1989
After ten years as an English and French teacher, including Peace Corps service in Nepal, I made the switch to diplomacy. I have since served overseas in six countries over fifteen years in roles ranging from press and cultural attachí© to counterterrorism coordinator. I have honored Battle of the Bulge veterans in Luxembourg, organized a film festival in Tunisia, sent students to Space Camp from Morocco, and flown with wildlife rangers in Kenya among many other memorable experiences.
After floundering around a bit during my freshman year, I found a home in the English Department at Duke. Professors like James Applewhite, Reynolds Price and John Clum challenged me to think more rigorously and express myself more eloquently. I still find those skills useful every time I write a proposal for a new program, a press release on a key milestone, or a speech for the Ambassador or speak with everyone from senior leaders to school kids.
