Faculty Profiles

Academic Statement (Return to top)

Priscilla focuses on issues of nature spirituality and environmental philosophy in a quest to address the attitudes and social practices that have led to our current planetary ecological crisis. Her particular scholarly interest is animism, understood as being in relationship with human and more-than-human others in a living world. Her first creative nonfiction book, Kissed by a Fox: And Other Stories of Friendship in Nature, was published by Counterpoint Press in September 2012.

In her doctoral work Priscilla studied feminist theory and world religions, investigating the constructions of gender and nature in religious groups using theory from history, anthropology, and philosophy. Gender justice was at the heart of her master's program as well, with its emphasis on American women's religious history. The arts have been an important influence throughout her life, beginning in her childhood with a capella singing in the Mennonite church where she grew up and continuing in college as a music major studying and teaching oboe and voice; more recently she became a ceramic artist with a special interest in pit fire methods. Since 1985 she has worked as a professional book editor and has coached many authors toward completion of their manuscripts. When she lived in Oakland, California, she advocated on behalf of urban creeks and was the founder and first president of a small land trust preserving creek headwaters. She now lives in Boulder, Colorado, and enjoys hiking, swimming, birdwatching, writing, and blogging.