Degrees

Ph.D. Vanderbilt University, August 2009
M.A. Vanderbilt University, August 2005
B.A. California State University, San Bernardino, June 2004

Research Area

Canadian and U.S. Youth Television
20th-Century North American Literature
Representations of Race in Television and Popular Culture
Youth Cultures

Current Research

Dissertation-- "Thank Canada: Locating the Canadian Presence in U.S. Youth Television "

Previous Positions

Fellow, Center for the Americas
Consultant, Writing Studio
Instructor, English 102W, English 100W, English 120W, English 104W

Professional Societies

American Culture Association
Popular Culture Association
International American Studies Association

Publications

“Degrassi’s Always Greener on the Other Side: Canadian Television, U.S. Handling.” FLOWTV 9.03. (December 2008). .
“As Canadian as… Possible under the Circumstances: Canadian Youth Television in the United States.” FLOWTV 9.02. (November 2008). .
“Tolerated, But Not Preferred: Troubling The Unconscious Of Televisual Multiculturalism.” The American Review of Canadian Studies. (Out for Review, 2010).
Degrassi’s Always Greener on the Other Side: Canadian Television’s U.S. Handling." Canadian Journal of Communication. (Out for Review, 2010).

Biography

Nafissa (Nuh-fEE-sah) learned to sing "That's Not My Name" before The Ting Tings ever a song wrote. Born in sunny California, she has also learned to enjoy Nashville (though not its food). She spends her "free time" writing children's literature. And one day she will appear in Degrassi: TNG, a revival of Kids Incorporated, or a new New Jane Fonda workout--or she will just write, or all of the above.