Patricia Hampl is Regents Professor and McKnight Distinguished Professor at the University of Minnesota where she teaches in the master of fine arts program of the English department. Hampl’s books include A Romantic Education (1999), her memoir about her Czech heritage, and Virgin Time (1993), a memoir about her Catholic upbringing and an inquiry into contemplative life. She also has two collections of poetry, Woman before an Aquarium (1978) and Resort and Other Poems(1983).