Arizona's International Teaching Fellow to Australia
January - December 1995

Representing the state of Arizona, I spent a year teaching, speaking, and studying in the state of Victoria, Australia. I worked with children at Yering Primary School, a two-room country schoolhouse in the Yarra Valley, which is to the east of Melbourne. My class consisted of twelve students ranging in age from four to seven years old. This unparalleled professional experience changed my life forever, and set me on the course of studying education at the global level. I think often of my colleagues at the school and the lovely children with whom we worked and am so very grateful for all they taught me about teaching, learning, and culture-based educational practices.

Fulbright-Hays Fellow to Turkey
Summer, 1997
As a Fulbright Fellow, I spent the summer of 1997 studying Turkish archaeology, history, government, politics, education, and culture - first at Middle East Technical University in Ankara, then in towns in central, southern, and western Turkey, and finally, at Boğaziçi University in Istanbul. The time spent working with Turkish students and scholars, traveling with my Fulbright colleagues, and experiencing many facets of Turkish life and culture was an opportunity of a lifetime. I am so glad that I can share these experiences and the diverse perspectives I gained with my students.

Paul Harris Fellow to Hokkaido, Japan
Spring and Summer, 2000
As a Paul Harris Fellow sponsored by Rotary International District 5500 of Tucson, Arizona, I was very fortunate to participate in a Rotary Group Study Exchange to the island of Hokkaido. While staying with our generous Rotary sponsors in Chitose, Otaru, Sapporo, Muroran, and Hakodate, I was able to visit many beautiful and amazing Japanese educational institutions, including Future University in Hakodate, which, at the time, had only been open for six weeks. I can say without hesitation that Hokkaido is perhaps the most beautiful place I have ever visited. The people that I met were so very kind, welcoming, and generous; I will never forget the efforts my host families made on my behalf in ensuring that I experienced the very best of their beloved island. I will be forever grateful to them all!