Welcome to Dr. Denise R. Ames’ Blog

Join me as I weave stories into blog posts about my captivating world and U.S. travels, thoughts on worldviews/culture, world affairs/history, and global awareness topics; plus, my musings about hiking and experiences in nature, inward observations, reflections on family and personal experiences, and anything else that seems pertinent. I hope you find my blogs useful, insightful, inspirational, and fun.

For longer form content, over 2,000 words, see my Articles Page.



Denise at the Winter Palace, St. Petersburg, Russia

I have been blogging since 2013, but it has been under the umbrella of the Center for Global Awareness, my educational, non-profit organization. Thus, most of my blogs prior to 2020 have been education related. I now have shifted my global awareness focus to travelers and have launched this new website that you are now visiting: Global Awareness for Travelers.

About Dr. Denise R. Ames’ Blog

Denise Ames in Bursa, Turkey



Denise with Turkish students, Bursa, Turkey





Roman Coliseum, Rome, Italy, photo Denise Ames

Dr. Denise R. Ames
First, a bit about myself. I am an author and veteran educator—secondary schools, community college, universities, professional development, and adult lifelong learners. I took my doctorate in history education with a world history focus from Illinois State University. In 2003, I founded an educational non-profit, Center for Global Awareness, for which I have written eleven books and numerous blogs, lesson plans, articles, newsletters, and teaching units, plus conducted professional development workshops. My latest program—Global Awareness for Travelers (GATE)—aligns with my passion for travel and teaching about global awareness.

The Center for Global Awareness (CGA)
Based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the Center for Global Awareness (CGA) is an educational nonprofit that I founded in 2003. I integrate balanced views, holistic thinking, global perspectives, and cross-cultural awareness into CGA’s three programs. Encouraging lifelong learning for life-long learners, travelers, educators, and students, CGA’s ultimate purpose is to “see the world with new eyes.”

CGA’s Three Programs:

1. Global Awareness Education
I have written eleven ground-breaking books in the areas of a holistic world history, global economy, human rights, five worldviews, and travel. I infuse a unique holistic approach, a lively global perspective, insightful cross-cultural awareness, and balanced views into my educational resources and professional services for educators and students grade 9-university, as well as life-long learners.

2.  GATHER (Global Awareness Through Engaged Reflection) is a conversation-based study program connecting small groups of engaged and curious lifelong learners. Each self-organizing group gathers together to study and talk about pressing global issues and cultural concerns with the goal of seeing them from different perspectives.

3. Global Awareness for Travelers (GATE) is an educational, non-profit travel organization advocating for engaged and culturally-curious travelers to enhance their global awareness—an understanding of our place in the wider world and our relationships with others—for a deep and wide-reaching travel experience.

If we prepare our imagination as carefully as we pack our bags, then we will experience, learn, remember far more.”
- Phil Cousineau



Acoma Pueblo, New Mexico, USA, photo Denise Ames