As part of a select group of advanced graduate students and junior faculty from the University of Pennsylvania, I represented the Middle East Center's public outreach and education program by conducting a series of Silk Road concert-lectures across the Greater Philadelphia Area at venues including New Foundations Charter School, Bodine International High School, Camden County College, and Cherry Hill Public Library.

With pan-institutional support from the Smithsonian Libraries' Special Collections, my research residency focused on rare 18th-19th century Central Asian expedition literature, specifically in the Yaghnob Valley of present-day Tajikistan.

Complementing my graduate studies at the University of Pennsylvania, I conducted field independent field research in the Yaghnob Valley, private music instruction with the National Shashmaqam Ensemble and formal intensive Tajiki instruction through the American Councils for International Education, Eurasian Regional Language Program.

• Assist in property consignment, catalog lot information, conduct primary research and identify comparable works, generate condition reports, organize inventory, prepare lots for auction and end-sale property transactions• Perform myriad duties namely arranging exhibition displays, liaising with the public, logging client registrations and bid forms, handling front desk reception and clerking live auction results

• Compiled digital catalogues of clientele collections including artwork, decorative accessories, floor coverings and furniture• Conducted primary research and auction comparisons of items from the Silk Road, specifically Eurasia and China

• Acted as liaison for 16 Working Groups across 5 cities, such as Foreign Investment and Customs & Trade groups• Created summaries of working meetings used to support foreign investment initiatives with the Prime Minister• Co-authored several publications, such as Investor’s Voice and the Kazakhstan Food Security Conference

Co-author: Google Translate+Kazakh

• Coordinated conference logistics between the directors of all Smithsonian and major Chinese museums.
 • Developed bilingual museum directory and served as interpreter for Chinese delegates.

"Discover Kazakhstan: The Expeditions of Chokan Valikhanov"This project is a multi-year online exhibition that presents the scientific expeditions and contributions of the great Kazakh geographer and ethnographer, Chokan Valikhanov (1835-1865). www.valikhanov.si.edu

Spearheaded efforts to establish branch office in Shanghai. Oversaw firm logistics of the Temple-Tsinghua Law School 'Rule of Law' Conference in Beijing. Translated firm website into Chinese.

“The Kashgar Rawap: Instrument of Uyghur Music, Culture and Identity” Research examined contemporary social aspects of the Uyghur ethnic minority in NW China through traditional music appreciation.

“Long-necked Lutes from Baku to Bishkek: A Musical Journey in Central Asia” An independent wanderjahr along the Silk Road studying Central Asian music with local masters on traditional instruments.

Generated daily metrics reports for E.I. DuPont’s Titanium Technology to improve visibility of export documentation status. Organized 5 years of chemical shipment records to comply with US Customs regulations.