I moved to Iowa in 1971 to pursue a doctorate in comparative literature. 

 My main interests were in modern European literature. By this time I was also reading German and Modern Greek literature.  Once in a while I read some English literature.   I taught Italian and rhetoric.   I also served as a rhetoric consultant.

While I was in graduate school n the 70s,  I learned photography and worked for four years as a photo editor for the Daily Iowan in Iowa City.   Even after I quit as a photojournalist, I continued for years to shoot the advertising photographs.