On the evening of January 31, 2019, I sat in a third floor classroom of Loft Literary in Minneapolis and … More
Category: Personal
Stigma and the (un)deserving sick
I had lung cancer. And every time I talk about my cancer, I find myself explaining that the carcinoid cancer … More
Thirty Five Years of Conferences
In May of 1982, I was a twenty-three year old master’s student attending my first academic conference. Held at the … More
Reflections on Professing
I’m not making a clean break. I’m still advising a few graduate students. I’m still editing a major journal. I’ll … More
Birthday Greetings, Seminar Rooms, and Walter
U.S. newspaper headlines on January 13, 2015 were about continuing investigations into the terrorist attack at Charlie Hedbo office, about … More
Finding Your People in a Conference Hotel
I got back a couple days ago from the annual conference of the Organization for the Study of Communication, Language, … More
Was Mom a Little Bit Racist? Am I?
In 1972, Michigan Judge Stephen Roth ruled in Bradley v. Millikin that the requirement to integrate the Detroit Public Schools … More
Brides, Brides, Brides
The bride’s sister officiated for the marriage of Katherine Irene Miller to …. So began a short two column story … More
Beginning the Journey
I always feel uncomfortable at the beginning of a new writing project. I tell people that I’m used to this … More