ABOUT the AUTHOR
Dorothy
Chang-Van Horn was born in Lihu'e, Kaua'i, to dentist Sau Yee Chang and
elementary school teacher, Dorothy Chock Chang.
She
left Kaua'i after elementary school and was the first Asian student to board in
Castle Hall at Punahou High School. Following graduation, she attended the
University of Wisconsin, Madison for two and a half years, where she majored in
Zoology and minored in Cultural Anthropology, and then graduated with a BS and
MS in Zoology and K-14 Education from USC.
Dorothy
taught general science for a semester in Long Beach, CA, followed by four years
teaching biology and training student teachers at Belmont High School, LAUSD.
She was then hired by the Air Force Dependent Schools to teach biology for three
years at Johnson Air Base near Tokyo.
During
that time, she traveled extensively throughout Japan, India, and Southeast
Asia. Dorothy returned to Los Angeles to teach physiology, AP Biology, and chair
the Science Department at Hamilton High School.
She
was reader and a table leader for the College Board's AP Biology exams and was
on the ETS Biology Test Development committee. She co-authored “Experience in
Biology” (published by Laidlaw Brothers) and “Biology for Living” (published by
Silver Burdett).
She
left Hamilton to aid elementary teachers as a Science Advisor. Her next
assignment was as coordinator establishing a Magnet for biological and veterinary
sciences at the Los Angeles Zoo. Her final assignment was advising high school
science teachers throughout the Los Angeles District.
When
she retired from education in 1985, she opened a travel agency and worked for
Usha and Mahen Sanghrajka of Big Five Tours. Her favorite trips are to third world
countries. She's traveled through six continents, including Antarctica, 180
countries, and had time shares in South Africa,
Dorothy's
favorite past times are safaris, traveling, wine tasting, sampling different
cuisines, and being with her dogs.