Diversity has always been important to me, and a driving force in my life and career. My desire to work with people of diversity have influenced many of my choices including leaving Finland at the age of 19 to experience the world. It has been an exciting journey of meeting numerous different people from many different cultures and I have enjoyed every step of it.
I have taught many diverse populations including but not limited to teaching in Europe (Aalto University) and Asia (UMUC Asia). I have also taught at a historically black college (Edward Waters College) and dominantly Hispanic university (Colorado State University at Pueblo). As an immigrant from Finland I relate to international students very well. I am also married to an African American woman and have two interracial children, so I am very accustomed to interacting with people of diversity in my professional as well as personal life. I have lived and worked in Europe and Asia, as well as many different parts of the US. I have taught traditional and non-traditional students, at undergraduate and graduate levels, online and on-ground. When I lived in South Korea, I taught the diverse members of the military community. As a consultant, I was a member of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and served many Hispanic businesses.
When I teach, I utilize many techniques that foster a diverse and inclusive learning experiences and enable all students to excel and fully participate in the learning process. I utilize Socratic dialog in all my lectures, and frequently employ group projects and classroom experimental exercises such as debates. My classes are very interactive and I always maintain a very inclusive learning environment. I believe in the creation of a positive learning community and frequently use techniques associated with constructivism. I also utilize group assessments and group presentations in nearly all courses I teach.
One good example of my contributions to diversity is the work that I did with the University of Southern Colorado. I was hired as a consultant to perform socio-economic studies and to make recommendations on how to better reach minority Hispanic communities in Southern Colorado. I used a focus group approach and arranged ten focus groups in communities within a hundred-mile radius from the university. These focus group discussions were recorded and carefully analyzed, and combined with other socio-economic research, a report was delivered. Partly as a result of this report, the university changed its name to Colorado State University – Pueblo. New distance education programs were launched to better reach poor farming communities, and many significant outreach efforts were initiated.
In my recent role as the Provost at United States Sports Academy, I worked with associates and partners from around the world. I have developed programs in Finland, Colombia, Spain, and Philippines, to name just a few countries. I have hosted students from China and Thailand as well as other countries. In my current role as the COO at Soccer Universities, I work with a great amount of diversity every day and promote inclusion continuously. I am fully committed to participative and inclusive leadership. I embrace individual differences and encourage cross-cultural learning. In addition to cultural and racial diversity, I am also familiar and experienced working with gender diversity. My article Women Make Better Managers published in Colorado Springs Business Journal was once designated as mandatory reading in Duke University’s women’s studies program. I have always felt strongly about gender equality and women’s rights.
