DIRECTOR

Dodie is a professor of African History who has worked in East Africa for more than thirty years and led multiple study abroad trips to Kenya and Tanzania. A former residential college dean at Yale and an award-winning teacher and mentor at Ohio State University, he has worked closely with fellowship applicants and is the founding director of the Summer Fellowship Writing Workshop at OSU. Dodie is also an experienced improvisor, coach, and facilitator. He lives in Ohio, likes table top games, and plays in bridge tournaments.

Melissa is a professor of cultural studies and comparative religions at Ohio State University. Melissa led the development of the graduate interdisciplinary learning laboratory in Comparative Studies at Ohio State, and has been recognized with awards for her teaching and research. Her work focuses on Buddhism and Japanese philosophy, and she has worked in Japan—including leading students on study abroad—for more than twenty years. She has trained with clown and improv teachers across the country and coaches and performs improv in Columbus, Ohio. She loves stationery and 80s-style dance aerobics.

Maggie is a skilled outdoor educator and facilitator who values building connections among people and with the natural world. She lived in East Africa as a child and has returned in adulthood leading student groups. Maggie is a certified nature-based educator and Wilderness First Responder. Maggie has extensive experience leading trips in the backcountry for high school and college students and has climbed Mount Kilimanjaro three times. Maggie lives in Washington, D.C., loves crafting (especially fiber arts) and has recently become an avid amateur birder!