I have been on the faculty of the Department of English since 1983. I have taught such applied writing courses as Editing and Publishing, Nonfiction Writing for Publication, Creative Nonfiction, Business Writing, Health Science Writing, Business and Technical Editing, and Image and Persuasion in Organizational Literature. I also developed and currently teach the Department's Writing Internship for English Majors, which gives students the opportunity to get "real world" experience in the areas of publishing, technical writing, public relations/advertising, corporate communications, and not-for-profit settings.
In addition to teaching at UWM, I maintain a successful freelance writing and editing business, Washburne Literary Service. I have published two books for adults and six books for children; my feature articles have appeared in The New York Times, Utne Reader, Mademoiselle, Ms., Harper's Bazaar, Milwaukee Magazine, The Business Journal Serving Greater Milwaukee,and the Chicago Tribune.I am also a book proposal consultant who has helped authors get published on such diverse topics as business-to-business account management, attitudinal healing, and collecting ashtrays.