Julie began her career in art education as an AmeriCorps volunteer in Chicago, Illinois. During her time in the Windy City she enthusiastically started art programs in four urban schools. Since then she has taught art in both public and private schools in the United States and Europe. In 2012 she received a grant through Fulbright Japan to travel to Japan and gain knowledge about Education for Sustainable Development and the Japanese education system. For five years she was also the art editor for Gertrude Press, a journal that focuses on literature and art from LGTBQ writers and artists.
In 2013 she completed a 200 hour yoga teacher training at The Yoga Space in Portland, Oregon. She has also completed trainings with Imagination Yoga and Yoga Calm to learn more about teaching yoga and movement to children. Mindful Schools is another organization Julie has trained with. This innovative program works with educators, social workers, and parents throughout the world to cultivate mindful awareness in children and adolescents. In 2020 she completed a year-long Mindfulness Teacher Training with Inward Bound Mindfulness Education (iBme). iBme is a non-profit organization committed to bringing mindfulness to teens and young adults while remaining grounded in social justice, relational mindfulness, and preservation of the natural world. In 2020 Julie has had the opportunity to bring mindfulness to students at Portland State University in many different capacities. She is thankful for the diverse array of individuals and organizations with whom she has had the honor to work. She lives in Portland, Oregon with her partner and two children.
