About
Meghan Wentland joined the Bob Vila team as a writer and editor in the home finance, home security, and home improvement spaces in 2020. She is also a professor of writing and literature, where she spends her time teaching students to think critically and look for clarity.
Experience
Most of Meghan’s expertise in the home improvement area comes from research, trial, and plenty of errors. In her teaching career, she spends a lot of energy explaining to students that writing is a set of skills that can be learned, and the same goes for any unfamiliar process or project. This is how she believes that with enough preparation, home buying and home improvement don’t have to be intimidating. The best companion during a home project is a clearly laid-out explanation of what to do and how to do it; Meghan is happy to contribute to that body of work for new and experienced DIYers.Â
There’s a lot to know about improving a home, but home finances, insurance, and security can be just as intimidating as home improvements, especially for new buyers. In her writing, Meghan strives to tame these beasts and make them accessible for newcomers or those who don’t need the whole backstory but only the steps they need to take to get the job done.
Meghan also enjoys working on gift guides, product reviews, and pieces that help readers estimate the costs of projects and hiring the right professionals to help.
Education
Meghan holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and Irish Studies from Boston College, a Master of Arts in English and Irish Literature from Southern Illinois University, and a doctorate in English from The Catholic University of America.Â
Highlights
- Specialties and interests: Home improvement, surface refinishing, and creating unique decor, along with the process of learning how to buy, protect, and maintain homes
- Education: Bachelor of Arts in English and Irish Studies from Boston College, a Master of Arts in English and Irish Literature from Southern Illinois University, and a doctorate in English from The Catholic University of America
Proudest DIY
Meghan had grand home improvement plans at the start of the pandemic. However, the lone project she accomplished was a complete refinish of the fireplace in her 1940s colonial using only materials she already had in the house. She’s pretty proud of it.
