I was born in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, where I spent part of my childhood before moving with my family to Heidelberg, Germany. I hold a Master’s degree in Cultural Anthropology from the Freie Universität Berlin and a Master of Divinity from Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley, California.

I began my professional career within the German theater system as a director and now serve as a Lutheran pastor (ELCA) at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Issaquah, Washington. Growing up bilingual taught me the lasting value of language immersion and bilingual education for children.

While living in Berkeley, I taught kindergarten as well as first and fifth grade at the German School of the East Bay and BAKS+. I am now very happy to teach preschool at the Eastside German Language School in Bellevue, Washington.