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Coordinator Biographies

Cambodia

Tammy

  Tammy Freimund

  Director, Academic Advising Office
  Missoula College, University of Montana
  Fellowship Coordinator for Ms. HEM Mary of Cambodia
  Website: http://www.cte.umt.edu/
  Email: tammy.freimund@mso.umt.edu

Tammy Freimund has close to thirty years’ professional experience providing social and educational services to a broad social spectrum. Her Masters of Arts degree from the University of Minnesota included research focused on methods for effectively integrating school-aged children of varying abilities into outdoor education programs. Early in her career, Tammy served as administrator, social worker, educator, and counselor. She was involved in the implementation of the US Department of Health and Human Services’  STRIDE program, to encourage and assist young, single mothers toward achieving self-sufficiency through vocational training and counsel in securing gainful employment.

Since moving to Montana, Tammy has continued advocacy work in the nonprofit sector with a focus on women’s health, in her service with Planned Parenthood of Montana. For the past 13 years, Tammy has both instructed and developed programs in the field of education, supporting a diverse student body that included low income, non-traditional, those with American Indian heritage, and students with learning differences. She now serves as Director of Academic Advising for Missoula College, University of Montana.  She carries on her passion for supporting diversity and student retention as she develops partnerships with faculty and professional staff that encourage self-advocacy and student success.

Tammy loves the outdoors, gardening and exploring the wilds.  Tammy's family is at the center of her life; she cherishes time with her husband, Wayne, sons, Ben and Chris and soon-to-be daughter-in-law, Megan.


Amie

  Amie Thurber

  Director, National Coalition Building Institute
  Fellowship Coordinator for Ms. PEN Bopha of Cambodia
  Website: http://www.ncbimissoula.org/
  Email: amie@ncbimissoula.org

Amie Thurber is the founder and director of the Missoula chapter of the National Coalition Building Institute (NCBI), a non-profit organization dedicated to moving individuals, communities and organizations toward a just and inclusive society.  NCBI Missoula provides training to reduce prejudice, prevent violence, and resolve conflict, while identifying and implementing strategies to strengthen communities and institutions. Amie has trained thousands of people in NCBI skills, working to build safer and more inclusive schools, organizations and communities. Amie’s work often involves bringing communities together around divisive topics. Two recent examples include leading the three-month process involving more than 200 people in the controversial siting of the city’s emergency homeless shelter, and facilitating the UMatter forum on Sexual Assault for The University of Montana.

Amie’s passion as an educator drew her to NCBI, and since 2006, she has also worked as an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work. She has a Master’s in education, and is currently an MSW candidate. When not at work or school, Amie strives to maintain high approval ratings from her twin 11-year old daughters, partner of 13 years, and two exercise-dependent dogs…while occasionally posing as a backup singer in a delta blues band.


Gwen Jones   Gwen Jones

   Education Advocate and Attorney
   Supplementary Fellowship Coordinator for Ms. HEM Mary of Cambodia
   Website: http://mcpsmt.org/site/default.aspx?PageID=1
   Email: gwenejones@yahoo.com

Gwen is a third generation Montanan who was raised in Missoula. She received her secondary education and majority of her work experience outside of Montana, returning in 2004 to raise her family here. Gwen has a J.D. degree as well as her teaching credential to teach social studies and French at the high school level. Education is Gwen's passion; she has worked extensively for both Paxson Elementary School and Washington Middle School PTA, organizing numerous fund-raisers, as well as administering numerous programs for Paxson School. She co-chaired the Board for the UCCC preschool for two years. She also works with the up and coming Missoula Education Foundation (MEF), serving on a committee as well as helping with fund-raising. In addition, she is a practicing attorney, writing appeals in the field of Social Security Disability benefits.

Gwen has three children currently enrolled in Missoula County Public Schools, ages 14, 12, and 9. Gwen and her family have two cats and a blind basset hound, who is quite well known around Missoula. She enjoys spending time with her family; chores, homework, music, and sports consume most of the children's time outside of school, but when possible they escape to the family cabin and just play.

 
 
 

Laos

Teasdale

  Jacqueline Teasdale

  English as a Second Language Instructor
  The Lifelong Learning Center of Missoula County Public Schools
  Fellowship Coordinator for Ms. Kaysone INSIRI of Laos
  Website: http://thelifelonglearningcenter.com/
  Email: digjacqueline@gmail.com

Jacqueline Teasdale is the English as a Second Language (ESL) coordinator and instructor for Missoula County Public School’s Adult Basic and Literacy Education. Her program aims to teach and improve English language skills for non-native English speakers who live in Missoula. She helps her students find community resources, citizenship preparation, and understand American culture and systems.

Jacqueline first started teaching English in 1994 in Veracruz, Mexico. She earned her Certificate to Teach English as a Second Language (ESL) in 2002, and her Master of Arts in Linguistics in 2007. She has also tutored ESL students at UM’s writing center and taught at the University of Montana’s English Language Institute, which prepares international students for academia.

She thinks of ESL as more than just language teaching. It facilitates cross-cultural communication, which helps global citizens have a clearer understanding of each other and the world. She believes education opens doors and that knowing the English language is a powerful tool for more opportunity in today’s world.

In her free time, Jacqueline enjoys being in nature, hiking, biking or enjoying the river. She also likes to keep a garden and spend time with her husband, two sons, dog, and chickens.

 

Germaine White   Germaine White

   Information and Education Specialist
   Division of Fish, Wildlife, Recreation and Conservation, Natural Resources
    Department, Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes
   Fellowship Coordinator for Ms. Noimaniphone LORBLIAYAO of Laos
   Website: http://www.cskt.org/tr/fwrc.htm 
   Email: germainew@cskt.org

Germaine White is the Information and Education Specialist for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Natural Resources Department.  Germaine currently develops informational and educational materials on natural resource management and conservation issues for dissemination through printed materials and the media.  Additionally, she develops and maintains working relationships with local civic organizations and schools to establish and implement environmental education programs.  

Formerly, she served as Cultural Resources Program Manager for the Salish-Pend d' Oreille Culture Committee.  She also taught Native American Studies courses at Salish Kootenai College.

Germaine received her Masters of Education from Montana State University and her Bachelors of Arts from University of Montana. 

 

Thailand

Henderson

  Linda L. Henderson, MN, RN-BC

  Nurse Representative, Montana Geriatric Education Center
 
  Fellowship Coordinator for Ms. Jitlada PIRIYASART of Thailand
 
  Website: http://mtgec.umontana.edu/
 
  Email: linda.henderson@umontana.edu

Originally from Missouri, Linda has lived in Missoula for the past 27 years. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Truman State University, in Missouri. Linda completed her Master’s degree in rural nursing (MN) from Montana State University in 1988. Since then she has been active in nursing practice in home health, hospice, public health, and geriatric nursing. She taught community and public health nursing, health policy, and health economics to baccalaureate nursing students for Montana State University College of Nursing Missoula Campus for the past 8 years. She has been active in several professional nursing organizations and local community organizations, such as the Missoula Aging Services and was a founding member of the Missoula AIDS Council. She is currently employed as the primary nurse planner for the Montana Geriatric Education Center, an interdisciplinary center which provides geriatric education and training for Montana health professionals, higher education faculty, and students in health professions so that they might better meet the health needs of the older residents of the state.


Social justice, integrated healing and medical practices, advocacy in nursing practice and politics, and encouraging the voice of the patient in medical decision making have been key constructs to her nursing practice. She most recently completed a Native American immersion course with the Crow Tribe to further develop her understanding of Native American healing practices and ways to better provide health care services to this minority population group.


Linda’s hobbies include boating, gardening, hiking, being involved in the community, and reading murder mysteries. She is the proud mother of two children, Kristin and Dylan, and enjoys spending time with her husband, David and her dog, Abby.


Chris Fiore   Chris Fiore

   Professor, Director of Clinical Training, Leadership Fellow
   University of Montana, Department of Psychology
   Fellowship Coordinator for Ms. Kittikorn SANKATIPRAPA of Thailand
   Website:http://psychweb.psy.umt.edu/www/default.asp
   Email: christine.fiore@umontana.edu

Chris Fiore teaches graduate courses and undergraduate courses in family violence, clinical interviewing, clinical practice, family psychology, personality theory, and conduct research in women’s issues violence against women, family and child treatment, Motivational Interviewing, interest in social justice and betterment of human condition

Her Leadership Fellowship is a half time position with the President of The University where she trains by shadowing administrators and also contributes by assisting in a project of need for the University. Her project is to assist with addressing the sexual assault issues on campus.

Chris received her Bachelors of Arts form California State University, Fullerton in 1983. She then went on to her Masters of Arts at the University of Rhode Island in 1988 and also received her PhD. from the University of Rhode Island in 1990.



Lucy France

   Lucy France

    Director of Equal Opportunity & Affirmative Action, University of Montana
   Fellowship Coordinator for Ms. Siwanoot SOITONG of Thailand
   E-mail:  lucy.France@umontana.edu
   Website:  www.umt.edu/eo

Lucy France practiced law for over thirteen years with a private law firm.  She advocated for the rights of clients involved in civil litigation.  From this, she developed an expertise in employment and discrimination law.  In addition to litigation activities, her law practice included working with clients to proactively identify and prevent institutional and individual discrimination.  This work involved drafting policies, procedures, and contracts as well as conducting trainings, seminars, workplace investigations, and workplace climate reviews. Lucy received her Bachelors Degree in Political Economies of Industrial Societies in 1989 from the University of California, Berkeley and then went on to receive her Juris Doctorate (with honors) 1993 from The University of Montana School of Law.

Lucy joined the University of Montana in 2008 as the Director of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action.  In that role, she serves as the discrimination grievance officer to respond to complaints of discrimination against students, faculty, staff, and members of the community who participate in University programs.  Through education, outreach, and advising about policies and procedures, she works proactively to eliminate discrimination at the University.  The focus of the affirmative action program Lucy oversees is to increase the recruitment and retention of faculty and staff from minority populations that have been historically underrepresented at the institution. 

On a personal note, Lucy enjoys spending time with her two teenage daughters in their various athletic, cultural and educational activities.  She looks forward to the robust exchange of knowledge and experience with the international partners in a joint effort to better the human condition. 

 

Farris

  Erin Farris

  Court Help Program Administrator, Montana Supreme Court Administration
  Fellowship Coordinator for Ms. Siwanoot SOITONG of Thailand
  E-mail:  efarris@mt.gov
  Website: http://courts.mt.gov/selfhelp/default.mcpx

Erin Farris is a young lawyer currently serving as Program Administrator for the Montana Supreme Court, Court Help Program. The Court Help Program provides information and resources to people choosing to represent themselves in Montana’s courts. As the Court Help Program Administrator, Erin oversees the operations of Montana self-help law services.  Program oversight includes training and staffing Self Help Law Centers; developing and maintaining an outreach program for Montana’s rural counties, and revising and developing materials for self-represented litigants. Erin also acts as a liaison to the many access to justice committees and organizations working on access to justice issues in the state. Outside of work and on a volunteer basis, Erin practices public interest environmental law on a pro bono basis and is working to protect Montana’s wild places. For recreation Erin appreciates cooking and recreating in the outdoors with her dog, Mr. Dukems.

During her early legal career Erin worked in international environmental law in Belmopan, Belize and Monrovia, Liberia. Her work focused on citizen access to environmental information and community education of environmental laws. Erin returned to Helena in 2010 and found her international legal skills easily transferrable to operating a start up access justice program here in Montana. For this reason, Erin is looking forward to sharing networking and collaboration strategies as part of a cooperative learning experience with Siwanoot Soitong of the Human Rights Defense Fund.


Vietnam


Marler   Marilyn Marler

   Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana
   UM Natural Areas Specialist
   Fellowship Coordinator for Dr. NGUYEN Thi Thu Nga
   1994, BS in Biology from University of CA at Davis   
   1997, MS in Ecology from University of Montana
   Website: http://dbs.umt.edu/default.php

I manage the University’s natural areas in Missoula County: Mt Sentinel (including the M Trail) and Fort Missoula (grasslands, teaching gardens, and riparian areas).  The main human impacts on these areas are invasion by non-native plants and intense use by people for recreation. I place a heavy emphasis on community outreach and education. Missoula loves these natural areas, and engaging people of all ages in stewardship activities is a good to teach about the importance of conservation, science, and civic engagement in general. People from pre-school to retirement age participate in various programs throughout the year. I work with my partners the Missoula County Weed District and the Montana Natural History Center in these efforts. In addition to this work at the University of Montana, I am serving in my second term as a city council member. This year I was elected Council President, and have previously served as Chair of the Conservation Committee.  My current term expires December 21, 2013.


Mullen

  Sally Mullen

  Director, Secret Seconds, YWCA Missoula
  Fellowship Coordinator for Ms. NGUYEN Thanh Phuong of Vietnam
  Mailing Address:  1130 W. Broadway; Missoula, MT  59802
  Web address: http://www.ywcaofmissoula.org
  Email:  smullen@ywcaofmissoula.org or sallymullen@yahoo.com
  Telephone: 406 543-6691

For over thirty years, Sally Mullen has worked with non-profit and public sector organizations in Missoula as a manager and consultant.  She directed Blue Mountain Clinic (Montana’s first women’s health care facility), Missoula Developmental Service Corporation (group residential homes and day services for adults with developmental disabilities), Mountain Line (Missoula’s public transportation system), YWCA Missoula (as the executive director, the women’s leadership director, and the manager of two thrift stores) and Life’s End Institute, Missoula Demonstration Project (the first research project in the USA to study death and dying from a broad community perspective) .  She has consulted with numerous groups, and done extensive entrepreneurial training and micro-business consulting. 

She had many early vocational adventures as a worker in a cafeteria, gardener, secretary, tree surgeon, bookkeeper, wait person, adult education teacher, and sheep midwife.  She currently serves as both an Interfaith minister and a management consultant.


Jessica Rhoades  Jessica Rhoades

  Health and Families Policy Advisor, Office of the Governor of Montana
  Fellowship Coordinator for Ms. NGUYEN Thi Thanh Trung
  Website: http://governor.mt.gov/
  Email: jrhoades@mt.gov

Jessica Rhoades has worked as the Health and Families Policy Advisor to Governor Brian Schweitzer since 2010. Her portfolio includes overseeing the Governor's policy initiatives for health and human services, education, and corrections. Ms. Rhoades lead the Governor's effort to open the nation's first public-sector medical clinic for state employees. Prior to her appointment Ms. Rhoades served as spokeswoman for the Office of Public Instruction and the State Auditor’s Office, and before that held the same role for the Montana Democratic Party.  She has served as the state director for the non-profit organization NARAL Pro-Choice Montana and directed field operations for the national Planned Parenthood public affairs office for 13 states.

The Mansfield Center

Level 4, Mansfield Library

University of Montana

Missoula, MT 59812

(406) 243-2988

(406) 243-2181 fax

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