Joan Powers

Joan Powers started teaching ESL at Mission College in 1987 and went fulltime in 1989.
She has taught most of the ESL courses over the past 15 years and enjoys teaching students
at all levels.  During some summers, she teaches linguistics (English for Foreign Students) 
at Stanford University. Recently, Joan has become involved in creating and coordinating the
Global Studies program occasionally teaching for the program as well.  She currently heads
the Global Education Committee which is responsible for developing global awareness on campus.
During the past two years, Joan has had the opportunity to travel extensively to broaden her
own global competency.

 In 2000, she spent six weeks on a Fulbright-Hays Seminar traveling
to 13 cities in Brazil.  During this time, she was able to meet with other educators, government
officials, students, and grassroots organizers.  After the six weeks, Joan's mother and
daughters met her and her husband in Rio de Janeiro where they stayed for an additional
five days.  From Rio, they traveled by bus to Sao Paolo, Iguazu Falls and Asuncion, Paraguay
where they boarded a plane for Bolivia. A few days were spent in La Paz adjusting to the altitude,
and then they went by bus, boat and train up to Cuzco, Peru where they lived for almost two
months studying Spanish and enjoying the cultures of the Andes mountains.

In late October, they flew to Germany for the World Exposition in Hanover.  They then rented a
car and toured through much of Central Europe.

In Fall 2001, Joan was a faculty member
aboard the U.S.S. Universe Explorer which is a floating university sponsored by the University
of Pittsburgh and the Institute for Shipboard Education.  She sailed to Japan, Hong Kong, Vietnam,
Singapore, India, the Seychelles, South Africa, Brazil and Cuba.

Now that the travel bug has bitten Joan again, everyone wonders how long she will be able to
stay in one place.  Where will she venture next?    Bhutan? Morocco? Mongolia?

Vitals:
M.A. in Educ. (Curriculum and Instruction),Univ. of California, Riverside.
Certificate in TESL, University of California - Riverside Extension
B.A. in Individual Plans of Study (International Affairs and Communication) 
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

High points:
       Machu Picchu, the Machiguenga in Manu, hearing Tom Jobim's daughter sing
			Bossa Nova in Ipanema,  Christkindl markets, sausage and beer in Nuremberg and Innsbruck,
			roasted goose in Austria, All-Saints-Eve in Poland, red lanterns in Saigon, acaraje in Salvador,
			child labor release camps in Kanchipuram, Indian women empowered by micro-credit,
			the thunder of Iguazu Falls, imperial topaz, seeing Castro speak in person, the green flash at sunset,
		Christmas at a pueblo in New Mexico, Venice without crowds, a baobab tree in South Africa.
       Semester-At-Sea, Fall 2001 Voyage aboard the USS Universe Explorer
       Fulbright Hays Seminars Abroad - Brazil 500
       Fulbright Scholar, English Language Advisor 1984-85, The State of Bahrain 
       Mission College Outstanding Faculty of the Year 1995 
       NISOD Awards 1996, 2000
       International Student Union Advisor , 1999-2002
       Vietnamese Students Association Advisor, 1995-1999
       Working with a variety of wonderful Mission College students
       My family 

Office Phone: (408) 855-5298
Office Email: Joan_Powers@wvmccd.cc.ca.us