An inside peek at our country girl prof
Meet the professor
Valerie Adams
Issue date: 3/22/07 Section: News
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It was clear to her in junior high that she wanted to become a teacher and she began teaching at local summer drama camps for third to sixth graders. Her commitment to education led her to teach English at an all-girls school in South America.
She grew up in a small town called Wilseyville in the Sierra foothills. "I am very much a country girl," said Cabrol-Easton.
She loves the outdoors and today you will find her hiking, rock climbing and skiing in her free time with her husband, daughter Adiya and her dog Alabama.
As a young girl she dreamed of being a large-animal vet so that she could work with horses; her other dream, becoming a writer. Today as an accomplished professor at NDNU, Cabrol-Easton still harbors that dream.
"I like writing children's stories, non-fiction short stories and even a bit of poetry," said Cabrol-Easton.
Any student who has ever had Cabrol-Easton as a professor has experienced her passion for literature. Words on a page are like honey to her lips; she inspires you to dive into the page and feel the emotion and the poetry on the page.
"However, I would love to write historical novels. I especially admire the recent trend in literature which gives voices to female figures in history who were only mentioned in passing. I am much better at non-fiction writing and researching, I think I could put these skills to use in historical fiction," she said.
After her sophomore year in college, she was given the chance to go to Brazil. The trip was a part of her undergraduate major requiring a six-month, full-time field study in a non-profit related to her own specific studies - art and literature in education.
She flew across the world to Bahia, Brazil, to work at a dance-and-drum school for girls as an English teacher and translator. Her time down there would be busy, but also life changing.
"I translated owners' manuals for several pieces of equipment that did not have instructions in Portuguese. I videotaped practice sessions and performances, and I helped in various other ways, depending on the day." said Cabrol-Easton.
At the dance school she was able to do some dancing herself. "I did dance some, but I always felt horribly clumsy compared to the graceful, natural dancing of the Brazilians. I practiced Capoeira, an African-Brazilian martial arts/dance combination."
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Amber Williams Hoisk
posted 3/23/07 @ 2:35 PM PST
I had the privilege of growing up in Wilseyville with Darth and the Easton family. She was basically my idol as a child and I think of her quite fondly over the passing years. (Continued…)
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