Dr. Çiğdem Üsekes received her M.A. from the University of Minnesota (Duluth) and her Ph.D. from the University of North Dakota. Her research focus is African American drama, and her essays have appeared in African American Review, American Drama, the Dictionary of Literary Biography, and Harold Bloom’s recently published book on August Wilson. Her teaching specialties include modern drama (especially modern American drama), African American literature, and contemporary literature. In her free time, she likes to travel, go on hikes with her dog Lucy, bake, and entertain. She was the chair of the English Department from 2007 to 2009.