I began my college education at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. After a semester, I transferred to North Georgia College and State University (now known as the University of North Georgia) in Dahlonega, Georgia. For four years, I majored in English Secondary Education. During my last year, I switched to English Literature. While at North Georgia, I was active in the local chapter of Sigma Tau Delta (as secretary and vice president) and went on a study abroad trip to Ireland. I also completed three internships during my undergraduate studies: a journalism internship at The Urban Twist online magazine, a publishing internship at Booklogix Publishing in Alpharetta, and a research assistantship for Dr. Tanya Bennett about The Woman Warrior by Maxine Hong Kingston.

After this, I worked for a mortgage loan origination training company, Ameritrain, as a course developer, designing textbooks, as well as live and online courses. I then decided to go to graduate school and enrolled at Georgia State University in the Master’s in English Literature program. During my time here, I have worked in the Office of Institutional Effectiveness as a graduate research assistant involved with web development, as well as a research assistant for the GSU writer-in-residence at the time, Dr. Sindiwe Magona. Currently, I am working as a graduate teaching assistant at Georgia State University.