Barbara VanVoorden teaches Junior-Level Writing, Traditional Grammar, and Information Literacy. She reviews textbook manuscripts, does copyediting for a variety of publications and has been an associate editor for River Styx. She says, "I believe learning happens when we think, and we can think more creatively and comfortably when we're at ease with our surroundings, so I like to try to establish a relaxed classroom environment where all comments and observations are welcome. UMSL students bring a variety of experiences and insights to their classroom communities, and I continually look forward to their contributions."