he first thing you should know about Kris Murniadi is that he takes his dancing as serious as he takes teaching his classes.

A 29-year-old public speaking graduate assistant at Western, Murniadi teaches introduction to public speaking courses and manages to make time for a little salsa dancing.

“It’s a great way to relieve your stress,” Murniadi said.

Murniadi moved to Tulsa, Okla., from the island of Java in Indonesia at the age of 16. He traveled to the United States alone through an international student exchange program.

His host father was a retired custodian and his host mother made her living as a custodian at Murniadi’s high school.

“I helped them clean the school on Sundays and helped out when I could,” Murniadi said. “They weren’t being paid to host me and it was really touching how much they cared.”

For Murniadi, the American high school classroom experience was much less “touching.”

“It was horrible,” Murniadi said. “I barely spoke English. I couldn’t understand the teachers and I did poorly in my classes.”

Today, however, Murniadi is the one teaching the classes.

Through his graduate assistantship, Murniadi has discovered a passion in teaching others.

“I am constantly pushing myself to grow and develop as a teacher,” he said. “I want to be effective and students to enjoy my classes.”

Following his graduation in May, Murniadi plans to go out and continue teaching.

“I always wanted to settle down and have a small house and a big yard,” Murniadi said.