Christen is ecstatic about her placement in Quilotoa as a DAT Teaching Host. Here she will have the chance to combine her passions for teaching, performing and writing while helping others in a way she never dreamed she could! She holds a B.A. in English with minors in Sociology and Gender Studies from Wagner College and an M.A. in English from Seton Hall University where she currently works as a full time instructor teaching Introduction to Writing, Writing Workshop, Literature and the Human Psyche, and Business Writing. She also tutors ESL, writing, and reading for all ages, both privately and through the University Writing Center. Currently, she's working on an analytical performance review of The Actors Shakespeare Company’s production of Henry V for the December 2009 Shakespeare Bulletin, an academic journal published quarterly by John Hopkins University Press. She has studied acting at The New Actor’s Workshop, HB Studio, and TVI, training in areas such as acting technique (both stage and film), performance theory, script analysis, Shakespeare, improvisation, movement, speech, and voice. As a singer, she continues classical vocal study with Kyle Gonyea and has performed as a featured soloist at the 2007 Tiffany's Wall Street Christmas Carols Street Concert with WinceyCo Entertainment. Favorite credits include Mrs. Lyons in Blood Brothers, The Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland, Helen of Troy in Doctor Faustus, Satyr 1 in Euripides’ The Cyclops and Pirate Penny in various shows with the Maritime Pirates at the South Street Seaport Museum. She has also loved working with WinceyCo Entertainment as they travel the NY and NJ area on their educational musical tour. Film credits include several thesis films, current work on a philosophy documentary entitled Input/Output, and a recent online video shot for Affinia Hotels. In addition to her work with DAT, Christen is a member of The Actor’s Project, NYC and Haberdasher Theatre Company, for whom she serves as acting publicity manager. Before heading off to Ecuador and leaving her very nervous friends and family behind, she would like to thank her Mom, her Dad, Angela, Asha, and especially, Matt, who understands that we have a responsibility to be our best at all times, even when it’s uncomfortable.