MONIKA GHATTAS was first intrigued by this topic while she was working on her PhD degree in European history at the University of New Mexico. She finally found the time to pursue this story after she retired from Central New Mexico Community College where she taught courses in European and Far East history for more than twenty years. Born in Germany, she has lived in New Mexico for more than fifty years and continues to be captivated by its vibrant culture and rich history.
