Where are you from?
I was born in November 1942 in Libertyville, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. I have a B.S. in History from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and a M.S. in history and an Ed.D. in Secondary Education, both from Northern Illinois University. I spent 6 years teaching educational psychology, first at Hartwick College in Oneonta, NY, and later at Indiana University Northwest in Gary, IN.
How long have you been in Austin?
My wife and I have been in Austin for a little over 9 years. We moved to Austin in 2017 to be closer to family. Prior to moving to Austin, our family lived in Amarillo, TX, for 37 years. While there, I was Director of Institutional Research and taught part-time pre-algebra and statistics at Amarillo College. I also volunteered in the Amarillo school system, first working with 1st graders on reading, and later helping high school students with algebra.
What do you do at iACT?
I began several years ago as a teaching assistant for students learning English in the Multilevel Virtual class. More recently I have been working one-on-one with students over the internet, helping them learn to master the citizenship questions about United States history.
What’s the most challenging thing about the work you do at iACT?
I am very hard of hearing, and, as the years have passed, my hearing has continued to deteriorate. As a result it has become harder and harder for me to understand students, particularly if they have strong accents.
What’s the most rewarding thing about the work you do at iACT?
The most rewarding part about my work at iACT is knowing that I’m helping Austin’s new immigrants work toward becoming United States citizens. In addition, working with others helps me continue to learn about other cultures.
I have been retired since moving to Austin, so my iACT work has allowed me to continue to be a productive member of society by helping others. These factors help me maintain a positive self image.
Why would you encourage others to support the work of iACT?
iACT serves a wide variety of people, of all ages and from many countries. It is extremely easy to work with students while meeting a volunteer’s scheduling needs. If you have an hour you can spare each week, please consider volunteering with iACT. You will be helping others and can feel proud of the time you invest.