A little about me...

As some of you may well know I have now been in Kazakhstan, for most of the year, the past three years. Well actually since August of 2012. I am part of the international team building this country’s first English-only institution of higher education, partnered by internationally respected universities such as University College London, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Duke University and other institutions. I have been part of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, most specifically the Department of World Languages and Literature, where I teach literature, theatre, and the humanities. I focus on classes which develop critical thinking and writing skills, while also centering on creative endeavors such as play writing and fiction, acting and directing.

 

I have also worked in the technical writing field, prior to my sojourn abroad here in Central Asia. I have written and edited reports, articles, newsletters and newsletter articles, and journals as well as the above mentioned academic and creative ventures.  I continue this work here at Nazarbayev University, where I have been part of several committees – Tenure and Promotion, Performing Arts, to name two – and instrumental in composing and adapting guidelines, rules and protocols.

 

But I haven’t always been here – this is just a temporary stint that will be wrapping up soon. I have taught theatre, literature, composition and writing, academic and fiction writing for over 15 years mostly at the tertiary level (college and university), along with a couple of shorter spells in secondary education in the Bay Area. I have also taught abroad in my second home, Kathmandu, where I was the Dean of Academics at a private ESL institution in central Kathmandu, on beautiful Putalisadak. I guided students through preparation for TOEFL, IELTS, the GRE and other exams, and landed students entrance into US universities such as the University of San Francisco, the University of Minnesota and other fine and noteworthy establishments.

 

I have spent many years in outdoors activities, including trekking in Nepal, where I am co-owner of a trekking agency, Alta Vista Treks. I have trekked throughout the Nepal Himalaya, and spent a lifetime backpacking and climbing in the Sierras, and other mountain ranges like the Wind Rivers, the Big Horns, and even trips to the French Alps (it rained the whole time) and the Andes in Bolivia.

 

I am also a published author – some of my writing can be found on this site. I am currently finishing a novel, and another one is in the works. I’ll keep you posted – hope you enjoy this small website, which will continue to grow.