International Institute Chair, Study Abroad Program Coordinator
Global education matters to me because it can change how we understand ourselves, relate to others, and imagine our place in the world. As an educator, I want students to recognize that their perspectives matter and that there is always more to learn from someone else’s experience. I believe these opportunities should be available to every student, regardless of financial circumstances, background, or ability to travel.
As a founding member and chair of the International Institute Advisory Board, I am committed to removing barriers and making global learning part of everyday life at Mott. Through experiences abroad, in our classrooms, and across our community, I want to help students build the curiosity, confidence, and intercultural understanding to engage thoughtfully with the world and recognize their ability to contribute to it.
I am proud to be a longtime member of the International Institute Advisory Board (IIAB) and honored to contribute to work that brings the world to our students. As our communities become increasingly interconnected, providing students with opportunities to experience different cultures, perspectives, and ideas is an essential part of their education.
Through the IIAB, we can create a campus where global learning extends beyond borders and is accessible to every student. Whether students travel abroad or experience the world within their own classrooms and community, each global connection has the power to broaden perspectives, challenge assumptions, and inspire curiosity. I believe that when we expand our students’ view of the world, we expand their vision of what is possible for their own lives—and prepare them to become thoughtful, culturally aware, and engaged global citizens.
My commitment to global learning at Mott comes from seeing firsthand how meaningful connections across languages and cultures can change the way we understand the world, one another, and ourselves. As an adult ESL instructor with the Flint & Genesee Literacy Network, Spanish language learner at Mott, MCC Culture Club staff advisor, and previous study abroad participant, I have experienced how stepping outside our own language and cultural perspective builds curiosity, empathy, and humility. I am especially passionate about creating opportunities for students who may not see themselves as traditional international travelers to engage with other cultures, whether through study abroad, language learning, cultural programming, or connections right here on campus. As a member of the International Institute Advisory Board, I am excited to help make global experiences welcoming, accessible, and relevant to all MCC students.
I am excited to be a member of the International Institute Advisory Board (IIAB) and to learn more about the world through the experiences, cultures, and stories of our students. My mission is to learn, share, and help create opportunities for community college students to expand their understanding of the world.
I believe travel and cultural experiences can open our minds, build confidence, and change the way we see the world. I hope to empower students with the knowledge and cultural awareness they need to travel confidently, embrace new experiences, and appreciate the diverse world around them.
My IIAB mission is to build bridges between cultures through education, international travel, and meaningful shared experiences. I believe that experiencing another country firsthand helps students develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of different cultures, customs, traditions, and perspectives. Through study abroad and international partnerships, I strive to create opportunities that expand horizons, encourage curiosity, and help students become more confident and culturally aware global citizens. As a Chef, I believe food and hospitality are universal languages that bring people together, create connections, and open the door to understanding one another. The goal is to connect students with the world beyond the classroom and provide experiences that inspire personal growth, professional development, and lifelong connections.
As an International Institute member and nurse educator, my mission is to inspire the next generation of healthcare professionals to practice with deep empathy, cultural humility, and profound respect for each individual's unique background and lived experiences. Throughout my nursing career, I have seen that exceptional care requires far more than procedural expertise; it demands a deep understanding of the human story behind every diagnosis. In an increasingly interconnected world, nursing education must extend beyond traditional clinical competencies to fully integrate the social and cultural determinants of health into the core curriculum. In my personal travels, I have experienced different perspectives on health and wellness across different cultures. I am committed to providing similar experiences to students here at Mott Community College.
As the instructor for International Ecology and Conservation at Mott Community College, my mission is to empower students through immersive, field-based global learning that bridges classroom science with real-world environmental stewardship. By guiding students through hands-on fieldwork, from sea turtle conservation in Costa Rica, Australia, and the Galápagos Islands to wildlife monitoring in Namibia, I am dedicated to fostering ecological literacy, cultural humility, and global citizenship. I commit to providing transformative educational experiences that challenge students to engage deeply with fragile ecosystems, collaborate with local communities, and return home with the knowledge and passion to serve as lifelong advocates for our shared planet.
I’m excited to serve another year on the IIAB. As the Director of Library Services, my mission is connecting students with resources that support their learning both on campus and wherever they may find themselves in this big world. A journey can often be inspired by a new place discovered in the pages of a book. Travel is one of the best ways to experience new cultures, forge new relationships, and learn about how we are all interconnected on this planet. I enjoy supporting students as they discover more about themselves and the greater world.
As an academic advisor, I am passionate about the student experience as a whole, and how the college can ensure students that they can pursue their interests and passions during their time at Mott. Combining advising with our International Institute, I enjoy working with students on their global curriculum endorsement and study abroad opportunities.
Global education matters to me because I see every day how expanding a student’s horizons changes their trajectory and where they may end up. Working with dual-enrollment students and leading our history club, I watch young people realize that their local stories are part of a much bigger human narrative, and that taking on college-level challenges gives them real power over their own futures.
Access to quality learning shouldn't depend on a zip code. My mission is to show students that their voices matter on a global scale, helping them draw lessons from the past, build confidence in the present, and step up as thoughtful leaders in an interconnected world.
As a World Languages Teacher at Mott Community College, I have been committed to bringing global awareness to this school since 2013. I strongly believe that knowledge of other languages and cultures makes us better citizens through increased empathy and critical thinking. With this in mind, I hope to make my small contribution to breaking down barriers between different countries by teaching foreign languages and cultures.
I have been an active member of the International Institute Advisory Board (IIAB) since its inception at this institution. I have coordinated and participated in cultural presentations, international fairs, and international talent shows. I also hope to be involved in the creation of Study Abroad programs for our students.
One of the essential outcomes for all programs at MCC, and the mission of the International Institute, is global awareness. I believe it is important to equip our students with intercultural competency, which is a vital skill for success in today’s interconnected world. To me, this mission is powerfully served through the COIL (Collaborative International Learning) projects I have implemented in my classes. If you were to ask my students, many would say the COIL component is a highlight of the semester. It is a profound moment when they realize they can engage in meaningful conversation with peers halfway around the world without ever leaving the classroom. During these projects, students discuss their daily lives, cultures, and personal perspectives. In doing so, they move beyond the textbook and engage in an authentic intercultural exchange. I am a committed member of the IIAB because I believe these experiences open the doors for students to discover the excitement of the world, promote curiosity, and inspire deeper global understanding.
Greetings! As a member of the music faculty at Mott, I was excited and honored to have the opportunity to become a member of the International Institute! Global awareness and teaching students about other cultures and debunking the many stereotypes often associated with them is one of my lifelong passions. I am blessed to be able to do just that through my world music and culture class. So many students have not had the opportunity to travel, and haven’t had the opportunity to meet many people from other countries and other cultures. The International Institute at MCC is doing an amazing job of changing that, by providing students the opportunity to travel to many different parts of the world to learn about other cultures, undertake service learning projects, and to make a difference that is life-changing–both for our students and the people that they meet. I have been blessed to travel to Haiti since 2003 to teach, perform, and learn about Haitian religion, music and culture. This led to me setting up an educational and cultural exchange program, where five Haitian musicians who were instructors in Haiti came to Mott for a semester-long residency program. A few years later, I assisted two of my students at Mott with their travel to Haiti to teach at the music camp. Being able to open up new opportunities for students to learn about other cultures is a passion of mine, and Haiti is near and dear to my heart. My hopes are to someday take a group of students there on a study abroad trip through the International Institute. If travel to Haiti isn’t possible, then I’m hoping I can lead or co-sponsor a trip to Cuba, my second favorite country to study. (Photo is of me practicing in Haiti.)
I am an anthropology professor and a proud member of the International Institute. My teaching style reflects a passion to expand students’ cultural awareness and encourage them to see the world through perspectives different from their own. I believe learning comes to life when we take the time to ask questions, build connections, and step outside our comfort zones to engage with new ideas, cultures, and experiences. Through my involvement with the International Institute, I hold a strong belief in promoting the organization's mission of international and intercultural programming that fosters global awareness, supports diversity, equity, and inclusion, and builds intercultural competence. My goal is to create inclusive learning environments that transform curiosity and empathy into the practical tools students need to navigate a diverse and interconnected world.
My commitment to global learning at Mott stems from a deep desire for people to explore the world outside of their immediate community. Realizing the differences and similarities between themselves and others can foster a greater sense of awareness, appreciation, respect, and humility. As an occupational therapist I have cared for and worked with a diverse range of individuals. My goal for students is to understand how they can impact and be impacted by expanded cultural experiences. As faculty and member of IIAB, I have traveled to Costa Rica to explore opportunities for study abroad experiences for occupational therapy students with OT students from Santa Paula Universidad, and implemented Collaborative Online Learning Experiences for our students. I believe these experiences will help prepare students for careers in the globalized healthcare environment.
