Kathleen Smith-Wenning

Kathleen Smith-Wenning is a registered respiratory therapist who holds a master's degree in practical anthropology. She is Director of Health-Related Professions at Hudson County Community College (HCCC), Jersey City, NJ. Smith-Wenning has more than 20 years of experience working within multi-cultural communities and is devoted to medically underserved communities. Her diverse experience spans both the health sciences and anthropology. Known as Professor Kathy to her students, she teaches courses in both the health sciences and anthropology. Blending both of her worlds, Kathy is working on Zapoteco language awareness for healthcare providers in the Northeast Corridor. This project is only possible through the generosity of Zapoteco language teacher Profesora Elena Maya, San Antonino, Oaxaca.

Prof. Kathy remains involved with Oaxaca Streetchildren Grassroots, an organization dedicated to educating 600 of the most impoverished children in the City of Oaxaca, México. She is a previous volunteer child advocate for unaccompanied immigrant children at the Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights, NYC, and a current Meals-On-Wheels volunteer for Interfaith Neighbors, Asbury Park, NJ.