Originally from Chicago, I have lived in the Bay Area since 1973. After working for 25 years as a manufacturing engineer, mostly in machine shops, I attended San Francisco State University to obtain a degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (M.A. TESOL) in order to become an ESL teacher. I have been fortunate enough to teach at SRJC since June, 2006.

I think preparation for a career is very important, so I like teaching at SRJC, where certificates and degrees provide pathways to many different types of work.

I speak German, Spanish, and Russian. I enjoy traveling, and I always attempt to learn at least a little of the language of my destination. For example, before traveling to China, I studied Chinese here at SRJC. 

I spend a quarter of every year in Berlin, where I attend German as a Second Language classes that are very similar to the English classes I teach here. I enjoy being a language student at least as much as being a language teacher.

In my spare time, I play fiddle in "The Roadoilers," a traditional old-time string band, providing music for music festivals, contradances, and square dances.