Nice to meet you.
Nice to meet you!
I’m an educator with 30 years of experience in curriculum, policy, and teacher preparation (details). At the University of Michigan (and formerly, Eastern Michigan University), I taught graduate- and undergraduate courses on educational policy, social justice, multicultural education, and sustainability/ecological economics education.
In 2002 I founded Creative Change, a non-profit consulting firm focused on curriculum redesign. With clients ranging from K12 districts to universities to the United Nations, our programs continue to reach global audiences. My book, Reframing the Curriculum, compiles the approaches, carrying on the spirit of Creative Change.
In 2023, I hung up my teaching hat and turned my content creation skills to the world of children's literature--a move puts my lifelong artistic side on the front burner. My works in progress include an illustrated young adult fantasy novel and nonfiction picture books. Regardless of the audience, I aim to inspire learning and joyful change. Learn more in this interview with the Michigan Chapter of the Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, where I serve on the Equity and Inclusion team.
I received an undergraduate degree in music education from Western Illinois University, picked up endorsements in social studies and Teaching English as a Second Language, and earned a Master’s degree in International and Intercultural Management from the SIT Graduate Institute (the best school you’ve never heard of). You can find details in my CV.
I was born in Philly and raised in the Chicago area in a Catholic-Jewish household. (My father’s Italian; my mother is Ashkenazi Jewish). Raised Catholic, I drifted away from the faith for decades but have come back , inspired by Pope Francis and Catholic Social Teachings’ emphasis on human dignity and environmental stewardship. I’ve lived in Seattle, Germany, and Vermont. I’ve now made southeast Michigan my home and have been a resident of Ypsilanti (Ann Arbor’s quirky neighbor) for over 20 years. In my free time I enjoy painting, all things silly, and anything active (flag football, a bike ride . . . you game?). A self-identified language nerd, I’m always brushing up on my Spanish and German. (I got pretty good at Hindi for a trip to India many years ago.) A small mammal aficionado, I’m a proud mom of rescue rabbits and guinea pigs.