I was raised in the heart of the Ozark Mountains by a large, loud, and laughter-filled family. The first question I often get is how an Ozark Arkansan ended up as a medievalist - a question I've never fully understood. Not only did I grow up in a community that loves stories and history, but my Ozark background was fundamental in shaping my research. I study the myriad ways pre-modern culture connected gender and speech and how these biases were weaponized against marginalized communities. How people are represented, who gets to speak, and which stories we tell - these matter. The way that folks are represented in the stories told about them is all about power, for both the Ozarks and medieval England.

These days, I'm an Ozark emigrant. I live in northeast Mississippi as the Professor of Early Literature and Linguistics at Mississippi University for Women, with my partner and our ancient cat. We've already come to love this part of the country, with its amazing food and community-centered mindset. When not working, we're part of various community organizing efforts - trying to make the world a better place one step at a time.