Hello and thank you for stopping by my blog! I’m in my second year of the Instructional Leadership Ph.D. program at the University of Alabama and am happy to be taking AHE 603 with all of you!
I’m currently an Instructional Design Manager for the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where I work with faculty in the School of Health Professions. Prior to that, I served as an Instructional Designer for the College of Continuing Studies at the University of Alabama. Before UA, I held the position of Web Content and Social Media Manager for Spring Hill College in Mobile, Ala.
I hold a master’s degree in interactive technology from the University of Alabama, a master’s in journalism from Ohio State University, and a bachelor’s in English from Clarion University in Pennsylvania.
My favorite undergraduate professor was Dr. Edward Grejda, who taught English literature at Clarion University for nearly four decades. His classes featured American classics by Hawthorne, Faulkner, Steinbeck, and Poe. I recall him being a tough but fair instructor with high standards and a drive for his students to reach their full potential as scholars and writers. I was blessed to have a wealth of wonderful professors at Clarion, but Dr. Grejda, with his booming voice, passion, and enthusiasm for literature could not be matched in intensity by anyone else in the department.
Thanks, in part, to Dr. Grejda, and many others, I write fiction in my spare time. My two most recent novels are Center of Gravity and Sister Dear. I am also a mom to two wonderful boys and live in Hoover, Ala.
It’s nice to meet you, Laura (though I had to do some digging through your blog to find your name). Congratulations on publishing; it is a tough industry to get started in. I look forward to meeting you in person next weekend.
*meeting you in person in a couple of weekends. I suppose I’m anxious for the first class meeting.
Nice to meet you, Laura! I find it interesting that so many times when people reflect on their favorite teacher, it is not usually the “easy” one. It is most often those educators who exude passion and fervor for their content and communicate clearly their high standards for all students which we come to admire, respect, and strive to be like. I think it is so cool that you have written novels! It is one of my life goals to publish a book, either fiction or non-fiction. I look forward to working with you this semester. See you next Saturday!
– Matthew
Thank you Matthew! Looking forward to meeting you on Saturday!
We can talk books anytime đŸ™‚
Laura
It’s nice to meet you, Laura! I am from Birmingham, AL, so I’m not too far from you đŸ™‚ One of my best friends received her PhD from the School of Health at UAB. Being that you’re in Health Professions, I’m not sure if you would know her, though, but I’m always happy to see someone from UAB as it is a great school.
Also, my favorite undergrad professor taught English, too. I taught some literature courses over the years, and I think I love Poe more and more each time I read his work.
Anyhow, I just wanted to stop by and say hello! See you in class!
Angela – Love that we have the SHP in common. You’ll have to tell me more about your friend!
Looking forward to meeting you in class! Laura
Hi Laura,
Cool on you for writing fiction! Look forward to meeting you in class! (BTW, I’m from Mobile, and one of my college buds–Wanda Sullivan Allred–teaches there now–hope you had the chance to meet her!).
Love it! And I love Wanda … she is amazing. So glad to be a part of the class!