Bio | Scuba Diving | All Things Outdoors |Travel
I was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area (the Peninsula) the only daughter of Robert and Sherrill Haight. My parents enjoyed travelling and almost always took my brother, Kurt, and I along for the ride. As a result, I have been priviledged to visit a number of countries on a number of continents. They have instilled in me an enormous appetite for foreign travel and varied cultural experiences. I went to highschool at Castilleja School in Palo Alto, California. At the time, I failed to appreciate the sound secondary education I obtained there, but have since been quite thankful for their rigorous program. I did my undergraduate study at UCLA, majoring in French Language and Literature. While I thoroughly enjoyed my time at UCLA, my true love of school did not come until later. I had gained sufficient French skills at UCLA to help me land a job with United Airlines. I worked for United for several years in a variety of positions, working at Washington-Dulles International Airport, moving to San Jose International and finally San Francisco International airport. My final position with UAL was in the Onboard Service department, supervising flight attendants. I left United to join the excitement of an internet start up. Atomz Corporation specializes in creating software for web site designers. (Don't blame them for my poor web skills...I was in operations.) Starting on the ground floor of the company, I helped organize the non-technical side of the business, moving the company from our various homes to a real office, implementing accounting and human resources procedures, and basically doing whatever needed doing that did not involve writing code. While I tremendously enjoyed the energy of working for an internet start up, I decided to return to school at night to obtain an MBA. I joined the program at Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont, California. It was at NDNU that I fell in love with school. I was so invigorated by the MBA program, I decided to apply to Ph.D. programs. While waiting to hear back from the schools to which I had applied, I decided to take a few classes at San Jose State University. There I met several faculty members who inspired me in a number of ways, and all of whom insisted GMU was my only 'real' choice. The result: I ended up at George Mason University's economics department. I spent most of my days at the Center for the Study of Public Choice at George Mason University where I was both inspired and humbled by my colleagues. I completed my dissertation in April 2007 on the economics of religion, studying under the subfield's founder, Larry Iannaccone.
I am now fortunate to be teaching at San Jose State University in their wonderful economics department. I am also actively involved in the Peninsula Volunteers, serving as President and as chair of the Board of Directors. Peninsula Volunteers, Inc is a charitable organization which enhances the lives of the elderly by providing adult day care, a senior activity center, Meals on Wheels for the Peninsula, as well as affordable senior housing.
Interests:
I am an enthusiastic scuba diver, and have been diving for over 20 years. I learned while attending UCLA, diving in the Channel Islands. Although I started with cold water diving, I have gotten a bit 'soft' in my old age, and prefer the warm waters of just about anywhere. (Yes...I have a dry suit, but I still freeze.) I consider Ocean Concepts in Waianae, HI (Oahu) to be my home dive shop. Jim Byrem and his staff run a top quality, safe operation and have always taken great care of their customers.
Among the trips I would highly recommend:
Mike Ball dive trips out of Cairns, Australia for a wonderful experience in the Great Barrier reef.
Aggressor Fleet - These are top notch live-aboard dive trips with high end service. We went to Honduras with them and had a wonderful time, but we have heard that Belize is even better!
Cenotes in Cancun - This was one of the most interesting dives I have ever done - very surreal
Colleen with friends, Pierre and Lynne Steele, and Tom Berndt
I really enjoy being outside to do just about anything...hiking, surfing, kayaking, playing golf, or simply just sitting out on my deck enjoying a glass of good wine with friends.
Colleen with friends Lisa Bergamo, Angela Ausman and Jennifer Geballe in Santa Barbara.
My exposure to travel as a child seems to have resulted in an addiction to foreign travel as an adult. I seem to be happiest in those places which are least familiar. One of the best parts of working for United Airlines was the frequent travel required by my different jobs. While my time in any one location was often quite short, there was always a bit of time to get out and explore. I am lucky enough to have visited most countries in Europe, a few countries in eastern Europe, Russia, a few countries in Southeast Asia, Japan, French Polynesia, Australia, and much of Central America. Most recently I spent a few weeks in Egypt, visiting the pyramids and the Valley of the Kings and Queens. I haven't been to anywhere in India or sub-Saharan Africa, which I hope to remedy soon. I am constantly torn between the excitement of discovering a new place and new people, and the pure joy of returning to places I have enjoyed so thoroughly.
Maggie (my roommate) at 10 weeks and 14 weeks.