My name is Dr. Bill Thierfelder.  I hold a Ph.D. in English with minors in theater, art history, and music history.  After teaching Second Grade for four years and High School seniors for six months as a replacement substitute, I spent the next 32 years teaching a variety of Arts and Humanities courses at several New York and Long Island universities and colleges, including St. John's University (my alma mater), Hofstra University, and Dowling College.  I am currently docent emeritus from the American Museum of Natural History where I continue to give both Zoom and in-person presentations, work on special editing projects, and give tours.  I also lecture regularly for libraries and educational organizations across the country via Zoom.   My classroom, library, and Museum vocations have shown me quite clearly that life is all about “making wings," hence, the name of my website: Making Wings.  Indeed, my personal philosophy--rooted in years of practical study and just plain old life experience--is simple:  The most important thing you can do is to make wings for yourself and fly to places that fulfill your potential, that allow you to develop your unique gifts, and that open you up to a world of possibilities. 

            After living exclusively in the New York metropolitan area from birth until 2016, I currently reside in Portland, Oregon, with my spouse.              Since leaving full-time teaching in 2010, I now devote my energies to lecturing, being a museum docent, and writing.  Each year, I give numerous library lectures via Zoom, and (during my trips back to New York) I guide people through the American Museum of Natural History.  One of the great joys of my life has been sharing and exchanging ideas with people--so, whether it's in a library auditorium, a museum hall, or a Zoom webinar, conversing with others about exciting works of art, literature, music, history, or science is an activity that truly gives me "wings."            As a writer, I have written professional articles and reviews for a variety of forums, including Gallery and Studio.  My poetry and short stories (many created under the pen name T. Richard Williams) have been published in such diverse venues as Wild Violet, Aphelion, Shadeworks (where I was also fiction editor),  American Poets and Poetry,  and Acumen. Three self-published collections of verse--How the Dinosaurs Devoured the Humans, The Letter S, and Hurricane Warnings--and two volumes of short stories titled Ten and The Book of Clues are currently available as is my sci-fi novel Twelve Minutes...By going to the WRITING page on this website, you can click on links that will take you directly to each book at Amazon.com            My life has also been deeply enriched by my avocation as an artist/photographer, and I’ve been privileged to see my work shown at galleries and libraries in Manhattan and Long Island since 2007--and in the Portland area since 2017.             In terms of philanthropy, I’m a member of and donor to The Jesup Legacy Circle at The American Museum of Natural History. In addition, I always try to support a wide range of charitable organizations either financially or as a volunteer, especially those devoted to preserving Earth's environment; advancing medical knowledge and treatments; and advocating for civil equality.