My Journey

My curiosity about the world deepened while serving in the United States Air Force during the Persian Gulf War, where I experienced the Middle East firsthand and developed a lasting appreciation for different cultures, perspectives, and people. After completing military service and earning several associate degrees, I realized that education and the opportunity to learn from people around the world, would shape the next chapter of my life.

That journey truly began with a year of study abroad in Kobe, Japan. Living with a Japanese host family, studying the language, and experiencing everyday life immersed me in a culture that would become my second home. What began as a single academic year grew into nearly a decade of teaching and living in Japan, where I discovered not only my passion for education but also the lasting impact of international experiences on personal and academic growth.

Upon returning to the United States, I earned two master's degrees in education, confirming that teaching was not simply a profession but my calling. Soon afterward, another opportunity led me to China, where I taught academic writing and communication at the university level for five years. Although I never became fluent in Mandarin, I embraced Chinese culture, developed a deep appreciation for its cuisine and traditions, and found endless inspiration in the dedication and work ethic of my students. Those years also included the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, which required educators around the world to rethink teaching while continuing to support students through extraordinary circumstances.

Today, I have the privilege of teaching multilingual undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Arkansas while completing my Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction within the College of Education and Health Professions. Looking back at each step of my journey, from military service to Japan, China, and now Arkansas, has reinforced one belief: education is at its best when it brings people together across cultures and creates communities where everyone has the opportunity to learn, contribute, and grow. My teaching and research focus on academic writing, multilingual education, and the thoughtful integration of human-centered artificial intelligence to support student success. Above all, I remain committed to building communities of international scholars where curiosity, cultural understanding, and lifelong learning flourish.