I grew up in Florence County, Wisconsin, so that almost makes me a "Yooper".  I received my B.S. in Broad Field Social Studies/Sociology from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls in 1988.  from  the University of Arizona, 1991,1996.  While in college I was a member of the U.S. Naval Reserve as a Hospital Corpsman and was called to duty during the Gulf War in February, 1991.  I served in San Diego, CA and returned to complet my M.A. that summer from  the University of Arizona.  I continued on to complete my Ph.D. in 1996 and a took a Teaching Fellowship position at Humboldt State University, in Arcata, CA that fall.  In 1998, I came to UW-La Crosse to take an Assistant Professor position in the Department of Sociology and Archaeology.  My husband, Mark Seitz, our dog Nikita, and cat Freddie enjoy our life in the Coulee Region.