Undergraduate degree from University of Virginia B.A. 1983: M.A. Spanish from University of Valencia 1994; MBA (Master en Gestion de Negocios Internacionales) University of Valencia 1997.

Owned hospitality businesses in Charlottesville Va, Sueca, Cullera, and Alzira Spain. Also worked Universal Expositon (Worlds Fair) in Sevilla Spain and as emport/export coordinator for Ford Motor Company in Almussasfes, Spain. Born in Okinawa, Japan, lived in Philippines, Spain, Belgium, England, Washington State, Virginia, and finally settled in South Carolina in 2003 to primarily teach business Spanish at USC.