CONTRIBUTORS

Carolyn Lillehaugen

Carolyn Lillehaugen loves meeting people and learning their stories. After earning her bachelor’s degree from Concordia College in Moorhead, and a master’s degree in education from Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon, Carolyn has spent the past 30 years teaching, building a health and wellness business, and writing about some of those interesting people she meets. Carolyn and her husband Mark are the parents of four sons and their family is growing with brand new daughters-inlaw. Hiking, biking and traveling are favorite activities.

Alissa grew up on a farm near Barnesville, MN. She attended college at the University of MinnesotaTwin Cities and received her B.A. in Communication Studies. While working full time, she began a Master’s program and graduated in 2012 with a M.S. in Strategic Leadership from the University of Mary. She currently holds a position as a Senior Account Manager at Discovery Benefits in Fargo, ND.

In her free time, aside from writing for Area Woman, Alissa enjoys spending time with her family and friends and loves to shop. In the summer time, you can find her at the lake with her family and friends. She loves to travel and has a long wish list of places to visit in the future.

KIM MALAKOWSKY ALISSA MAIER This issue, Jill wrote our cover story!

An art lover from an early age, Kim spent the early years of her career as a graphic artist and editorial liaison.

Her work led her to the publishing world where she became Editor-in-Chief of award winning "From House to Home" national magazine. In addition, Kim served as Editor for "Wedding Vow" and "PB&J"—a family publication, as well as Director of Operations for Publication Services of America.

Today, Kim continues to write and edit and is passionate about her work with Friends of Chimbote, traveling to Chimbote, Peru as often as she can, to work at Father Jack’s Mission.

Jill Noel Kandel

Jill Kandel is the winner of the Autumn House Prize for Creative Nonfiction, 2014. Her book, "So Many Africas: Six years in a Zambian Village,", is forthcoming in January of 2015 from Autumn House Press. She is the runner-up of the 23rd Annual Missouri Review Jeffry E. Smith Editors' Prize and her work has been anthologized in "Best Spiritual Writing 2012" (Penguin Books) and in "Becoming" What Makes a Woman" (University of Nebraska, 2012). Her essays have been published in The "The Missouri Review," "Gettysburg Review," "River Teeth," "Pinch," and "Image." To learn more visit www.jillkandel.com

Learn more about these talented women and how you can get involved at areawomanmagazine.com