Like many of you, I am a California native, born to an immigrant father and a mother who came to California from Wisconsin during the Dust Bowl. I come from solid blue-collar roots. I was the first in my family to attend college, and remained the only college graduate until my niece graduated from Sonoma State University some 20 years later. She, my 25-year-old daughter, Sofia, and I remain the only college graduates in our family so far. My 21-year-old son, Peter, will begin his fourth year at Fresno State University in August.

I attended a community college for one year right out of high school before transferring to Humboldt State (with a brief stop at Chico State), where I earned my bachelor's degree with a double major in English and journalism.

I began my journalistic career as a sports writer for a daily newspaper in Eureka, long before women were common in the sports reporting field. Undeterred by that experience, I worked as a print and radio journalist for 10 years throughout California before returning to school.

I graduated from San Francisco State University's graduate program in composition studies and immediately began teaching. I haven't stopped.

I have lived in many parts of California: Lake Tahoe, Arcata, McKinleyville, Eureka, Susanville, Morro Bay, Los Osos, San Luis Obispo, Vacaville, Davis, San Francisco, Modesto, Los Angeles and, finally, Santa Rosa. I also spent several months living in Mexico City.

I love teaching and expect to do it for the rest of my career...unless my dream of becoming an R&B singer comes true (but I wouldn't bet on it).