114, Amanda Miller-Ockhuizen joined the Peace Corps and was assigned to the Philippines for 6 months doing teacher training - now Ph.d. candidate in Linguistics
Amanda Miller-Ockhuizen
Amanda Miller-Ockhuizen is currently studying for her doctorate degree in Linguistics at the Ohio State University, USA. After receiving her undergraduate degree in Linguistics in 1989 from the University of New Hampshire, she joined the Peace Corps. Amanda was assigned to the Philippines for 6 months doing teacher training, then was sent to teach English in Namibia, Africa. During several years in the Peace Corps in Africa, Amanda focused on teaching English and developing literacy programs, and subsequently worked in the Peace Corps office as an education trainer and program assistant.
In 1994, Amanda married a Namibian and returned to the U.S. for graduate school. After receiving a Master’s degree in Linguistics from the University of Illinois (USA), she began her current doctorate studies. The focus of her Ph.D. is research into the sound structure of the Ju/’hoansi language, a severely understudied language which is spoken by a minority peoples in Namibia (this is also the African language that Amanda learned while serving in the Peace Corps). Through her research and continued communication with the Namibian government, Amanda aims to help document the Ju/’hoansi language for scholarly inquiry, as well as to help the Ju/’hoansi people progress in their struggle for autonomy, respect, and social development.
Amanda is an asset to the Deep Roots Advisory Board. She became involved with the organization through her friendships with James Ben Guest and Mike Graglia while they were serving as Peace Corps volunteers. As reflected in her marriage and her studies, part of Amanda’s heart will always remain in Namibia. These factors, along with her love of hard work and her dedication to the Deep Roots cause, allow Amanda to continue making a difference in the development of Namibians of all ethnicities.
