My educational background is in Asian Studies. I completed my Bachelor of Arts at the University of Hawaii, Manoa with emphasis on the history of mainland Southeast Asia. My undergraduate work focused primarily on Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia and required extended year and a half study abroad at Mahidol University International College (MUIC) to access courses in Southeast Asian art, culture and history, not traditionally offered stateside. My personal experiences as a student abroad offers me insight into the problems faced by students abroad.

Professionally, I have worked in an international relations capacity both as liaison for the State Departments International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) supporting visitors from the Kingdom of Thailand in Hawaii, and as a member of the United States Armed forces during annual cooperative training in Thailand.

I have over 7 years experience living, working, studying, and traveling within Thailand and around the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS). Currently, I am undertaking graduate research on sustainable tourism and poverty alleviation through tourism development. My principal focus is on how responsible tourism development (i.e., study abroad) can improve the livelihoods of poor while mitigating social and environmental effects of development on host communities.

In my free time I enjoy traveling (by land), increasing my awareness, and understanding of Southeast Asia peoples and their cultures.

I really look forward to utilizing my knowledge, experience, networks and language ability in support of Asialearn students here in Thailand.

Hope to see you soon, in the “land of smiles”.