About me

Who am I?

I am a doctoral student at the University of California, Irvine. This year (2009-2010) is my second year in the Ph.D. Education program, specializing in Language, Literacy and Technology. I have previously taught freshman writing and English as a second language at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, and Sahmyook University in Seoul, South Korea. I have integrated critical pedagogy and service-learning in my former classes and have also enjoyed tutoring students at the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) at Cal Poly Pomona. In addition, I have integrated technology in my pedagogical approach and am looking forward to contributing to the development of further applications for technology in education. This fall 2009 I will teach an undergraduate course – Education 134: Teaching English Internationally – at UC Irvine.

My research interests include English language learners, international education, transnationals and Third Culture Kids, educational equity, new literacies, service-learning, rhetoric, instructional technology, online communities and writing and identity. My career goals encompass a lifetime of service where I will make a meaningful difference in English language institutes, international centers as well as develop educational structures and technology for underserved communities.

In travel writer Pico Iyer’s words, I am a “global soul.” Sociologists would call me a Third Culture Kid. Cumulatively, I have lived in five continents and traveled to 42 countries. I was born in Norway, grew up in Kenya, and spent my teen years in Vancouver, B.C. and Boston. I earned my bachelor’s degree in English Literature at Newbold College in England, then went on to teach English as a foreign language in South Korea. I recently completed a Master’s degree in English with emphases in TESL and Rhetoric/Composition at Cal Poly Pomona. I have remained in southern California, where I feel that the international population uniquely suits my research population.

I have presented at TESOL (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages) and CIES (Comparative and International Education Society) conferences, and have also written for International Educator and Language Magazine. For links to my former presentations and publications, click here.

My personal interests include traveling, photography, videography, reading, writing, swimming and cooking vegetarian food.