Current
Institute for Cultural and Spiritual Studies (in development)
--Founder/Director
Online certificate program in topics related to spirituality, religion, multiculturalism, global politics (in development)

2002 - 2004 St. Mary’s College, Moraga California
--Visiting Lecturer
developed and implemented a program of study on the Women’s Spirituality movement
taught elements of Christian, Islamic and Judaic spirituality
worked with students from diverse spiritual and economic communities
created an atmosphere were learning between students
COURSES taught: Intro to Women’s Spirituality, Development of the Women’s Spirituality Movement, Multicultural Theatre

2000 University of California Extension, Berkeley California
--Instructor, Continuing Education Department
summer 2000 course in storytelling and personal narratives

1999 - 2003 New College of California, San Francisco California
--Adjunct Professor
led day long workshop in collaboration with other faculty members
encouraged students
created and taught a curriculum that was both academic and spiritual
introduced the arts as viable tools for the enhancement of learning
developed a unique learning environment which honored individual diversity
COURSES Taught: Embodied Spirituality, Women, Religion and Social Change, Ritual Theatre, Social Activism and Diversity

1997 - 2002 Santa Rosa Jr. College, Santa Rosa California
--Adjunct Theatre Faculty
designed and implemented curriculum for the teaching of beginning and advanced acting students
lectured on the development of cultural movements in US theatre motivated students to excel in a cooperative learning environment
worked collaboratively with other faculty on theatre productions
advised and mentored students on career development

COURSES Taught: Beginning and Intermediate Acting, Musical
Theatre Dance, Multicultural Theatre
1996 University of Redlands, Redlands California
--Visiting Professor of Religion
designed and taught a class on African-American Spirituality
initiated discussions in spiritual transformation
introduced the concept of spiritual journey/autobiography
developed a common vocabulary in which varying religious thoughts and ideas could be freely discussed
taught students of various ethnic, age and economic backgrounds

COURSE taught: African American Spirituality

RELATED ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE
2002-2003 International Women’s Spirituality Conference, San Francisco California
--Faculty Advisor, Producer
assisted students in the development of an academic conference
developed mission and vision statements
processed hundreds of proposals
created a plan for community outreach
designed and implemented a format that brings together scholars and artists for dialogue on the topic of spirituality and cultural transformationEDUCATION
June 1999 Ph.D., Integral Studies, California Institute of Integral Studies,
San Francisco, California
Dec 1990 M.A., Playwriting/Directing, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico
May 1981 B.F.A., Music Theory and Composition, University of Tampa,
Tampa, Florida

EDUCATION

June 1999 Ph.D., Integral Studies, California Institute of Integral Studies,
San Francisco, California
Dec 1990 M.A., Playwriting/Directing, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico
May 1981 B.F.A., Music Theory and Composition, University of Tampa,
Tampa, Florida

DISSERTATION -- The Queen of Sheba: An Ancient Woman for Modern Times, California Institute of Integral Studies, Spring 1999

TEXT PUBLICATIONS
• The Queen of Sheba Wisdom Oracle: Divination System
• “Yemenite Dance” – Bridges: A Journal of Jewish Feminist Writings, Summer 2001
• “The Sigh of the Earth,” She is Everywhere, anthology, edited by Lucia Birnbaum, Iuniverse, 2005
• “I Am Here” and “The Dance of Your Eyes” in the poetry anthology Relationships edited by Illiad Press, selected Poems, 2004
• “Intoxication”, in the poetry anthology Visions , JMW Publishing 2004
• “The Dance of Your Eyes” and “I Am Moved”, edited by The International Library of Poetry, 2004

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
• American Academy of Religion, Tempe Arizona March 2005
Presidential Address
• CAFÉ, Paulo Freire Institute, UCLA February 2004
“Spirituality and Education”
• Women’s Spirituality Conference, New College of CA, SF CA May 2003
“The Queen of Sheba as Wisdom Goddess”
• Black Women’s Studies and the Academy, Purdue University March 2003
“You Actin’ Womanish: The Queen of Sheba as an Ancestral Grandmother”
• American Academy of Religion, Toronto Canada, Nov 2002
“Praying At Different Altars: Women of Color and Diverse Religious Choices”
“In the Sweet Bi and Bi: The Politics of Bisexuality”
• American Academy of Religion, Denver CO, Nov 2001
“The Zar Cult of Ethiopia and Yemen”
• The International Millennium Conference, The Galilee, Israel July 2000
“The Queen of Sheba: Her Legacy During the Tme of King Solomon”
• International Conference on Yemenite Jewry, New York, New York August 2000
“On Eagles’ Wings: The Yemenite Jewish Soul in Music and Dance”
• American Society of Oriental Research, Cambridge MA Nov 1999
“The Queen of Sheba: An Ancient Woman for Modern Times”
• ∑National Women’s Studies Association, Albuquerque, NM June 1999
“Moving Between the Worlds: Women’s Spirituality and Women’s Studies”
• American Academy of Religion, Claremont CA March 1998
“Jewish Yemenite Dance and its connection to the spiritual life of the Yemenite Jew”
• University of Redlands, Redlands California Nov 1995
“Ethiopian Jewry”
• Jewish Women's Conference, SF CA Nov 1995
“Diversity Among Jewish Women: Reclaming our spiritual identity”

ORGANIZATIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Member, American Academy of Religion (AAR)
Member, American Society Of Oriental Research (ASOR)
Member, National Women Studies Association (NWSA)
Member, American Federation of Television and Recording Artists (AFTRA)
Member, American Society of Composers, Arrangers and Producers (ASCAP)
President, Project Sheba
Founder, Institute for Cultural and Spiritual Studies (ICSS)

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
• President to the Board of the Regional American Academy of Religion,
Western Region (WECSOR 2004-2005)
• Women’s Caucus Representative to the Board of the Regional American Academy of Religion Western Region (WECSOR 2001-2002)
• Co-Chair of the Religion and the Arts section of the Regional American Academy of Religion, Western Region (WECSOR 1998-2001)
• Numerous collaborations and performances with Northern and Southern California theatres and dance companies as well as self-produced music, dance and theatre events including Tears of Rock with Anne Bleuthenthal Dance (San Francisco) and Afro-Solo (San Francisco), The Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival, Women’s Theatre Company of Los Angeles

COMMUNITY SERVICE
• Advisor to the Isaiah Project, an organization dedicated to fostering community between African Americans and Jewish Americans, San Francisco
• Mentor for local grade school, teaching math and reading (Jewish Coalition for Literacy)

RELATED BUSINESS EXPERIENCE
2006 -2007 The Magdalene Cultural Arts Center
--Founder
• developed arts and educational programming for cultural arts center in North Hollywood CA
• created business relationships with other arts organizations
• applied and received business loans and grants
• "maintained membership lists and sponsored membership activities
• ran boutique which featured original deigns from women artists
• hosted arts events including open mics and art gallery openings

RESEARCH INTERESTS
• The historical and cultural relationship between Yemen and Ethiopia
• The folklore and dance traditions of Yemenite Jews
• Using the Arts as tools for social, cultural and political transformation
• Creating sacred ritual using elements of the arts and religion
• Ancient Religion and traditions of East and North Africa
• The legacy of African American storytelling in the American South

GRANTS and AWARDS
• Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund Grant for TEHILIM recording project, 2005
• The International Who’s Who in Poetry, 2004
• National Author’s Registry, President’s Award for Literary Excellence 2004
• International Library of Poetry, Editor’s Choice Award, “I Am Moved” 2004
• ILLIAD Press, Honorable Mention for poem “The Dance Of Your Eyes” 2003
• ASCAP Music Grant, 2000-2004
• Dorot Travel Grant for the ASOR National Conference, November 1999
• Jewish Women’s Foundation, Educational Grant, Spring 1995