While I am originally from Columbus, Ohio, I grew up in Tallahassee, Florida, where my parents--Gene and Regina Tanzy--were English professors at Florida State University and Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, respectively. Since both of my parents were English professors, it was only natural that one of their five children should follow in their footsteps. I either volunteered or was volunteered by my siblings.

    I worked my way through my graduate program as a thesis and dissertation editor for the University of Florida Graduate School.  After completing my doctoral degree, I accepted an English and reading position at Brevard Community College in Titusville, Florida, and taught there for eight years. I left Brevard Community College to accept a position as a Board of Regents' Distinguished Professor at East Georgia College, where I taught until December 1999. In December 1999, I accepted a position as associate professor of English and Reading/coordinator of the Writing Lab at Dalton State College.  In 2004, I became interim chair of the Division of Humanities and assumed the position of chair on July 1, 2005.  I became dean of the School of Liberal Arts in January 2008.

     I am married to Charlie Nielsen and have two children. My daughter Maria is a lovely and bright 18-year-old, who will never forget her beloved Slinky, a ferret that had treasures to hide and knew the value of peanut butter treats, or Ruby, an albino ferret and an appliance queen--having learned the ins and outs of refrigerators, stoves, dishwashers, VCRs, and dryers. She recently adopted a border collie, Juliet, from the Humane Society.  My wonderful son Geoffrey (a.k.a. Geo) and his lovely wife Lizzy, live in Valdosta, Georgia, and are proud parents of Madeline Sophia (born October 11, 2006) and her sister, Mia Elizabeth (born November 1, 2008).