My scholarly and professional interests lie in three areas: new forms of narrative emerging in our multi-media age; comparative and environmental literature; and interdisciplinary pedagogy. Over the years, I have taught teaches a variety of writing and literature courses from The Elements of Writing and Introduction to Literature, to Moral Issues in the Modern Novel and The American Literature and the Environment. With Diran Apelian, I co-teach a Great Problem Seminar on Sustainable Development, currently focusing on Recycling of all classes of materials. As I enjoy interdisciplinary modes of teaching, I have been involved with the First Year Experience program at WPI from its inception, contributing to several publications describing and promoting WPI's project-based approach. In all of my teaching, I attempt to draw upon different disciplines and to make broad parallels between epistemologies and cultures as they raise important questions about moral choices, human relationship with the natural environment and with technology. I am also the founding Director of an IQP project center in Moscow, advising student projects and engaging with an ever increasing network of sponsors and academic structures in Russia.

Prior to coming to WPI, I served as a senior researcher on the nationwide study of interdisciplinary education conducted by the Harvard Graduate School of Education, evaluating interdisciplinary curricula and learning experiences at the collegiate and professional levels. I have earned a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from Moscow University and an Ed.M in Human Development and Psychology from Harvard University.

I have published nature poetry as well as scholarly work on Russian, American and French literature. I have been a member of the Modern Language Association, Association for Integrative Studies, American Association for the Advancement of Slavic Studies, Association for the Study of Literature and the Environment, and I serve as a trustee of the Museum of Russian Icons in Clinton, MA.