Dr. Jim Brown (History) was named honorary teacher in a ceremony at the Wat Phrathatwittaya School in Nong Khai, Thailand on Thursday, the national Teacher Appreciation Day. For the school, associated with the Wat Phrathatratbamrung Buddhist temple, it was the first time to make such an award. Dr. Brown is volunteering with Openmind Projects in Nong Khai, Thailand for the third summer. The organization places volunteer English and computer teachers in poor Thai schools and also works to develop community based eco-tourism projects. Dr. Brown has worked at the school teaching English and holding teacher development workshops, and is also assisting the abbot, Phrakru Suyarnasopit, in developing a meditation curriculum for non-Thais. He was recently interviewed on the inaugural Openmind Time radio program, a program hosted by the principal of the school, Phramaha Tharabun Kuchinda, dedicated to the educational development of children in the Isaan region of Thailand, the least developed area of the country.