Widowed. Married to James Jacobson, deceased on October 5, 2005, for 45 years.
Children: Janna, 44, Bellingham,WA; James, 43, Satellite Beach, FL; Benjamin, 41, Seattle WA; Abigail, 39, Seattle, WA; Amy, 36, Seattle, WA. 3 Grandchildren.
WORK: First job, Junior High School teacher
After spending a decade on a "maternal sabbatical" raising our five children (who were all born within 8 years), I returned to school and received an MBA from the University of Connecticut in 1981. For several years I worked for what was then Connecticut General Life Insurance company (now a part of Cigna) and was an adjunct professor at Central Connecticut State University for a couple of years. In 1987, when my youngest daughter was a senior in high school, I returned to school and earned a PhD in Organizational Studies from the School of Management at the University of Massachusetts in 1991. From 1991 to 2002 I was on the faculty in the College of Business at North Dakota State University in Fargo. I am now Professor Emeritus. I have been very active as a community volunteer over the years and in my church.
I do short term teaching stints - will teach in an International Business program at the Berufsakademie in Mosbach, Germany this spring; will be a Visiting Professor at North Dakota State University spring semester 2007; have taught in the MBA program at Western Washington University in Bellingham. Officially, I retired in 2002 though I suspect that I will never truly retire.
INTERESTS: My new obsession is with my two grandchildren who live in Seattle - I try to snag them as often as possible. I love traveling (preferably to exotic places where I have not been before), hiking (especially in the beautiful North Cascades), gardening (I completed the Master Gardening course here last spring), knitting, and I read voraciously. Because I believe that a major task for me at this point in my life involves spiritual deepening, I focus much of my reading on theology and spirituality, I meditate, I belong to a prayer group. I am very involved at my church in a variety of ways. I apply my faith in the world by being active in groups that address issues of social and environmental justice and peace. I participate in a ministry at my church that attempts to address the almost overwhelming needs of the homeless in our town. I went on a mission trip to Nicaragua in spring, 2005 to plant trees and construct safe stoves. We worked in a village where the poverty was horrendous but the spirit of the people awesomely inspiring.
REFLECTIONS: I continue to look for new ways in which to make the last part of my life relevant, contributory and meaningful. I thank God that I am in good health and have energy enough to make that happen. Who knows what might turn up? The future feels like a grand adventure.