Lauren Wayne YoderLauren Yoder was born in Newport News, Virginia in 1943. He holds a degree in English from Eastern Mennonite University and his doctorate in French from the University of Iowa, having also studied for a year at the Ecole d'Administration in Belgium. auren spent most of his professional career teaching French language and literature as well as African literature at Davidson College in Davidson, North Carolina. He was fortunate to be able to spend many years in France as a teacher and as the director of Davidson's study abroad program. He also taught high school physics and chemistry in Zaire for two years and American Studies for a year at the Université Omar Bongo in Gabon. Other African experience included working for two years in relief and development in Burundi and Rwanda. He is the translator of tales, novels and poetry from French to English and has enjoyed playing with words since college days. A lover of the outdoors, hiking and nature photography, Lauren had the privilege, after retirement from his teaching career, of working as a volunteer with his late wife in a number of state and national parks, in Alaska, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and North Carolina. He is pleased in retirement to find time to write, to pick up his ukulele, to develop photography skills and to continue walking on mountain trails. He currently lives with his wife Sydney in Black Mountain, North Carolina. Read More Read Less