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After 10 years as a faculty member at the ¾ÅÒ»Â鶹ÖÆƬ³§ State University medical school, I started working at WMU in 2006. My lifelong passion, if not obsession, relates to issues pertaining to older persons. In particular, I’m highly committed to finding ways in which we can create a world with Alzheimer’s disease and also establish stronger support for marginalized elders. Motivating students to learn about and get involved in research is also an area that gives me great satisfaction--giving students the chance to ask deep and thoughtful questions about our lives. Lastly, I have led the longest study abroad program at WMU having taken over 400 students to Ireland over the past 15 years! I have also led several study abroad programs in Mexico. My hope is to create genuine interest and appreciation of persons from different cultures, languages and backgrounds.

Fun Fact:  I dabble in languages. At one time I spoke German relatively well, am constantly trying to improve in Spanish, but my strongest second language is Lithuanian. (Not to forego my Irish heritage--I don’t speak Irish, but have been taking Irish dance classes for years—No Riverdance career for me, but it’s great fun!)