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What I Celebrate
I have really enjoyed a wide array of cool experiences in my life. Some have brought me some attention that I want to share with you. In a sense, this is my highlights reel. Sadly, this list covers just a few things I have done in the digital age. There have been other cool things that are mostly left to my fond memories and occasionally a fun story among friends who were present.
I am still working on the layout of this page, but feel free to click the links and see my surprising and diverse experiences!
Animal Advocacy
Lost and Found Pets: Featuring Sahara
During the coldest days of the winter of 2015 in Lafayette, Indiana, a dog was accidentally let out of her hotel room, and then the hotel building. Sahara was lost, scared, cold, and missing for days. Her rescue made the news and highlighted my work with the volunteer group that brought her home. Read about the rescue here.
Berlin 1991
Rosco the Tornado Dog
November 17, 2013 brought a very destructive tornado to the greater Lafayette, Indiana area. After the tornado blew through a very sweet dog was missing, presumed to be swept up in the tornado. Not until weeks later through social media, was it discovered that Rosco was turned into a shelter more than 30 miles from home. Thanks to the FB group I co-led, Rosco was reunited with his family, and I scored an interview with HLN. Watch me in action here.
Happy Howl-o-ween
https://www.jconline.com/story/money/business/2017/10/19/greater-lafayette-dogs-get-dolled-up-halloween/771360001/
Reducing Numbers of Animals in Need
https://www.jconline.com/story/money/business/2017/10/12/october-may-adopt-dog-month-but-local-shelters-overflowing/757257001/
PR Assistance to Win Grant
https://www.purdueexponent.org/features/article_05ecf54b-6896-527f-bf32-e35e842a9766.html
My Biggest Hoarding Case
https://www.jconline.com/story/news/local/lafayette/2016/11/04/rescued-dogs-begin-slow-recovery/92950034/
Language, Culture, and Diversity
My First Trip to Germany
When I traveled to Germany for the first time at age 15, it was big deal—to me, to my family, and to my community. In 1991 not many Northwest Indiana students were traveling abroad and staying with host families. The local newspaper thought their readers would love to know what we thought. Hopefully the NWTimes will give you access!
Grad School: More Than Papers
I have always been someone who needs a lot to do and a lot of different tasks or assignments, typical over achieving, extra curricular-loving, busy person. In grad school I needed to do something big and important, so a group of ambitious students decided to establish a graduate student committee as a way to formalize expectations surrounding events like the annual symposium, professional development seminars, and peer-to-peer support network. I was very proud of the work we did that first year. Check out my editorial in the very first newsletter.
Bauhaus + Atlanta
During the pandemic, as the world was shut down, I was able to lead an international project that provided socially distant and virtual events, an appreciated pleasure for so many in such a dark time. The project in its simplest description remembered a Bauhaus student turned Georgia Tech professor for his innovation and toughness. In a deeper description, the project discussed the international course of the Bauhaus movement. Read the Global Atlanta article here.
Embracing Diversity
While at the International Society of Arboriculture I spearheaded several initiatives including the member profile series which was critical in showcasing the diversity of the organization's membership. To launch the first round, two members outside of the US, the international tree climbing champions, were featured. Here's the link to that feature.
Immigrants Makes Us Stronger
During my tenure as the executive director of the Goethe-Zentrum Atlanta, our teaching and administrative staffs were more diverse than ever before in the organization's 40+ year history. While at the International Society of Arboriculture I spearheaded several initiatives including the member profile series which was critical in showcasing the diversity of the organization's membership. To launch the first round, two members outside of the US, the international tree climbing champions, were featured. See my love of our diverse community here.
My First Publication
https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1219&context=gbl
My Brush with Hollywood
https://lumiere-a.akamaihd.net/v1/documents/jungle_cruise_press_kit_final_lo-res_7-22-21_39de8ff1.pdf
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