Kathryn with Lao Students

Kathryn's Background

A native of Bethesda, Maryland, Kathryn Kefauver completed a B.A. in English from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor in 1994, and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing at the University of San Francisco in 2004. She also attended the University of Western Australia in Perth for a year abroad, and then studied Lao language in an intensive program at the Monterey Language Academy.

Between 1998 and 2000 Kathryn worked for the United Nations Development Programme in Laos, teaching English to Lao government officials promoting participation in ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and other international forums.

In 2001 Kathryn returned to California to work for VIA, (Volunteers in Asia), a Stanford-based nonprofit dedicated to exchange between the United States and Asia. While completing her M.F.A, she taught creative writing at the University of San Francisco, and later taught literature and writing at Chabot College. As a reader at Manus and Associates Literary Agency in 2003 and 2004, Kathryn evaluated and contributed to the development of nonfiction and fiction manuscripts.

Kathryn has biked through Southwestern Australia, Italy and Alaska, and also hiked solo in Nepal. She runs daily, bikes everywhere, and is on a first name basis with the local organic tofu maker. She and her husband recently created an online travel journal of vegetarian food in Japan.