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Overview of my working life since 1962: In 1972, I worked at Nordstrom for a fall sale, and ended up working there for the next 17 years. I liked working with people, on a flexible schedule that, as a single mom, I could work around the kids' busy school and sports schedules. In the early '80s, I started thinking about life after retail, and went to Pacific Lutheran University for a Master's Degree in Counseling. I did an internship, which led to a job at the Puyallup Tribal Treatment Center, and also worked in private practice with a wonderful mentor and fellow colleague. From 1992-1999 I worked as a family therapist for Horizon Treatment Services, developing and leading the family program there. During that time, I took classes at The Haven Institute for Professional Training, on Gabriola Island, British Columbia, received their Diploma in Counseling (equivalent to a vocational Masters degree). I have been leading core programs and creating new courses with colleagues as part of the Institute's Core Faculty. In 2000, I finished a doctoral program in Therapeutic Counseling from The Institute for Integral Human Sciences in Montreal.
Proudest moment/most memorable experience in the last 40 years: Just ONE? Hmmm. I think graduating from Pomona College is one of the proudest moments, especially in retrospect. After graduation was when I really learned to appreciate the value of a liberal arts education, in a small setting where learning to think critically and then express my thoughts was as important as course content. I'm proud to have continued learning (even though it was years later than most of our classmates). Some of my proudest moments have been in the lives of my children and grandchildren.
Most important part of my Pomona experience: The people I learned from at Pomona and the lifetime friends I made were and continue to be important. Getting together annually with former suitemates Janne Fecht, Patti Holmes and Pooh Venrick and watching as our lives and families develop through the years has been an ongoing benefit of my Pomona years.
Favorite professor and why: Donald McIntyre---a brilliant and creative man, who in his quiet, unassuming way inspired our (then) small and rough edged bunch of geology majors to stretch beyond what we thought was possible and become successful.
Plans for the Future: I love what I'm doing, and don't see retirement any time soon! Work seems like play, involves lots of travel, and is very rewarding. A new direction my interests are taking me (and my grandchildren and students) is into the world of creative expression, textile art and dance being my new passions.