My dissertation deals with transcultural rhetorics because of my interest in cultural identities. Born of Puerto Rican immigrants in New York, living in convent schools, and later moving to California, I experienced what many call borderland cultural exchanges and aspects of people who are members of the first generation in the U. S. within their families.

After a late start on an academic career, I earned my doctorate from the University of Arizona and began a journey that has led me back east close to my beginnings. Currently I teach in the English Department at The University of Detroit Mercy, a Catholic institution co-founded by the Jesuits and Sisters of Mercy. This university shares many of my values for teaching, research and community action in service to all students, although my particular interests lies with the needs of Latino/a students. At UDM, I am a member of the English Department(Department Faculty Page) where I am the Director of the Writing Program and the Writing Center. UDM's Leadership Institute provides the means for our classes to provide Service Learning or Community Based Writing for our students