My area of concentration as an undergraduate was English literature, but what I gained experience in most of all was writing. This continued in my professional career. While not a formal part of my job description, I have been assisting business people with their writing for over twenty years - everything from proposals to resumes and executive communications. A part of my formal role has included writing articles, creating newsletters, interviewing executives, and designing and writing content for marketing materials around the insurance and employee benefits industry. I'm a big advocate of learning how to write well. Two guideposts on writing for me have been 1) George Orwell's "Politics and the English Language", an essay he wrote in 1948 that speaks to the repercussions of fuzzy writing, and 2) Strunk and White, "The Elements of Style". Both of these are not only entertaining, but timeless and worth reading and rereading. Both speak to the importance of making every word count. Becoming a strong editor of your own work is something I will teach you! Outside of work and tutoring, I sing in a couple of groups and play jazz piano. I also love art - all kinds, particularly public art. I love the murals and sculpture that are part of the landscape of Chicago, where I live. I read all different kinds of materials, but especially American literature, both North and South.

Music - Jazz piano, choral music & classical; art; books - love Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Herman Melville, Wallace Stegner, among others