I am interested in introducing people to languages and cultures other than their own. My most rewarding experiences are working directly with individuals for whom English is not their native language. Following nineteen years as a mental health therapist in both outpatient and inpatient settings, I now work as the Executive Director at Penobscot Language School in Rockland, Maine. Here I oversee three facets of programming: 1) Weekly language classes for all ages and in 8+ different languages, 2) English Immersions for students from around the globe who want to improve their English, and 3) Cultural Events including a variety of speakers, ethnic meals, camps and workshops. My current role includes everything from recruiting and hiring a diverse staff, to planning and implementing appeals and fundraisers to establishing and maintain sound working relationships with community organizations and schools.Prior work in the mental health field informs all that I do as I seek to connect people while having empathy for individual concerns. I have worked as part of a treatment team in private practice, schools and inpatient diagnostic units. Each of these environments has provided me with a different perspective on how people operate and the perspective from which they make their way through the world. Outside of work, I love literature, puzzles of all sorts, film and travel. As a side bar, I am learning to play the violin, a true test of the neurological connection between the brain and hand movement!