Global citizen, Returned Peace Corps Volunteer- Mongolia 07-09, English teacher, teacher trainer, English lecturer at the American University of Iraq-Sulaimania.

I'm an amateur photographer, but getting more and more serious. Boredom as a PCV in Mongolia helped me invest plenty of time and effort into developing my photography. I've been taking plenty of photos for AUI-S since coming to Kurdistan.

I got an email a few weeks ago informing me that I won first place in Michigan State University's 'Global Focus' photography competition!

This is the photo that won: "Picnic Song"

This photo won people's choice 2nd place: "Mother Tree"

I've been teaching a photography class at AUI-S and I have some extremely talented students. Check out their flickr page at: www.flickr.com/photos/43517697@N07/

A gallery BBC published on Nawroz celebrations: news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/8579810.stm

A gallery BBC published on elections in Iraq: news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/8564751.stm

I won first place in the Returned Peace Corps Volunteer's photography competition for Central Asia in March, 2010.

Also in April, 2010 I won honorable mention for the people category for National Geographic's International. Photography Competition.