Bio

So much of our identity and story telling tropes are tied up with understandings of place.   Narratives are labelled “Hero’s Journeys” and every odyssey of self-discovery is viewed through the lens of travel.  Geologists use the earth as a material record of history; ecological innovators read the environment for potential pathways to the future.

Often when I travel I am asked where I am from as I turn up in places where people are surprised to see me and my accent in French is West African!

I grew up in a suburb outside of a small historic town outside of Philadelphia; right by Washington’s crossing.  Like many children, I harbored passions for storytelling, art, and the natural world.   I studied writing,  and international studies at Kenyon College;  then returned to my passion for studio art production, matriculating with an interdisciplinary BA from Hampshire College.  In the space between schools I studied cultural anthropology with the School for International Training in Bamako, Mali; and practiced arts in context at a Boys and Girls club on the Sisseton-Whapeton reservation in South Dakota.  I am passionate about contextualized, engaged academic practice; and believe in the power of arts and storytelling to change minds, hearts, and society.

I pursued an MFA in Illustration hoping to write children’s books that could change the world.   I taught theater and writing to gifted students in the summer, and worked at museums during the year.  After completing my MFA, followed my passion for social justice to teach art in Baltimore City, where I have been teaching for 13 years.

I worked for four years as an arts educator and arts integration specialist at a special education center for elementary school children with severe emotional disabilities.  During this time  my principal handed me a pamphlet on the Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund and encouraged me to apply.  The opportunity seemed oddly synchronous, as I had studied Japanese in Pittsburgh one summer in high school.  I was accepted to the program (along with 80 other educators), and used the research to create a school wide Japanese New Year’s festival, embedded in the art, writing, and social studies curriculum for grades K-5.  This was a springboard for further international research, curricular work, and facilitation of trainings for other teachers.  Over the years I have travelled to Kenya with Earthwatch; Mexico with Fulbright Hays; Morocco with Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms; Italy with the International Artist Teachers Experience; Alaska with National Geographic and Lindblad Expeditions; and to France and Malaysia on artist’s residencies.  All of these trips have featured research which I share with my students, in the classroom and larger educator community.

This year I am taking a sabbatical from teaching to research and create art about environmental conservation, including travel to Ecuador with Fulbright and Madagascar with GEEO.  I’m going to return to developing my illustration and fine art portfolio as well as pursuing significant curriculum development and writing programs.   One of my longer term goals is to develop a research travel program for my early college students and coach them into structuring independent research projects.

Globally engaged teaching enables me to learn from other leaders around the world and sate my curiosity with continuous learning.   I can bring fresh perspectives on contemporary events to my students and better prepare them for the world that is out there.  I cultivate curiosity and connection as much as possible; which leads to more creative students!   I’m building this site to connect to others with similar passions; build community and share ideas. Contact me !