Dr. Robert Ballard
Robert (Bert) Ballard, PhD, was an Operation Babylift orphan evacuated
in 1975 and adopted as an infant. He is currently an Assistant
Professor in Communication, Leadership and Social Innovation at the
University of Waterloo (Ontario) where he researches international
adoption. He recently published "Pieces of Me: Who do I Want to Be?"
an edited collection of voices by and for adopted teenagers and he is
planning a major international adoption summit gathering for September
2010. In addition, Bert is featured in and a film advisor of the
documentary, Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam and was
instrumental in the development of a Transracial Parenting Curriculum
for Adopted and Foster parents in Ontario. Bert is married to Sarah,
who is a successful private practicing counselor with a specialization
in international adoption. Together, they provide training and
consulting to adoption professionals and adoptive parents on issues of
international and transracial adoption across North America. They have
two biological daughters and is awaiting a letter of invitation to
pick up his newly adopted son from Vietnam.
Sarah Ballard
Sarah Ballard is a family and child counselor who specializes in
international adoption and is now currently an instructor in
Communication, Leadership and Social Innovation at the University of
Waterloo (Ontario). While in private practice in Colorado, Sarah
developed "Xpress Yourself," a counseling curriculum for international
and transracial adoptees of all ages. Sarah has also trained and
spoken to adoptive parents, adoptees, and adoption professionals
across North America and is featured in the documentary film,
Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam, and in "Pieces of
Me: Who do I Want to Be?" Sarah has four adopted siblings from Korea
and is married to Bert, a Vietnamese adoptee and adoption researcher.
Together, they provide training and consulting to adoption
professionals and adoptive parents on issues of international and
transracial adoption across North America. They have two biological
daughters and is awaiting a letter of invitation to pick up his newly
adopted son from Vietnam.