I was born and grew up in San Francisco's Richmond district with my parents and older brother, and have always been fascinated by the city's rich history and culture.

As a child, I traveled all around Europe with my family, which contributed to my passion for history from an early age.

I went to elementary and middle school at an all-girl's school, Katherine Delmar Burke School, two blocks from my house.  For high school, I commuted to Marin Academy, a private college prep
high school in San Rafael.

I received my B.A. in history and psychology at Occidental College in Los Angeles, and completed my M.A. in history at San Francisco State University and the Sorbonne in Paris.   My Masters Degree had a primary focus on on Modern European history, from 1500- the present, with an emphasis on social, cultural, and intellectual history.  I have done extensive research on France between the Age of Louis XIV up through the World Wars of the 20th Century, and Germany in the 19th and 20th centuries.  While in graduate school, I was a teaching assistant and lectured for several undergraduate classes at San Francisco State University.

After finishing my Masters, I completed my first book, entitled Historic Photos of San Francisco, a photographic history of San Francisco.  Having grown up in San Francisco, I have always enjoyed reading about the city's rich history, and while working on my Masters, I conducted a number of different research projects about San francisco, and became involved in a number of local historical societies and historical preservation projects.  For example, I conducted intensive historical research on the Ohlone Indians, San Francisco during the Civil War, and the experience of the Japanese population in San Francisco during World War II.  In addition to my academic research, I developed exhibits for the Mission Dolores Museum of Bay Area Indian History, contributed articles to the Encyclopedia of San Francisco, and worked on an archaeological excavation in San Francisco's Presidio. I am also a member of the San Francisco and California Historical Societies.  Writing Historic Photos of San Francisco allowed me to further explore my passion for San Francisco, and utilize the research and writing skills that I gained in my graduate program.

After completing my first book, I spent a year in Paris, where I lived in the Latin Quarter on the Left Bank.  My year abroad was one of the most incredible and formative experiences of my life.  During my year in Paris, I continued to study history and French at the Sorbonne, taught English, and delivered historical talks and lectures at several universities and venues around Paris.  I also did research for my second book, Historic Photos of Paris, a detailed portrait of Paris through old historic photos, and extensive text.  Most of the photos I used for the book came from an archive in the 6th arrondissement called the Roger-Viollet Agency, where I discovered absolutely amazing rare photos.

Last winter I applied for an American history teacher and guidance counselor position at International School of the Peninsula, near Stanford in Palo Alto, California, and was interviewed by Philippe Dietz, the headmaster, on his trip to Paris near the Pantheon in the 5th arrondissement.  I was thrilled to learn several weeks later that I was offered the position. In summer 2007, I returned to California to finish my book on Paris and to prepare for my new position at ISTP.  Teaching there has been one of the most exciting, challenging, and rewarding experiences of my life.  I love the close-knit community at the school, both among the faculty, and between teachers and students, and their families.  It is the kind of academic environment that I was fortunate enough to have experienced, and I know the impact it has had on my education, and my personal development.  I am continually impressed that our students thrive in such a rigorous and challenging multilingual academic program, exhibit such curiosity and involvement in their education, are able to participate in so many extracurricular activities, and still manage to enjoy being kids.

I continue historical research on upcoming projects, including my next book, Historic Photos of the San Francisco Presidio, to be published in Fall 2008.  I am also looking forward to returning to Paris during Summer 2008 to promote my Historic Photos of Paris book and relive my wonderful memories of my year living there.  Please refer to my Publications and Events page for more information about my upcoming appearances.