Researcher, Professor, Presenter, Author, Consultant, Education Abroad Director
AUTHOR, SPORTS/EDUPRENEUR, PODCAST HOST, PROFESSOR EMERITA
Candle activity with former students…now, teachers.
ABOUT ME
I am an Associate Professor Emerita, College of Education Northern Arizona University; served as faculty at: University of Texas @ Arlington, Arizona State University and Manhattanville College.
I was born on a USAF Base in D.C. Perhaps that set my me on a path to learn and teach history and discover many aspects of culture.
I believe in experiential learning: doing, listening, immersing (myself and students) in projects, international communities, and primary source research that changes thinking, stretches your cultural rubber band and imparts lifelong lessons.
I interviewed my grandfather, who lived 3 months shy of his 97th bday. I delivered his eulogy, but his stories earned me and A + in a qualitative research doctoral course and made its' way into my courses over 15 years at two universities.
"The Ripple Effect of Giving Up Your Story" engage students and had them posing this question:
What's one historical event that you want to tell us about?"
I shared some of the 1400 stories with US Veterans, particularly the local chapter of the Destroyer Escort Sailor's Association at the invitation of their leader, Tom Alexander. They were ok with a daughter of a Korean War USAF attending/presenting at their gatherings (see photo above.)
RESEARCH INTERESTS
My research interests include Teacher Education, Education Policy, Social Studies Education, Visual Art: From a Kids' Point of View, and Personal Narratives that Teach historical events through primary sources "Ripple Effect Project." I coined the term, "Potholder Topics," two decades ago, and thousands of former students, now teachers across 16 states and four countries, recognize its' significance.
INFLUENCERS
MSG ROBERT COSBY (USARMY) was a friend and colleague who shared stories while working out in the weight room at a boy's school in CT. MSGT Cosby served our country in World War II (segregated military) and was selected to the U.S. Army Honor Guard at The Nuremberg Trials.
MSG Cosby served in Korea, Panama, and Vietnam before he met me as a teacher/mentor for years in CT. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. ERNEST MICHEL "ERNIE" neighbor, friend, mentor, teacher, Holocaust Survivor (pictured above) chronicled the Nuremberg War Crimes Trials under the byline, 'Auschwitz survivor #104995'). Ernie shared his life experiences with me in our Scottsdale condo clubhouse, and then with teachers and community members from Navajo Nation to Tempe Arizona. Ernie was particularly interested in meeting teachers. His lessons...."I never gave up hope," and were meant to pass on, and I promised to do so.
There's no "Influencer" who can hold a candle to these two men, who met each other by chance, and mentored me decades later.