I'm from the northeast of the United States and studied at University of Connecticut (BA), University of California (MA) and University of Southern California (MA and PhD). I came to NUS in 1998 after five years in Japan. My research (most broadly) examines trans-Pacific cultural exchange, usually from Asia and towards the USA. I've edited books on martial arts and Asian religion in North America and published Political Fiction and the American Self and Tibet on Fire: Buddhism, Protest, and the Rhetoric of Self-Immolation.

I teach courses on American literature, sometimes focusing specifically on writers (and filmmakers) interested in politics, ideology more generally, and religion. Teaching in Singapore is exciting and challenging (but I don't want to say how good it really is or they'll want to pay me less). I'm always on the lookout for masochistic students who want to learn how to really write: learn this skill and you'll never get replaced by a computer.