I love learning...and helping others to acquire a love of learning. I graduated with a B.A. double-major in English Literature and Philosophy (with honors in the latter from Colgate University. After working in a Congressional office on Capitol Hill, I taught English in the Peace Corps in Sri Lanka. After returning home, I earned a master's degree in international relations from the University of California (U.C.) San Diego, and then went on to earn a Ph.D. in Education from the U.C. Santa Barbara. Grades and test scores are important, but to me, education is about creating new opportunities and having a better life--for students of all backgrounds and abilities.