Professor of English, Furman University, 1977-present. Teaching has included poetry workshops, fiction workshops, introductory poetry courses, advanced poetry courses. Permanently certified to teach English (grades 7-12) in New York State.

Many library presentations throughout South Carolina in the following discussion programs: Let's Talk about It, Voices and Visions, and Poets in Person.

Many public readings at such institutions as Anderson University, Belmont Abbey College, Brevard College, Clemson University, Emrys Foundation, Foothills Writers Guild, Furman University, Greenville Fine Arts Center, Kennesaw University, North Greenville University, Northern Virginia Community College, Piccolo Spoleto, Poetry Society of South Carolina, Presbyterian College, Sandhills Writers Conference, SAMLA, South Carolina Book Festival, South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts, SCCTE, University of Georgia, University of South Carolina, Virginia Intermont College, Wofford College

• 2007 Robert Penn Warren Prize from The Southern Review;
• 2006 chapbook prize from the South Carolina Poetry Initiative
• 2004-05 Mellon Foundation Sabbatical Award
• 2002-03 South Carolina Literary Arts Fellowship
• South Carolina Fiction Project Prize (1987, 1989, 1992, 1998, 2004)