She received her Ph.D. in English from the University of Iowa, and her B.A. in English and German from Ball State University. Her current research and writing focuses on the women writers of the Beat Generation, including Diane di Prima, Hettie Jones, Anne Waldman, and Brenda Frazer, among others. Her other research and teaching interests include gender studies, poetry, apocalyptic fiction, science fiction, book history, book studies, and book arts.