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University of California, Santa Barbara, B.A (Communication Studies, Business Economics) 1986

Sonoma State University, M.A (English Literature) 1992

My career as an instructor in the Communication Studies Department at SRJC began in 1993. Before coming to SRJC, I taught part-time at Sonoma State University and Golden Gate University. I taught for many years at the Petaluma Campus, and now I teach full-time at the Santa Rosa Campus.

Teaching is my second career. Before coming to academics I enjoyed a career in public relations. I had a lucky break as a UCSB college student and was hired as an intern in the Public Relations Department at Goleta Valley Hospital. After that, I was hired as the Manager of Public Relations for the City of Santa Barbara where I gained experience in radio and television, and oversaw publications and publicity for the City. Most recently, I worked as the Manager of Public Relations at Petaluma Valley Hospital. All those years in PR gave me ample opportunities to speak professionally, and help others do the same. It feels like a natural background for what I do now in the classroom.

I love teaching and have offered the following courses for SRJC: Comm Studies 7: Intercultural Communication; Comm Studies 5: Group Discussion and Problem Solving; Speech 60: Communication Skills (face-to-face as well as online); Speech 1A: Public Speaking; and Media 4: Introduction to Mass Communication. While teaching in Florence for the SRJC Study Abroad Program, I also taught Hum 7: Introduction to Humanities; and Hum 49: Italian Life and Culture.

Welcome to the spring semester! I look forward to working with you.

Honors and Awards

Outstanding Critic Award for Debates
Governor's Cup Invitational Speech Tournament, Sacramento 1996

President's Award for participation on Academic Senate Executive Council, 2004

Study Abroad Program Florence Italy, Spring 2005

Tauzer Lecturer Spring 2006
"Listening to the Silent Language:
An Introduction to Nonverbal Communication"

Disability Awareness Award 2009
Awarded to one faculty or staff member each year