oaxacaculture@me.comnorma.schafer@icloud.com

About Norma Schafer, Oaxaca Cultural Navigator LLC

Since 2006, I have offered arts education travel workshops and study tours in Oaxaca, Mexico. This was before I retired from a 30-year university marketing, communications, development and continuing education career. Yes, I raised $23 million and won national awards for degree, certificate and non-credit programs I developed.

In 2012, I expanded Oaxaca Cultural Navigator programs to include Mexico City, Estado de Mexico, Michoacan and Chiapas. There is more to come. About 61% of our program participants return. Many choose to repeat the same program! Our satisfaction ratings on Trip Advisor are outstanding.

My program ideas are based on my curiosity and love for Mexico, and indigenous people everywhere. I always accompany study tours, and engage anthropologists and/or regional experts to complement the experience.

I also work with organizations to develop conferences, study abroad experiences, and programs for alumni, donors and friends, and members that can be a significant friend-raising and fundraising opportunity. I also make presentations about the textile culture of Oaxaca and Mexico. You are welcome to contact me to explore what is possible.

EDUCATION

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE 

Oaxaca Cultural Navigator LLC, Durham, North Carolina and Oaxaca, Mexico, Owner Entrepreneur, 2006-Present, Writer, photographer.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Nursing (SON), Director of Advancement and Executive Director, School of Nursing Foundation, Inc., 2001-2011

Norma Singleton & Associates, Pittsboro, NC, Principal, 1998-2001 Educational services, marketing and communications consultant for various clients, including Duke University Medical Center, UNC Chapel Hill School of Public Health, Winston-Salem State University, Roanoke (Virginia) Higher Education Center, and ProcessWorks Training Collaborative.

American Social Health Association, Research Triangle Park, NC, Senior Director of Marketing and Communications, 1999-2001

The George Washington University, Washington, DC, Director of Corporate and Community Relations, and Director of Marketing, 1990-1999

University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, Statewide Director of Marketing, Division of Continuing Education, 1989-1990

Indiana University, South Bend, IN, Marketing Manager and Director of Noncredit Courses, Division of Continuing Education, 1982-1989

And, in case you are wondering, I’ve also had a number of AKA’s — in sequence, and over a long and interesting life:  Norma Beerstein, Norma Singleton, Norma Hawthorne and now, Norma Schafer. I foresee no more name changes.

I’ve been living in Teotitlan del Valle, Oaxaca, Mexico, full-time since 2012, and going back and forth between the USA and Oaxaca since 2005. In 2016, I purchased a downtown Durham, North Carolina, condominium in a historic tobacco warehouse within walking distance of downtown shops and restaurants, and in 2022, I relocated to Taos, New Mexico.

You can read more about How I Got Here. It’s a blog post.

9 Responses

  1. Norma, may I have your permission to post 4 photos from your blog posting of the Santa Fe pottery event this summer at my house in the Los Amigos del Arte Popular newsletter? Thanks, JW

  2. I would like to attend the tapestry weaving workshop in early April and am working on my passport right now. I’m also figuring out the budget and wonder if you might have a ball park estimate of additional transportation costs i.e. from the airport to lodging and from lodging to the workshop…

    I thank you in advance for your response. 🙂

    Paz,
    Valarie James

    1. Valarie, we would love to have you with us. Taxi from the airport to our weaving village is about $20 USD. You can walk from where you will be staying to the weaving studio. If you want to take a moto-taxi, the cost is a dollar. Let me know when you are ready to register. Send an email to normahawthorne@mac.com

  3. I am trying to find Pablo Marsh to see if he still works as a guide for private couples wanting to explore Oaxaca area. We and friends used him in past but the email we have for him is no longer good. At time he did work with Marma Hawthorne I am told so thought would try this.

    Thank you.

We Welcome Your Comments

Shopping cart0
There are no products in the cart!