Born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, Lorianne earned her BA in English from the University of Toledo, her MA in English from Boston College, and her PhD in English from Northeastern University in Boston. Lorianne's academic speciality is 19th century American literature, and her PhD dissertation explored "spirituality of place" in 19th and 20th century American nature writing. In addition to teaching writing and literature classes at Keene State College
and Southern New Hampshire University's distance education program, Lorianne also teaches Zen meditation.

An avid birder and field botanist, Lorianne enjoys hiking, canoeing, and snow-shoeing. She has written creative nonfiction since childhood and currently writes a daily weblog, "Hoarded Ordinaries."

For more information about this course, contact Lorianne at: ldisabato1@keene.edu