Bio

Born in Rochester, NY. and To the extent that I have grown up at all, I did so in upstate New York (1970-75); Wisconsin (1975-80); Grand Forks, ND (1980-81; 1984-97); and Karachi, Pakistan (1981-84).

Graduated in 1993 from the University of North Dakota. After failed attempts at several majors (Theatre Arts, French, American Studies, Honors), I managed to eke out enough credits for a B. A. in Political Science. In all, I spent six years as an undergrad at UND—three of them as a junior. Along the way, I appeared in several campus theatrical productions, sang in the concert choir, ran unsuccessfully for student-body president, and wrote a weekly column for the student newspaper.

Immediately upon graduation, I went back for graduate studies: first in Political Science, then History. But after two years, extensive student-loan borrowing, and much exasperation on the part of my advisors, it became clear to us all that I was temperamentally unsuited for the academic life. Some time in 1994, I found a job as a part-time announcer at KFJM, a public radio station operated by UND. I started out on late nights, but I picked up extra shifts, and pestered the professional staff with pleas for more hours. In 1996, the station gave up and hired me as Operations Manager. The gig only lasted a year. There’s a story there (ask me about it some time), involving Acts of God, the flood-plain geography of eastern North Dakota, heartache, tribulations, and obscure provisions of the UND Human Resources office.

A brief but relentless job search led me to move, in 1997, to Concord, NH. I went to work as Music Director of New Hampshire Public Radio, and started cultivating an appreciation for seafood. I started singing again (with the Concord Chorale), acted with the Concord Community Players, and took dance classes. (I also went to work once in a while—when I could squeeze it in between rehearsals.) I stayed through a format change in 2001, and helped launch NHPR’s new talk show. But I moved to Peoria, IL that fall, to take a job at WCBU-FM.

Since moving to Peoria, I’ve kept singing, thanks to a local community chorus. In August, 2002, I made my Peoria stage debut, appearing as Cliff in a production of the musical “Cabaret” at Corn Stock Theatre.

About Me

Current Residence: Peoria, IL

Occupation: Public broadcaster. Program Director at WCBU-FM, the NPR affiliate station serving Peoria and Central Illinois.

Hobbies: Acting, singing. Reading (history, literary fiction, politics.) Buying new toys for my computer or home-audio system.

Favorite books and authors:

John Irving (A Prayer for Owen Meany, The Hotel New Hampshire)

F. Scott Fitzgerald (short stories)

Mark Twain (Roughing It, Life on the Mississippi)

Paul Theroux (Sunrise with Seamonsters, Fresh Air Fiend, My Secret History)

Russell Banks (The Rule of the Bone, Angel on the Roof)

David Sedaris (Naked, Me Talk Pretty One Day)

Magazines:

The New Yorker

The New Republic

The Atlantic Monthly

CDs I Can’t Live Without:

Paul Simon, “Graceland”

B. B. King and Eric Clapton, “Riding with the King”

Yo-Yo Ma, “Bach Cello Suites”

Cambridge Singers, “Faire Is the Heaven”

John Coltrane, “Blue Train”

Musical Instrument I’d Love to Play, But Can’t:

Cello

Historical Figures I Most Admire:

James Madison

George F. Kennan

Favorite Spot on Earth:

My friend Rob Howard’s cabin on Great Chebeague Island, Casco Bay, Maine

Biggest Regret:

Not finishing my master’s degree when I had the chance.

Catch-phrase:

“Excellent! My evil plan is coming to fruition.”