I am a Virtual Exchange and Materials Development Specialist at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. at the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs in the Office of English Language Programs on the Innovations Team. I've managed multiple large-scale global projects, including Critical Creativity in Action, Panels and Perspectives: Creating Comics in the EFL Classroom, Create to Communicate: Art Activities for the EFL Classroom, and the Trace Effects video game. For these projects, I’ve led teams of virtual consultants working on English Language materials and projects. I'm interested in design thinking and human-centered design, trans-media approaches to education, educational technology, comics for education, leadership, motivation, and management for success. I am an ISTE Certified Educator and on the boards of SXSWedu and K12Leaders. Before working at State, I was an English Language Fellow in Novi Sad, Serbia, through the State Department’s English Language Fellow Program, and was a high school ESOL teacher and community college ESL teacher. I am an independent artist and distance runner in my free time. I usually have multiple projects going, and I’ve recently gotten into 3D printing design. I am a maker at heart!

I recently earned an Innovative Leader Award from Tech & Learning in 2024 for Best Example of Virtual Learning. https://www.techlearning.com/news/connecting-teachers-globally-to-enhance-teaching-everywhere.