Growing up in Dallas, Texas I spent many happy hours as a child chasing and caring for various reptiles just outside my home. For many years I desired to be a herpetologist and work toward the conservation and preservation of the many wonderful reptile species in the American Southwest. 

Alongside my interest in reptiles, however, was my burgeoning interest in literature. My love of diverse literature ranging from feudal Japan to modern England broadened my horizons tremendously and helped shape my thinking and open my eyes to the many varied benefits of reading widely and critically. 

As I grew older, I found myself especially drawn to the Old Norse and Old English corpus. I am currently a PhD Candidate at the University of Sydney. In keeping with my lifelong interest in reptiles, my specialty is the form and role of dragons in medieval literature. 

However, my work goes far beyond that as I specialize in monstrosity and liminality, Old and Middle English, Old Norse, Arthurian literature, and the riddle tradition. Though I specialize in Old English and Old Norse, I have the expertise to teach medieval literature from a wide variety of cultures and time periods. Beyond my medieval interests, I greatly enjoy and have much experience teaching English literature including the works of Milton, Shakespeare, the Neoclassicists, the Romantics, and medievalism. 

Outside of my literary studies, my hobbies include blacksmithing, archery, fencing, falconry, and board gaming.