2026 Summer Conversational Series Presenter Biographies

In addition to teaching, Kyoko also serves as Dean of the College of Liberal Arts & Science at Texas A&M - Corpus Christi.  After over a decade of absence from the Summer Conversational Series, she returns to present on Louisa May Alcott’s genre-fluid creativity and the reinvention of Rosamund De Clifford.  Kyoko now lives in Texas with her husband Tom and a black dog—a different dog from time of her last presentation—named “Beans.” 

Aida is a Master’s student writing her thesis on Louisa May Alcott’s novels for children and their connection to American Transcendentalism.  She is especially interested in 19th-Century literature and the development of the novel, women writers, children’s literature, and the history of ideas.

Julia is a Distinguished University Professor of Art History at the University of Minnesota, Morris, where she has taught for the past 20+ years.  Her research has focused on the life stories and creations of historical women artists, which in recent years has included essays and a book on May Alcott—May Alcott Nieriker - Author and Advocate (Anthem Press, 2022).  She is currently at work on two additional book projects to further expand on May’s life and legacy. 

Cathlin read Little Women for the first time at the age of 11.  Since then, she has never stopped reading, thinking, and talking about Louisa May Alcott.  Cathlin owns over 100 copies of Little Women, as part of an extensive collection of Alcott and related works.  She is a full Professor at CSU - Stanislaus, where she leads the Liberal Studies department, preparing undergraduates for work in the field of education.  Cathlin has presented at the Summer Conversational Series for many years, and volunteers as an Orchard House Guide whenever she has the opportunity.

Gabrielle was raised in London, England, with four brothers, and still remembers the sense of sheer wonder she felt when she was first introduced to the world of the March sisters.  She has lived in Los Angeles for most of her adult life, interviewing movie stars and writing occasional novels.  The Little Women Letters (Touchstone, 2011) was her homage to the book that has remained her comfort reading until this day.  Gabrielle is also author of the humorous blog, “The Immigrant Chronicles” (theimmigrantchronicles.substack.com).

Jason is the author of Chrysalis, The Adventures of Layman P ’ang, Modern Art in Context, and Naked Zen.  He has presented and and led panel discussions during the Summer Conversational Series for over a decade.  Jason has lectured on the New England Transcendentalists, and has taught Philosophy at various colleges and universities.  He also facilitates the Eshoji East Zen Center.    

William is director of clinical services for the Archdiocese of Boston and teaches Philosophy as well as Counseling Psychology at Framingham State University.  He also serves as Secretary on the board of a non-profit organization entitled Flo’s Journey.  He earned his Psya.D. from the Boston Graduate School of Psychoanalysis, and his MSW from Boston College.  

A native of Charlotte, NC, Connor-May has written and presented extensively on her original research regarding the musical life of Elizabeth Sewall Alcott.  Her musical interests also include musical semiotics, topic theory, and public musicology.  Connor-May received her BM in Music Composition from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts in 2022, and her MM in Historic Musicology from Temple University’s Boyer College of Music and Dance in 2026.

Alice is a psychotherapist at the Labouré in South Boston.  She also has a rich background in literary studies, and has worked as an editor.  Alice has spent many years studying the works of George Eliot, and is well versed in the Internal Family Systems modality of psychotherapy as well. 

In her professional life, Adriana trains future educators at a teacher training college where she specializes in English Literature for children and Intercultural Studies.  She is also a mother and grandmother, and is so happy to be back in Concord—it will be her fifth time here, and each time feels more like coming home!  We are looking forward to Adriana sharing her knowledge and insights during our Summer Conversational Series.

Kristi is an independent scholar, writer, and historical consultant and interpreter specializing in Concord’s 19th Century literary circle.  She has studied the Alcott family for 30 years, and worked at Concord’s many literary-historic sites, including Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House, since 2010.  Kristi holds a PhD in American and New England Studies, a Master’s in Museum Studies from Boston University, and is honored to be a regular Presenter during the annual Summer Conversational Series.
 

Julie holds a doctorate in Comparative Literature from UC Berkeley, and has over 25 years of experience in teaching college-level composition.  She is grateful and honored to have been chosen to present at the Summer Conversational Series for the past three years!

Julie has been fascinated and inspired by Louisa May Alcott’s life and writing for over 50 years. She holds a doctorate in Comparative Literature from UC Berkeley, and is a longtime writing instructor   Julie’s short story, “Leaving the Lighthouse,” is included in The Pacific Northwest Writers’ Association anthology A Beacon Amidst Shadows.
 

Mark has spent time as an award-winning audiovisual producer for museum exhibitions and public learning spaces; a creative technologist for public broadcasting and higher education; and, a communication designer for the recording industry.  More recently, he has sought to maximize the “human factor” in professional life while working in community nutrition, outdoor education, and public history.
 

Lorraine read Little Women in first grade—and re-read it again and again throughout most of her childhood.  The book equipped her to journey through motherhood, traveling, rabble-rousing, and work as a physician devoted to medical education and primary care medicine.  In later adulthood, Lorraine rekindled her Alcott enthusiasm, which resulted in the novel Only Gossip Prospers (Pink Umbrella Books, 2019) and, with Jane Cavolina, The Bee and the Fly:  The Improbable Correspondence of Louisa May Alcott and Emily  Dickinson (CLASH Books, 2022).  She is currently at work on historical fiction related to Louisa’s time in Rome, and lives with her husband in midtown Manhattan and at the New Jersey shore. 

Founded on 12 January 1775, The Concord Minute Men became one of the most famous citizen militia units in American history.  The modern-era reenactment organization remains not only a proud part of the Concord community, but also actively participates in regional, national, and international parades and special events, and educates thousands of students of all ages each year.  Orchard House has been delighted to partner with Musketbearers and Musickmakers for special Meet-and-Greets and concerts that provide our visitors with vital connections to the past.