I am originally from New Jersey and attended school at Dartmouth College, the University of Chicago, Trinity College (Dublin), and the University of Iowa. My life-long interest in the English language and literary studies was initially sparked by the PBS documentary "The Story of English," which I saw in the 7th grade. It's ironic that I'd be an English professor, as English was always my worst subject; I had trouble "following directions." I came to medieval studies in particular through some weird alchemy of my Catholic upbringing and interest in the occult. In my free time, I like to run (more like jogging), play the harp, read about the paranormal, and play poker (Texas Hold 'em). I have two dogs, rescues named Chutzpah and Zeke, and live with them and my husband, Jim, whom I met while doing a marathon in Antarctica, in Oxford, MS. I have taught at various colleges and universities including DePaul, U of Iowa, U of Kentucky, and U of Mississippi, where I am currently an assistant professor of English and director of the Medieval Studies minor.university webpage: http://www.olemiss.edu/depts/english/pages/hayes_m.html