I am the Director Emerita of the William J. Flynn Center for Irish Studies at the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas.

My research interests cover every aspect and time period of Irish and Northern Irish history and politics, including those represented in the courses I have taught. My interest in Irish Studies began with Irish literature as an undergraduate student of Dr. Mary Power at University of New Mexico and continued at Trinity College in Dublin. I have also taught various aspects of Irish literature, including Modern and Contemporary Irish Literature.

The William J. Flynn Center for Irish Studies is in ACIS Southern Region.

Our Center for Irish Studies is a Center of Excellence at UST, with an undergraduate minor and a graduate concentration in Irish Studies. Courses taught are interdisciplinary, including Irish history, politics, literature, folklore, culture and traditions. We also take students on study abroad to Ireland and Northern Ireland and we have students from Ireland and Northern Ireland study at UST through an exchange program and with Study USA and the British Council in Northern Ireland.

Our Center also hosts regular cultural outreach programs during the academic year, open to the UST community and the public.

My heritage is Irish. I grew up in Northeastern New Mexico, where my great-grandparents from Donegal County, Ireland, settled.

My educational background is as follows:

University of New Mexico, BA, English and Journalism, 1980

Phi Beta Kappa

Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland, Diploma in Anglo-Irish Literature, 1981

on Rotary Foundation Scholarship

University of New Mexico Law School, 1984

Andrews & Kurth LLP, Houston, TX

1984-2002, lead partner of civil appellate section

University of St. Thomas, Houston, TX, 2002 to present

UST William J. Flynn Center of Irish Studies, Director 2003-2025 and Director Emerita 2025-present