Intrepid Explorer of inner and outer worlds. Jo is an educator, a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioner, was a Sundancer, a certified combat analyst,a student of martial arts, an avid hiker and swimmer.
Jo is a mother of a son and a daughter- Denali (1988-2013) and Sequoia Schmidt, and former wife of the late USAF PJ, mountain guide and climber Martin W. Schmidt. (1960-2013)
Jo's non-fiction, technical writing and research is pu...
"I had the pleasure of working closely with Jo Patti Munisteri initially during our time together at AUAF - the American University of Afghanistan in 2014, and later on a USAID curriculum project with sub contract company Cheechi in 2015-2016.
Jo's exceptional skills in curriculum development, program design, and fieldwork made her a standout colleague and collaborator.
One of her most impressive achievements during our time together was her leadership in creating a pilot project in Mazar-e-Sharif, which included new curriculum initiatives and special programs specifically designed for women, funded by USAID. This project demonstrated not only her commitment to empowering women but also her deep understanding of the challenges in the region and her ability to craft solutions that were both culturally relevant and educationally effective.
In 2015, we had the opportunity to work together on the Education Sector USAID contract for curriculum development across all public school sectors throughout Afghanistan. Jo played an instrumental role in the fieldwork and reporting for this multimillion-dollar project. Her analytical and research skills, coupled with her strong intercultural competence, allowed her to excel in this highly complex and challenging environment. Her data collection, curriculum assessments, and report writing were of the highest quality and contributed greatly to the success of the project.
Jo's work extends far beyond the classroom, as her strategic vision and ability to work collaboratively with diverse teams have consistently driven positive outcomes in the field of international development. She has a natural talent for navigating complex environments and building partnerships that result in real, measurable change.
I have no doubt that Jo Patti Munisteri will continue to make significant contributions wherever she applies her expertise. Her professionalism, combined with her analytical skills, research abilities, and passion for education, make her an asset to any organization. I highly recommend her for any future endeavors and am confident that she will continue to have a lasting impact on the communities and projects she serves".
"I have not had the privilege of meeting many people of Joanne's caliber. She is a dedicated, intelligent, engaging, kind and compassionate woman with a zest for life and a drive to improve the world around her. She is an excellent teacher, and she learns as easily as she teaches. She took a great deal of interest in the work I did when we treated patients together, (on the NATO base in Afghanistan) and she asked as many questions as she answered while she was teaching me. I find her zest for learning to be a refreshing change from most of academia and the health care community."
Ms. Joanne Patti Munisteri is (was) a colleague of mine at the Catholic University in Erbil (CUE), Iraq. I have been working with Ms Joanne here in Kurdistan as a co-teacher for some of my EAP classes. She is one of our team faculty members.
During this time, I have observed her with our students, other faculty members and staff on a daily basis.
Ms Joanne willingly supported and assisted me with grant writing applications for training and exchange programs with the US Department of State and USAID.
Ms. Joanne is a very experienced and innovative teacher and leader. She is a highly motivated, organized and skilled educator who has developed excellent rapport with the staff and students at CUE.
Ms.Joanne has willingly undertaken additional tasks at CUE, such as creating materials, syllabi, curriculum and assessments.
Ms. Joanne uses available opportunities to mentor students who need support. She does this on her own time. with focus, patience, humor and understanding.
She works very well in a multicultural environment.
It is my great pleasure to recommend her.
Joanne Patti Munisteri-Jo's time with us has helped us grow and given us direction, both personally and organizationally.
Her contributions have inspired students and teachers in this part of the world. Jo has given them tools, practical experience and confidence to create a brighter future for themselves and their communities.
We thank her for her expertise, her diligence, her flexibility and her compassion.
"Joanne is dedicated to effective performance and high quality work. Her goal is not to waste resources but to reach maximum results with the limited resources available. Joanne is not the type to need hand-holding, on the contrary she has volunteered her own time to help others."
"Jo is a unique, talented and insightful writer as she is a dedicated researcher and great listener. I invited Jo to be part of the Indigenous studies and Human Rights department after getting to know her work with the Gumbaynggirr community and her writing through WOW (Women Owning Words, NSW). "
This incredible memoir takes us to places we are unlikely to travel to and gives us insights into situations we are unlikely to experience unless we worked in covert operations for government agencies. The book is written in first person, so despite when these events actually took place, the reader feels very much as if events are unfolding as they are being read. The author has a knack for highlighting and explaining things along the way, such as why communism doesn't work. I also really appreciated her sense of irony such as this phrase, "the team posed taking pictures in front of instruments of torture and weapons displayed." The book is filled with intrigue, information, and casts a light on human behavior. Loved it.
"Like the cover, what’s inside is elegant with substance. Jo Patti's poems draw the reader into a conversation which gives a sense of her perspective on life and people, and a sense of their randomness and beauty. The reader is left with plenty to think about."
"Powerful and personal poems with heart and vision pouring off each page. This is a poet who has seen the world and all the facets and intricacies of beauty and brawn, bloodshed and passion."
"I highly recommend Traveler Between Worlds for those looking to expand their sense of what’s possible in life. Munisteri’s journeys are an eye-opening revelations of what’s possible when we have the courage to go beyond borders and pursue the callings of our soul.
What's it About?
From describing her participation in the VETS program, where she explores the healing power of plant medicine in Mexico, to being a Sundancer on the Lakota and Menominee reservations; this memoir is an awe-inspiring odyssey that transcends the boundaries of time, culture, and the human spirit.
This book, Traveler Between Worlds, is like a salve to soothe the human spirit, which encourages readers to look deeper into their pasts and exist in a world beyond themselves.
See the trailers for Traveler Between Worlds:
Watch the trailer for "Traveling Off the X"