I was born and raised in Findlay, Ohio, until the age of 19, when the family moved to Houston, Texas, after my mother married a Houston maritime lawyer in 1960.  After serving in the Army Reserves, I went to college at Sam Houston State Teachers College in Huntsville and graduated with a BBA degree in Accounting in 1965.  In 1966, I received my MA in English from Sam Houston State College (no more “Teachers”).  I was married in 1966 and returned to Findlay and taught college at Ohio Northern University in Ada, Ohio for six years.  During this time, I worked on my Ph.D. in English at the University of Toledo and in 1969 my son Jeff was born.  Upon receiving my Ph.D. in 1972, we returned to Huntsville and I began my educational career at my alma mater.  Rising in the academic ranks at Sam Houston was received tenure in 1976 and was promoted to full Professor of English in 1982.  My primary teaching fields are American literature and the study of dramatic literature.  Lately I have been teaching the Bible as Literature course.  In 1996 I received the Excellence in Service award from SHSU and in 1998 I received the Excellence in Teaching award.  I have also been named Outstanding Faculty Advisor for an Organization in 1995 and 2008.  I was the first faculty member to serve at the President of the SHSU Alumni Association in 1994-95 and served on the Alumni Board for many years.  I was the Chair of the Faculty Senate for three terms and also served as the President of the Faculty Senates in the state of Texas for six years. 

            Two most important events occurred in the late 1990s and early 2000s: my granddaughters Chandler and Sarah Catherine Fleming came into our family and they are the loves of my life. Nothing surpasses these gifts.

In 2002 when the university decided to create an academic advising and mentoring center, I was asked to be its director and I had the privilege of creating this entity for the SHSU campus.  During its existence the Student Advising and Mentoring Center (SAM Center) has been nationally recognized in 2004 and 2010 for its outstanding advising and mentoring program and I have been honored as one of three outstanding advising administrators in the county.  Although I get many kudos for the SAM Center, all the accolades belong to the individuals who work at the SAM Center, for it is a combined effort and I am fortunate to have these wonderful people working at the center.

            I became a member of Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church in the early 1990s (I can’t remember the exact year).  Beth Miles asked me to come and sing in the choir and I finally came to the church and participated.  Since the first day I came to Wesley, I have rarely sat in the congregational area; I have always been in the choir and have enjoyed it thoroughly. The Wesleyites who are part of this group are certainly a special group of people to me.  I admire and respect their dedication to our church and our choir.  I believe that all of us should use those talents given to us to spread the work of God.  I feel the Wesley family is something special that most churches do not have and that is why I continue to come.  I look forward to seeing the Wesley family each Sunday. And this is why I sing!