Mary Ragan entered higher education through Macomb Community College, but then took a detour through the worlds of factory labor and banking before becoming a financial planner. Unable to resist the lure of literature, she returned to school to complete her bachelor's degree at St. Mary's College and then her master's degree at Oakland University. Her return to higher education came full circle as she began her teaching career as a Writing Mentor in Macomb's writing center. She moved into an adjunct role and then served as temporary full time faculty before becoming full time faculty. Now, in addition to her teaching, she coordinates the hiring, evaluation, and training of some 50 adjunct faculty for the English Department. Her formidable organizational power and a keen awareness of the class biases that can misdirect education are central to openbookbag.com. In particular, she is responsible for transforming the worn notion of the modes by treating them as specific facets of a larger process: critical thinking.