I grew up in Rockaway Park (New York City), and went off to college at Wesleyan University where I completed my B.A. and M.A. in Anthropology. I then went on to complete my Ph.D. in Folklore and Folklife from the University of Pennsylvania. Over the years, I have completed additional training in Movement Analysis; Cultural Diversity Awareness, Prejudice Reduction and Conflict Resolution (National Coalition Building Institutue), Mediation (Mediation Training Institute), and Bowen Family Systems Theory, with three years of formal study at the Center for Family Process and the Georgetown Family Center’s Post-Graduate Seminar in Systems Theory. I have been certified by the PULSE Institute as a mediation trainer.

I moved to Harrisburg in 1982 to take the newly created position of Director of State Folklife Programs within the Pennsylvania Heritage Affairs Commission. In that capacity, I developed numerous public educational programs about the diverse range of ethnic and regional cultural traditions within Pennsylvania, such as festivals, radio and video programs, museum exhibitions, conferences, and funding programs for traditional arts. From 1987-1995, I served as Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Heritage Affairs Commission. I worked with ethnic leaders throughout the State to build community-based coalitions with more than fifty ethnic groups. My work on the landmark 1990 Governor’s Conference on Ethnicity set the agenda for the Commission’s work on such issues as inter-ethnic relations, conservation of cultural heritage resources, culturally sensitive delivery of health care and human services, and multi cultural education.

Based on my dissertation research, I published Yemenis in New York City: The Folklore of Ethnicity (1989). I edited the Proceedings: Governor's Conference on Ethnicity (1990) and Craft and Community: Traditional Arts in Contemporary Society (1989). For twelve years, I edited the Jewish Folklore and Ethnology Review, and from 1991-2000 I edited the American Folklore Society News. I have published over 20 articles in professional journals and edited volumes, and have served on numerous editorial boards. In addition, I've curated and consulted on several museum exhibitions, and developed several videos devoted to traditional arts and folklife. I served as the Executive Secretary/Treasurer of the American Folklore Society (1991-2000), and filled the role of panelist in the peer review process for the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Maryland State Arts Council. I served as chair of Citizens for the Arts in Pennsylvania, and formerly served on the board of the National Humanities Alliance and the Fund for Folk Culture.

I have served as a consultant, trainer, and workshop presenter in the areas of cultural and workplace diversity, cultural competence in human service/health care delivery, inter-group relations, conflict resolution, teamwork, and effective organizational governance. I've worked with a variety of educational institutions (K-12 and higher ed), health care and human service agencies, law enforcement, local government, state and federal agencies, small businesses, corporations, non-profits and community-based organizations.

I was honored to be named the first recipient of the Ione Dugger Vargus Multicultural Award in 1993 presented by the Multicultural Research and Training Institute, Temple University School of Social Administration, "for outstanding contributions to the valuing of diversity as a source of strength for individuals, families and social groups and as a catalyst for community enrichment, empowerment and positive social change." I was particularly honored to have been selected by a Dickinson College student panel to receive the Joyce A. Bylander Excellence in Diversity Education Award in May 2005.

I have been active in the Harrisburg Jewish community, and served as Vice President and a Board member of Beth El Temple, For many years, I chaired and taught in the Harrisburg Hebrew High School, a community-wide program for teenagers under the auspices of the United Jewish Federation.

In Carlisle, I was co-chair of the Community “Unity” Celebration in response to the anticipated protests (December 2004) of the Westboro Baptist Church, a Topeka, KS-based anti-gay hate group.

I am married to Ellen Kramer, and we live in Harrisburg. I practice yoga and Tai Chi, and hold a 3rd degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do (World Tae Kwon Do Federation). I am an avid cyclist, and kayak and ski when I get the opportunity.