Hi!

I’ve always been a word nerd. I love to parse meaning. I fret over placement of a single comma, cringe when I see “their” when it should be “there,” and have to hold back when I really want to correct another’s grammar. It’s no coincidence that my mother was an English teacher.

My professional career in higher education included thirteen years in career development where I helped hundreds of new job seekers hone their ability to write persuasive, clearly expressed cover letters, résumés, and graduate school essays. In 2013 I retired to a leisurely pace of grandparenting, following the news, community service, traveling, and socializing with friends.

Then it hit me. I can allow my inner grammar geek to surface! In 2018 I completed rigorous proofreading training with Caitlin Pyle through her course, General Proofreading: Theory and Practice™. Caitlin’s course challenged me to master the rules of writing and practice, practice, practice. More than that, I discovered that it’s impossible to keep all those rules of writing in my head. An important part of my learning was how to research proper usage through The Chicago Manual of Style, Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, and other expert sources. Since that time, I have proofread and copyedited hundreds of written materials for a variety of clients.

With my innate knack for error detection and a high level of training and experience, I’m confident I can put the final finishing touches on your text to your satisfaction. 

My colleagues and friends variously describe me as super-organized, thorough, good communicator, resourceful, a bit of a techie, perfectionist, and genuinely helpful.

I hold a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in music education from Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa, and a Master of Arts degree in postsecondary student development from The University of Iowa.