ALTHOUGH I'M ORIGINALLY from central Kentucky, I've spent portions of the last three decades in New York, Japan, the United Kingdom (Wales), Illinois, Iowa, and New Jersey. In New York I studied Asian studies and religious studies; in Japan I taught junior high English while researching Japanese pilgrimage; in Wales I formally studied business administration; and at the University of Illinois I studied Japanese religion and (U.S.) higher education. Somewhere in the middle of all that, I was an interpreter at a Japanese automotive components firm. I've also worked with Upward Bound (a federally funded college-preparation/transition program for high school students), in the office of an insurance company, for a major technology corporation, and even at a paint factory (yes, on the line). But I've never worked directly in the food industry, which is a shame, since I quite prefer food to cars or insurance or paint or technology. When I have the chance, I enjoy reading and reviewing books on academic writing; food and food culture; and Japanese religion, education, and culture in general.

These days you'll find me in Charlottesville, Virginia, where I work with talented undergraduates and graduate students who are applying to scholarships and fellowships of all ilks--from internal awards to nationally competitive, once-in-a-lifetime opportunities.