Education
Ph.D. Rice University, Houston, Texas.
Linguistics, May 2013
- Dissertation Title: An acoustic analysis and cross-linguistic study of the phonemic inventory of Nez Perce
- Dissertation Chair: Dr. Nancy Niedzielski
- Dissertation Description: This study acoustically examines the phonetic and phonological structures of Nez Perce, a highly endangered American indigenous language of the Pacific Northwest of the United States.Recordings of current speakers are studied to provide an in-depth acoustic analysis of Nez Perce. The results from this study are then used for a cross-linguistic comparison with other world languages.
M.A. Rice University, Houston, Texas.
Linguistics, December 2011
Graduate Teaching Certificate, Rice University Center for Teaching Excellence, 2012-2013
Digital Humanities Bootcamp, Certificate, Rice University, Humanities Research Center and Fondren Library, Spring 2013
Institute on Field Linguistics and Language Documentation (INFIELD now CoLang), Santa Barbara, California
University of California at Santa Barbara, summer 2008
B.S. University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon.
Linguistics and Mathematics (Phi Beta Kappa, Cum Laude), June 2007
Employment
| • Independent Contractor in Language, Culture, Identity, Research Methodology, and Statistics | Fall 2017-Present | |
| • Language Curriculum Developer, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians | Fall 2016-Fall 2017 | |
| • Instructional Assistant Professor, Illinois State University, Department of English | Fall 2013-Spring 2016 | |
| • Instructor, Rice University, Department of Linguistics | Spring 2013 | |
| • Graduate Teaching Assistant, Rice University, Department of Linguistics | Fall 2007-Spring 2012 |
Research Experience
| • Nez Perce fieldwork: Lapwai, Idaho | Summer 2009-Present | |
| • Serrano Language Revitalization Project: Highland, California | Fall 2016-Fall 2017 | |
| • Oregon sociophonetic dialect research: Eugene, Springfield, and Cottage Grove, Oregon | November 2008-Present | |
| • Asante Twi Field methods class, Rice University: Houston, Texas | August 2008-May 2009 | |
| • InField (Institute on Field Linguistics and Language Documentation, now CoLang): University of California at Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California | Summer 2008 |
Publications
| • (accepted) Adapting and integrating research methodology into TESOL teacher education: Ethnographic Interviews. Researching and Teaching Languages for Specific Purposes. | ||
| • (manuscript) An acoustic analysis of Nez Perce vowel harmony and phonological implications. | ||
| • (manuscript) A cross-generational study of the non-low front vowels of Native Oregonians. | ||
| • 2014. Fast speech phenomena in Asante Twi. Rice Working Papers in Linguistics, 5. | ||
| • 2013. The Nez Perce vowel system: a phonetic approach. Proceedings of Meetings on Acoustics (POMA). | ||
| • 2010. Ejectives in Nez Perce. Santa Barbara Papers in Linguistics, 21. |
Workshops
| • 2016. Phonetic Analysis with Praat. Collaborative Language Research (CoLang), University of Alaska. June 20-July 1, 2016. Fairbanks, Alaska | ||
| • 2016. Digital Archiving and Access. Word’s Worth Graduate Student Conference, Illinois State University. March 19, 2016. Normal, Illinois. |
Invited Talks
| • 2016. Language Policy and Planning: Revitalizing Endangered Languages, Guest Lecture, LING 205 Language and Society, Rice University, April 11, 2015. Houston, Texas. | ||
| • 2015. Sociophonetics. Guest Lecture, ENG 342 Sociolinguistics, Illinois State University. January 16, 2015. Normal, Illinois. | ||
| • 2013. Fieldwork in the Pacific Northwest. Department of English Faculty Lecture Series, Illinois State University. November 20, 2013. Normal, Illinois. | ||
| • 2012. A phonetic analysis of Nez Perce vowel harmony. Colloquium, Rice University. November 1, 2012. Houston, Texas. | ||
| • 2012. Nimiipuutimt. Guest lecture, LING 300/500 Linguistic Analysis, Rice University. October 5, 2012. Houston, Texas. | ||
| • 2011. A cross-generational study of the non-low front vowels of native Oregonians.Colloquium, Rice University. April 7, 2011. Houston, Texas. | ||
| • 2010. Nez Perce fieldwork. Guest lecture, LING 300/500 Linguistic Analysis, Rice University. September 24, 2010. Houston, Texas. | ||
| • 2010. Ejectives in Nez Perce: a preliminary account. Colloquium, Rice University. February 25, 2010. Houston, Texas. | ||
| • 2009. Nez Perce fieldwork. Guest lecture, LING 300/500 Linguistics Analysis, Rice University. September 25, 2009. Houston, Texas. |
Conference Talks
| • 2013. Phonetic contribution to phonology in lesser-studied languages: evidence from Nez Perce. Approaches to Phonology and Phonetics (APAP), June 21-23, 2013. Lublin, Poland. | ||
| • 2013. Variation in Nez Perce glottalized sonorants. 20th Annual UT Arlington Conference in Linguistics and TESOL, February 21-22, 2013. University of Texas, Arlington, Texas | ||
| • 2013. A new view on vowel dispersion: The Nez Perce vowel system. 5thBiennial Meeting of the Rice Linguistics Society (RLS), February 8-9, 2013. Rice University, Houston, Texas. | ||
| • 2011. A cross-generational acoustic study of the front vowels of native Oregonians. New Ways of Analyzing Variation 40 (NWAV40), October 28, 2011. Georgetown University, Washington, DC. | ||
| • 2010. Ejectives in Nez Perce. Workshop on American Indigenous Languages (WAIL) annual meeting. May 1, 2010. Santa Barbara, California. | ||
| • 2009. Acquisition of tense/lax vowels in a second language. 3rd Biennial Meeting of the Rice Linguistics Society (RLS). February 21, 2009. Rice University, Houston, Texas. |
Poster Presentations
| • 2013. Age-related issues in phonetic documentation. Aging and Speech Communication, 5th International and Interdisciplinary Research Conference, October 6-9, 2013. Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana. | ||
| • 2013. The Nez Perce vowel system: a phonetic approach. 165thMeeting of the Acoustical Society of America (ASA), June 2-7, 2013. Montreal, Quebec, Canada. |
Teaching Experience
| • Instructional Assistant Professor, Illinois State University, Department of English—Exceptional Teacher of the Year (2014-2015) | ||
| o Introduction to descriptive linguistics ENG 341 (one section) | Spring 2016 | |
| o Unity and diversity in language ENG 143 (two sections) | Spring 2016 | |
| o The grammatical structures of English ENG 243 (two sections) | Fall 2015 | |
| o Unity and diversity in language ENG 143 (one section) | Fall 2015 | |
| o The linguistic structure of English for TESOL Professionals ENG 441 (Independent Study) | Spring 2015 | |
| o Theoretical foundations of TESOL ENG 344 (two sections) | Spring 2015 | |
| o Introduction to descriptive linguistics ENG 341 (one section) | Spring 2015 | |
| o The grammatical structures of English ENG 243 (one section) | Spring 2015 | |
| o Introduction to descriptive linguistics ENG 341 (two sections) | Fall 2014 | |
| o The grammatical structures of English ENG 243 (one section) | Fall 2014 | |
| o Introduction to descriptive linguistics ENG 341 (one section) | Spring 2014 | |
| o Cross-cultural aspects in TESOL ENG 343 (two sections) | Spring 2014 | |
| o Introduction to descriptive linguistics ENG 341 (two sections) | Fall 2013 | |
| o The grammatical structures of English ENG 243 (one section) | Fall 2013 | |
| • Instructor, Rice University, Department of Linguistics | ||
| o Introduction to the scientific study of language LING/ANTH 200 | Spring 2013 | |
| • Teaching Assistant, Rice University, Department of Linguistics | ||
| o Introduction to the scientific study of language LING/ANTH 200 | Spring 2011 | |
| o Phonetics LING 301 | Fall 2009 | |
| o Introduction to the scientific study of language LING/ANTH 200 | Fall 2008 | |
| o Introduction to the scientific study of language LING/ANTH 200 | Fall 2007 | |
| • Undergraduate Teaching Assistant/Instructional Support, University of Oregon, Department of Mathematics | Fall 2005- Spring 2007 |
Academic Advising
| • Qualifying Examination: Committee Member
o Nick Harner, Illinois State University (Spring 2015) |
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| • Honors Project
o Samantha Hennessy, Illinois State University (Spring 2015) § Influences of the Southern Shift on Central Illinois Speakers. —Grammie Award (Departmental Award) for best linguistics paper 2014-2015 |
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| o Ashley Johnston, Illinois State University (Spring 2014) | ||
| o Allyssa Massarelli, Illinois State University (Spring 2014) | ||
| o Jade Urban, Illinois State University (Spring 2014) |
Awards and Honors
| • Exceptional Teacher of the Year Award, Department of English, Illinois State University | 2014-2015 | |
| • Yumi Nakamura Prize in Linguistics for Variation in Nez Perce glottalized sonorants, University of Texas, Arlington | 2013 | |
| • Graduate fellowship, Department of Linguistics, Rice University | 2007-2012 | |
| • Dolores Mitchell Fund award for summer research, Department of Linguistics, Rice University | 2008-2011 | |
| • Summer research stipend, Department of Linguistics, Rice University | 2008-2011 | |
| • Phi Beta Kappa member | 2007-Present |
Professional Activities
| • Reviewer for Poznan Studies in Contemporary Linguistics | 2015-2016 | |
| • Reviewer for The Journal of the International Phonetic Association | 2013 | |
| • 5th Biennial Meeting of the Rice Linguistics Society—Grant writing committee, general organization | February 8-9, 2013
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| • 4th Biennial Meeting of the Rice Linguistics Society—Grant writing committee, general organization | February 5, 2011 | |
| • Graduate student liaison to the faculty, Rice Linguistics Society | 2010-2011 | |
| • The Linguistsat Rice Cinema (part of the United Nations Film Festival)-Event organizer | Fall 2010 | |
| • President, Rice Linguistics Society. | 2009-2010 | |
| • 3rd Biennial Meeting of the Rice Linguistics Society—Chair of grant writing committee, general organization | February 21, 2009 | |
| • NWAV 37 (New Ways of Analyzing Variance)—Co-chair registration-information committee, Co-organized graduate student mixer | November 6-9, 2008 | |
| • Treasurer, Rice Linguistics Society. | 2008-2009 |
Languages Spoken and Studied
| • Native: English | ||
| • Advanced: German
o 400 university level language; two months study abroad in Freiburg, Germany; two weeks Munich, Germany; two weeks Kitzbühel, Austria |
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| • Conversational: Italian
o 300 university level language; four months study abroad in Siena, Italy; three weeks in Venice, Italy; two weeks in Trieste, Italy. |
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| • Advanced Introductory: Serrano, Spanish | ||
| • Basic Reading: French | ||
| • Languages studied:
o Nez Perce o Mende o Asante Twi o Central Siberian Yupik o Old Church Slavonic o Russian |
Other Activities
| • Book Making and Repair:
o Dictionary and book repair for Nez Perce Tribe |
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| • Vocal: Advanced level, pre-professional classical full lyric soprano soloist,
o Studied with Associate Professor John Koch (Illinois State University), Marcus DeLoach, Mira Frohnmayer, Marcia Baldwin and Carol Ann Manzi |
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| • Solo Performances:
o Antonio Vivaldi’s Gloria § Pass Chorale, Banning, California, December 10, 2017 § Eugene International Chorus with Rijeka Chamber Orchestra, Venice, Florence, and Rome, Italy, June-July 2015 § Illinois State University Civic Chorale, April 26, 2015 o Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Requiem § Pass Chorale, Banning, California, May 21, 2017 o Solo Recital, Illinois State University, May 7, 2016 |
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| • Opera
o Cavalleria Rusticana, (Concert Performance) Illinois State University Civic Chorale and Midwest Institute of Opera, April 2, 2016 § Part: Lucia o Suor Angelica, (Staged) Midwest Institute of Opera, April 19, 2014 § Part: Second Lay Sister, company member |
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| • Piano: Intermediate level; musicianship for personal pleasure | ||
| • Violin and Cello: Basic level | ||
| • Travel: Multiple trips to Europe (Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, The Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Switzerland, West Germany); one trip to Asia (Thailand); three trips to Canada; one trip to Mexico |