Autobiography

Education:

• EdD -- Curriculum and Instruction in Higher Education, Argosy University

• MA -- Comparative Literature, with an emphasis in Arabic, French, and Persian literatures, California State University, Fullerton

• BA -- Anthropology and English, California State University, Los Angeles

Experience:

Before becoming a full-time instructor at Cypress College in 2001, I taught at many community colleges in Orange and Los Angeles counties (Fullerton College, Citrus College, Pasadena City College, and Glendale College) as well as California State University, Fullerton, and Concordia University at Austin, Texas.

My love of literature and the study of culture led to my dual major in English and cultural anthropology as an undergraduate. Upon degree confirmation I spent 11 months travelling the world and received an education that cannot be matched by textbooks. I sought a graduate degree in Comparative Literature that would combine my passion for the study of culture and my continued devotion to literature. Having taught in higher education for over 11 years, I recently completed my dissertation on the relationship between ethnic identity and academic achievement in partial fulfillment of a Doctorate in Education.

Currently, I serve as coordinator of the English Department, co-coordinate the Puente Program (a university preparation program), co-edit the Journal of Druze Studies, serve on the Board of Directors for the Institute of Diaspora Studies, and Chair the MLA Executive Committee of West Asian Languages and Literatures. My independent research in Druze and Arab studies has afforded me the opportunity to present my findings to the MLA, MESA (Middle East Studies Association), and Institute of Druze Studies.

Interests:

I love spending time with my "children" (Tonka and Soda). We enjoy many outdoor activities like hiking, camping at the beach and in the mountains, and skiing.

I also continue to relish travelling and have backpacked extensively throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Hawaii, Fiji, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, France, Germany, Spain, Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg, Italy, England, Denmark, Holland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Lebanon, Egypt, Jamaica, Costa Rica, Panama, and Guatemala.

Within the last two years I was in Germany for World Cup Soccer; hiked through Belize, Guatemala, and Mexico, and did volunteer work in Ecuador. Next trip? the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, and more!

Today's Date: Sunday March 21, 2010
Last Modified: Tuesday May 13, 2008