I successfully teamed with an English and art instructor in LA to teach an art centered thematic curriculum that was underwritten by The Getty Center. While teaching I won two National Endowment of the Humanities summer teacher grants to study at Georgetown University and the Prado Museum in Madrid, Spain. I have studied in Mexico and Spain as well as completing a BA in Spanish at Portland State. I am also a professional chef having trained at the California Culinary Academy(now Cordon Bleu) in SFO. I also am a tour director, guide and driver working with student groups in DC and the NE US and conducting tours in the Southwest with small Spanish & English groups.

I am an Oregon native born in Grants Pass. I enjoy the outdoors and music, cinema, reading mostly non-fiction, family, friends and the Oregon Ducks & Portland Timbers.