“Bridging boundaries and embracing difference define who I am. Although my identity is shaped by that which I cannot control (race, gender) and things I chose to embrace (faith, vocation), no one aspect of who I am overrides the others. Growing up at the tail end of the Baby Boom in a career military family, I enthusiastically took on and still retain multiple identities that have shaped me during my formative years. I learned to make connections and navigate the multiple boundaries of race, gender, class, and ethnicity. In the process I’ve had many of my assumptions about people blown to pieces as I learned to accept people as they are. Studying language and living overseas in different cultural settings further opened my eyes to the beauty and vitality of other cultures.
In a world that is increasingly divided and suspicious of difference, I want to keep on reaching out to others by building bridges and embracing difference. In the face of fear and distrust of the “other”, I strive to embrace an hopeful vision of inclusion that affirms our common humanity.”
