My Formal Education: First Person Narrative*

I received a lot of my primary and higher education in Europe.

Because I am a first generation German-American, I used undergraduate and graduate opportunities to study German (Germanistik) and contemporary German history at universities in Braunschweig, Munich and Wuerzburg (where the maternal grandfather I never met studied Physics). In Germany, my generation is known as "the grandchildren of the Second World War."

German Fluency

I used to be fluent in German when I received a Fulbright Creative Writing Grant and researched contemporary German history (1933-1945) in archives. Several years have passed since then but I have been assured that my favorite language will return when I visit again like a familiar tune. Regrettably, my German is 'rusty'  now.

Bachelor of Arts

State University of New York at Albany granted me a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, cum laude.

Ever since I earned my living as a professional writer, my liberal arts education in systems of government informs my career.

I've written communications for:

• a Fortune 100 financial services company,

• a $1B private Real Estate Investment Trust,

• a heritage global media and information conglomerate,

• mid and large sized private companies ($5M-$10M revenue), and

• international and U.S. non profits - young and old stage.

Graduate and Post Graduate

Sarah Lawrence accepted me into their graduate nonfiction writers program when it was still competitive. They now take 72% of their applicants. I don't know if it was the cult scandal and horrific oversight of the administration that plagued this venerable institution or if AI asynchronous learning is just making the most expensive liberal arts college in the country obsolete. Two of the finest and most dedicated Professors I've ever had the opportunity to study with recently ended their careers at SLC, including the recent dissolving of the entire German Department.

Unfortunately while earning my Masters of Fine Arts, I witnessed the collapse of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 from the World Financial Center. I walked through the WTC on mornings that year while studying in Bronxville. This eye witness changed the course of my life, as it did the world. I finished my degree, magna cum laude, in a state of trauma. Here is a published first person narrative about this experience.

After receiving my Masters of Fine Art in Nonfiction Writing,  I returned to the University of Munich again with a Fulbright and through different German literature and history Professors, was granted access into archives all over the country.

Professional Accreditations