Version 2I am an Associate Professor of Applied Linguistics in the Department of English at Old Dominion University. I received my PhD in Linguistics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. I joined the faculty at ODU in 2015 where I currently teach a variety of undergraduate and graduate courses in Linguistics, including courses in both the TESOL and Language, Society, and Social Justice concentrations. In my research, I employ discourse analytic methods to investigate language use in medical settings, primarily exploring the interactional practices of nurse practitioners and physician assistants in medical consultations with patients. I am also interested in how the ideology of neoliberalism has become a driving force in healthcare delivery in the US both within healthcare visits as well as in pharmaceutical advertising aimed at the general public.

When I’m not teaching or pursuing my research interests, I enjoy hiking, mountain biking, paddling and exploring coastal Virginia.