I am a third-year Ph.D. Education student at the University of California, Irvine, specializing in Language, Literacy and Technology. My doctoral advisor is Campus Writing Coordinator and Professor of English Jonathan Alexander. In addition to my research, I have taught and worked as a Teaching Assistant for various undergraduate Education courses at UC Irvine, including Education 334: Literacy and Technology and Education 134: Teaching English Internationally, both of which I have also taught as the primary instructor. In fall 2010, I worked as a Graduate Student Researcher and peer tutor at UC Irvine’s Graduate Resource Center, where I provided writing assistance and organized professional development workshops for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars of all disciplines. Additionally, in 2010/2011, I was selected as one of 16 Pedagogical Fellows at UC Irvine. This practical fellowship allowed me to give teaching workshops and train incoming Ph.D. students on how to become effective Teaching Assistants.

In addition to working as an instructor and Teaching Assistant for Education courses at UC Irvine, I have also previously taught freshman writing and English language courses at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, and Sahmyook University in Seoul, South Korea. I typically integrate critical pedagogy and service-learning in my classes. I have also enjoyed tutoring students at the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) at Cal Poly Pomona. For more on my teaching experience, click here.

My research interests include English language learners, international education, transnationals and Third Culture Kids, educational equity, new literacies, service-learning, rhetoric, online communities and writing and identity. My career goals encompass a lifetime of service where I will make a meaningful difference in an international arena, potentially at an English language institute, international center, or study abroad program. For more on my research experience, click here.

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. In 2008, I 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.

Research-wise, I have presented at TESOL (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages), CATESOL (California TESOL), FIGT (Families in Global Transition) and CIES (Comparative and International Education Society) conferences, and have also written for International Educator and Language Magazine. Current research of mine has been submitted to the International Journal of Intercultural Communication and the Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication. For links to my former presentations and publications, click here.

My personal interests include traveling, photography, videography, reading, writing, hiking, swimming, surfing, rock climbing and cooking vegetarian food. I am also an intrepid user of social media, so feel free to gawk at my photography on Flickr or follow my tweets on Twitter.

Other Websites: