Victoria Pruin DeFranciscoVictoria Pruin DeFrancisco, PhD, is an emeritus professor in the Communication & Media Department and affiliate faculty in women's and gender studies at the University of Northern Iowa; studied and taught courses in gender, intercultural, and nterpersonal communication; served as director of the Women's and Gender Studies Program; coordinated the National Coalition Building Institute, a university-wide diversity inclusion program; and has received the following awards: Iowa Regents Award for Faculty Excellence, the UNI Outstanding Graduate Faculty Teaching Award, and the Iowa American Association of University Women Distinguished Faculty Award. Victoria is married and has stepchildren and grandchildren who call her Nana and remind her every day why she wrote this book.