Jo Patti Munisteri Intrepid Explorer

Analyst, Educator, Writer, TCM Practitioner

Background

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, and an avid hiker, choreographer/dancer and swimmer.  


Jo is a mother of a son and a daughter- Denali and Sequoia Schmidt, and former wife of the late USAF PJ, mountain guide and climber Martin W. Schmidt.


Jo's non-fiction, technical writing and research...

Rave Reviews

G. Sarwar Sultani PhD-Director of Simplify Global Education US/Afghanistan

"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".

Feb 26, 2025
Dr. Robert W. Calhoun, MD USAF - deployed to Afghanistan 2016

"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."

Jan 4, 2023
Professor Rashad Al Shaya-Catholic University of Erbil, Iraq

Ms. Joanne Patti Munisteri is (was) a colleague of mine at the Catholic University in Erbil, 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.


Mar 13, 2025

Highlights

Expert geopolitical analysis
Insightful writer
Experienced educator and trainer
Successful work in conflict zones
Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner
Published poet and poetry reader
Book trailers

See the trailers for Traveler Between Worlds:

Traveler Between World JPM 

Traveler Between Worlds  

Watch the trailer for "Traveling Off the X"