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Resume
Amanda Roraback
 

Education:
1994-1997      Advanced Study related to the PhD. program, UCLA, Soviet History
1992-1994      MA History, CSUN
1984-1991      BA History, CSUN

Publications
Iraq in a Nutshell (2003, revised 2004, 2008)
Afghanistan in a Nutshell (2001, revised 2002, 2004, 2008)
Iran in a Nutshell (March 2006, revised 2007)
Israel/Palestine in a Nutshell (2004, revised 2006)
Pakistan in a Nutshell (2002, revised 2004)
Islam in a Nutshell (2002, revised 2005, 2007) 

Powerpoint Presentations
Israel-Palestine in a Nutshell (2008)
Iran in a Nutshell (2007)
Islam in a Nutshell (2007)
Rise and Spread of Islam (2006)
Iraq in a Nutshell (2006)

Websites
www.worldinanutshell.com (debut, Mar. 2007)

Publications in progress:
Future Nutshell Notes: Korea, China, Russia, Cuba….
Los Angeles International: A Study of Immigrants in Los Angeles − In progress (with photographer Avedis Tavitian).
Vox Box: A No-memorization Guide to Improved Vocabulary -- In progress 

Technical Review
"The Everything Middle East Book" Adams Media, 2003
"The Everything Koran Book" Adams Media, 2004

Articles (A selection):
California Through a Ceramic Scope − Malibu Times, 2001
Rodin's Obsession − Malibu Times, 2001
Grandfather Preserves Tribe − Malibu Times, 2001
Ansel Adams meets Monet – Malibu Times, 2000
Skid Row by the Sea – Malibu Times, 2000
Tough Demeanors, Warm Hearts – Malibu Times, 2000
Technology in the Classroom – Malibu Times, 2000
Solo Malibu Candidate Runs – Malibu Times, 2000
Educational Reform in Lithuania: A Case Study -- Intl. Educator, Summer 1994
From China, with Love -- Insight Magazine, Spring 1988
(complete list available on request) 

Papers Delivered:
Jews or Communists: The Missing Distinction in Russian Literature during World War II
     Southwest Historical Association Conference, 1997
Lithuanian Anti-Semitism
     Southwest Social Science Association Conference, 1996
With Soviet Ties Past in Contemporary Lithuania
     Southwest Historical Association Conference, 1994
Voyage of Personal Discovery
     Keynote address Omega Chapter Phi Beta Delta Annual Banquet, 1994
History of Lithuania: The Soviet and Nationalistic View
     Phi Alpha Theta Southern California Regional Conference, 1994
Can History go Backwards: A Study on Lithuania’s “Return” to Communism
     Conference, Center for Russian and East European Studies, UCLA, 1993
Educational Reforms in Former Soviet Union
     Phi Beta Delta conference, 1993

Talks:
Israel/Palestine in a Nutshell – (various venues) 2003-2005
Iraq in a Nutshell – Enisen Gallery, Long Beach School District, Foshay Learning Center 2003
Islam in a Nutshell – Enisen Gallery, Foshay Learning Center, 2003
Russia Today: A Reassessment -- United Lutheran Church, 1996
Lithuania -- Culture and Society -- United Lutheran Church, 1992
China in a Nutshell -- Woodland Hills Community Church, 1988 

Professional Positions
Present                Writer, “World in a Nutshell” series
Present                Public Speaker
Present                President Enisen Publishing
2003-2004            Technical Reviewer, Adams Media
2002-2003            Executive Director, Enisen Art Gallery
2000-Present        Seminar Leader, Vocabulary Building, Nutshell Learning
2000 -2002           Writer/Photographer, Malibu Times
2000-2001            John Paul Getty Museum, Human Resources
1999-2002            Photographer, Amanda Photography (self-owned business)
1997-2002            Assistant, Yitzhak Dalal Photography
1996-1997                Assistant, Center for E. European and Russian Studies (UCLA)
1995-1996            Teacher’s Assistant, European History (UCLA)
1992-1996            Tutor, Learning Disabled and Blind Students (CSUN and UCLA)
1992-1994            Teacher’s Assistant, European and Russian History (CSUN)
1991-1992            Instructor, Amer.Hist.and ESL Vytautas Magnus Univ.Lithuania
1991-1992             Liaison, United State Embassy, Lithuania
1991-1992             Reporter and Newscaster, Radio Vilnius, Lithuania
1988-1989             Writer, Office of Public Relations, CSUN

Courses Taught
No-Memorization Vocabulary Building for Students and Professionals
American History to Civil War
American History since Civil War
Modern European History
English as a Second Language: Levels I, II, III

Awards:
NDEA Title VI, 1996-97
Best Student Paper in European History, Southwest Historical Association, 1996
GSR (Graduate Student Research), 1995-1996
Summer Title VI, 1995
President’s Associates Outstanding Graduate Student Award, 1994
Phi Beta Delta Honor Society for International Scholars, National Student Scholarship Award, 1994

Foreign Languages:
French                                           -- Advanced
Russian                                          --Beginning
Spanish                                          --Beginning/Intermediate Level
German, Lithuanian, Chinese            --Beginning Level

References:
David Pearson, Bureau Chief AP-Dow Jones
James Flanagan, Retd. Business Staff Writer, LA Times        
Laura Tate, Editor, Malibu Times                       
Bob Baker, Retd. Editor/Writer, Los Angeles Times              

Travel:
2006                    -- Iran
2000                    --Belize
5/98, 6/99, 11/99   --Cuba (research for website www.nutshellnotes.com)
1996 and 1999      --Scotland, France (travel, family)
7/94 and 12/92      --Lithuania (one year [1991-1992] as instructor, foreign liaison for American Embassy and radio newscaster/writer)
1991-1992                  --Latvia, Estonia, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus (various, travel)
1991                             --Eastern Europe (Romania, Hungary, Czechoslovakia
                               Germany, Poland)   (2 months, travel)
1989                              --France (4 months student exchange program in Paris)
1989                              --Middle East (Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Israel, Egypt)
1987                              –China (6 months exchange program)
1984                             - Europe (Most of Western Europe and Poland, East
                               Germany) (3 months, travel)