennessee for most of my life. I graduated from ETSU with a BA in History and a German language minor. After working as a park ranger with Tennessee State Parks for two years, I completed my MA in History at Virginia Tech. My MA thesis is titled, “A Catalyst for the Development of Human Rights: German Internment Practices in World War I, 1914-1929.” In addition to my MA, I also completed a certificate program in Public History at Virginia Tech. In 2014, I began my doctorate in German History with a focus on ignored war crimes committed in Eastern Europe during the World Wars. While I thoroughly enjoyed my doctorate program, a change of directions took place with the birth of my first child.
Since August 2013, I have taught World, Western, and United States History at Pellissippi State Community College in Knoxville, TN. Additionally, I am a Teacher Fellow for the Tennessee State Holocaust Commission.
In January 2016, I embarked on a solo trip to Poland to discover the landscape of the Holocaust. This journey, coupled with historical events, sparked the ideas for my first novel manuscript. You can read about my journey under the tab, “Holocaust Journey.”
I’ve also spoken at many public and academic events on topics such as Ignored Atrocities of World War I, the Armenian Genocide, the Bosnian Genocide, and Collaboration in the Holocaust.
Outside of teaching, researching, or writing, I enjoy spending time with my family. I am an avid hiker, skier, bird-watcher, and enjoy every aspect of nature. I also am committed to upholding the promise made to the victims of the Holocaust and other genocides, “Never Again!”
History, Hiking, and Human Rights 