Biography
of Kathleen H. Ackroyd
Born in San Antonio,
Texas to an Air Force Father and a newly Naturalized Mother from Frankfurt,
Germany, gave me the base of what would be a multicultural and richly diverse
life of travel and adventure. My mother worked two and three jobs and did not like
leaving me in the care of strangers. She brought my Grandmother, Oma, from
Germany before my first birthday to care for me and the home. Every night, Oma
read the Brothers Grimm to me in German. These fairytales, though not all as
rosy as Disney’s, filled me with awe and wonder. I knew there was magic for me,
out there in the world somewhere.
At the age of four I sat
on my father’s knee and read him the newspaper. My Father’s first assignment
was In Peer, Belgium where I attended a Belgique Kindergarten. Oma was much
dismayed that I spoke Flemish before German. Wichita, Kansas; San Antonio,
Texas; Zweibrucken, Germany; Belleville, Illinois; Lake of the Ozarks,
Missouri; and finally Las Vegas, Nevada; are all places I’ve called home.
I have worked in the
Savings and Loan Industry; as an Associate Editor of a parenting magazine;
freelance graphic (and award winning) designer; restaurant manager; bartender;
waitress and caregiver. I did not have or
was unable to find the time to continue my education until this period in my
life. I am defined as a nontraditional student. Much research and positive
self-talk enabled this, my door to new adventures in academia and beyond.
My planned major was
Social Informatics with a concentration in Andragogy. Sadly, on June 3rd
of 2010, the Informatics Program was eliminated from the UNLV curriculum. I
have augmented my Associate of Arts Degree with self-study classes and
certifications. With this knowledge, I am able to help those my age and older
keep up with technologies and thus be able to retain and improve upon their job
or position. They will increase their worth as employees and also enrich their
personal lives.
My experience with Phi
Theta Kappa was wonderful! CSN’s Alpha Xi Beta Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa has
the most diverse service opportunities. There truly is something for everyone.
I received a Certificate of Completion for Phi Theta Kappa’s Leadership
Development Studies: A Humanities Approach on the 28th of September,
2010. This scholarly discussion on Leadership incorporates classic writings,
current leader profiles, film and more.
Some of the functions I have participated in
or am participating in still: The PTK/United Blood Services Blood Drive, The
CSN History Project, Presentation: The Perpetual Andragogy Wiki and Blog for
Adult Learners and Project AngelFaces. I was also, through Alpha Xi Beta,
honored by the Clark County Board of Commissioners for my Service to the
community.
To this date, I
volunteer with Project Angel Faces; a multifaceted “community supported social service
effort whose goal is to increase the quality of life, with a focus on our
elders, our youth, and the developmentally disabled.” Project AngelFaces was recently featured on 8
News Now’s weekly segment ‘Acts of Kindness.’ I had submitted Rhonda Killough
for this honor in recognition. Both, her and I, are in the feature. The magic
that I knew was out there in the world for me somewhere, I have found in
Service to my Las Vegas community.
Let's get together
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