Personal Statement

I have traveled to over 35 countries and have visited ministries, national projects, community resource centers, schools, and classrooms. From Uganda to Finland and Singapore to Chile, I have talked with policy makers, project directors, village leaders, teachers, and students. In my research and classroom visits, I have seen the powerful things that developing countries, communities, schools, teachers, and students can do with information and communications technologies (ICT).

With ICT:
• developing countries can support education
   reform and economic development.
 • rural villagers can access information they need
    to improve agriculture, health, and nutrition.
  • villages and schools can connect with remote experts
     and collaborate with communities, teachers, and
     students in other countries.
   • communities and schools can develop websites that
      share their culture and products with the rest
      of the country and world.
    • teachers and students can collect and analyze data,
       create multimedia productions, and visualize
       abstract concepts in science and math.

As a result, developing countries improve their economic productivity and develop their social structures. Communities improve their local economy and increase their standard of living. Students learn at a deeper level, master technological skills, become active learners and prepare themselves to participate in the knowledge economy and information society.

ICT can be a tremendous force for human development -- but only for those that have access. Unfortunately, the growing use of ICT around the world can also create significant disparities within countries and between developed and developing countries. I am dedicated to working with multi-national, national, and non-governmental policy makers and corporations in developed and developing countries to create policies and resources that reduce the digital divide between developed and developing countries, increase the impact of ICT on education reform, economic and social development, and advance the UN Millennium Development Goals.

I am pleased to discuss how I might be able to help you use ICT to support education reform and economic and social development in your country.