Coming to Davis had many perks for Gina Bloom and W. Flagg Miller — nice weather, organic produce, proximity to family — but perhaps the biggest bonus was being able to live under the same roof.

Bloom had taught 16th- and 17th-century English literature at the University of Iowa in Iowa City for the past two years, while Miller taught religious studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, three hours away. But with a child on the way, they looked for teaching positions in closer proximity.

"Other universities talk about making parenting work for academic couples. Davis makes it happen," Bloom said. "We're thrilled to be here."

They enjoy visiting the farmer's market with their young son, Max, where Flagg Miller has discovered all kinds of fruits and vegetables he had not eaten before — persimmons are a new favorite.

Bloom recently celebrated the release of her first book, Voice in Motion: Staging Gender, Shaping Sound in Early Modern England. Miller studies Islam and is currently conducting a new analysis of Osama bin Laden.

— Trina Wood