Jo has been described as a unique individual who has lived a different life than most. She has been a professional in the performing arts, a teacher, an analyst, a Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner, a team leader, mentor, martial artist, a writer and a mother. She is a graduate of Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, Massey University, and the New Zealand School of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Jo was named a “Texas Artist for Life” in 1999, for her work in the fields of choreography, poetry and storytelling. She was selected and completed training with the Human Terrain System, a US Army program; chosen as a Specialist and Fellow with the US Department of State, was a project coordinator for USAID, Peace Corps, universities and ministries of education.  She has survived years of working in remote locations and conflict zones including:  Afghanistan, Pakistan, Israel, Iraq and Ukraine. Jo was invited to work and live with Indigenous communities in Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Africa, and the USA.   

 

Jo’s first non-fiction book, “Traveling Off the X” published by Defiance Press, draws from her first hand experience. She describes living and working while balancing family life, multicultural communication, political pressures, personal danger and coping with the loss of colleagues, friends, and her son and his father.  Jo’s personal website is: 

https://jopattix.com and you can follow her Substack.