Professional Statement

Victoria is a correspondent student of the American Institute of Vedic Studies, to obtain a degree as an Ayurvedic Health Educator.  She is a research student of  Integrative medicine; also robotics-cybernetics (to provide technologies that will improve the quality of life for the disabled); and alternative energies.

Victoria is an accomplished multi disciplinary artist, poet and writer. Her creativity has produced international accreditation, as different aspects of her work have been published by, presented before, displayed at, and awarded by; universities, museums, galleries, journals, magazines, anthologies, newspapers, schools, libraries and publishing companies. She has also been featured in numerous newspaper articles and on television segments.

Philanthropic Research & Development:

The research and development of Vic and her partner  John Siegel, has been acknowledged via the following:

An Awarded Winner; in the 2004 NASA - Emhart Technologies, "Create the Future" contest.  NASA Tech Briefs magazine and Emhart Technologies, a global leader in the design and creation of assembly technologies, sponsored the event. The submission, an Advanced Bandage that, (1) serves as a substitute for stitches, (2) eliminates skin damage from I.V. adhesive and regular bandages, and (3) provides emergency closure of wounds, was in the area of medical products. It was judged by a panel of the worlds finest engineers and industrialists for scientific functionality, product necessity and practical marketability.

Cybernetics and Robotics;  published  by and presented before the IEEE RO-MAN 2003; International Workshop on Robot and Human Interactive Communication, October 31 - November 2, 2003, Millbrae, CA, USA, http://ro-man.org. Sponsored by: IEEE Industrial Electronics Society, Robotics Society of Japan, Hosei University, Hosei University Research Institute, California, New Technology Foundation. Technical Sponsors: IEEE Robotics and Automation Society, Virtual Reality Society of Japan. With Additional Support from Faculty and Staff of: Stanford University, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Immersion Corporation, Intuitive Surgical Inc.

Cybernetics and Robotics; published by and demonstrated before Cambridge University's international conference on adaptive technologies, "CWUAAT", (Cambridge Workshop on Universal Access and Assistive Technology) in March of 2002;

Cybernetics and Robotics; published by and demonstrated before the "International Conference On Rehabilitation Robotics" at Stanford University, in California, in July 1999;

Cybernetics and Robotics; chosen in 2000 by the International "Discover Awards For Innovation" to receive an Award for ranking in the  top ten of  their category.  This also earned them an invitation to demonstrate their prototype at the "Technology Exp 2000" at EPCOT Center, in Disney World.

Cybernetics and Robotics; A Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation Semi-Finalist: Our research & development project "Feature Controlled All Terrain Robotic Wheelchair" was ranked as a semi-finalist for this award in April of 1999.

Cybernetics and Robotics; featured in the "Who's Who in Science and Engineering; 8th Edition - 2005 - 2006", publication, by Marquis, LLC.

Cybernetics and Robotics; recognized by the UN as a substantial contributor in the area of robotics and featured in the United Nations "World Robotics 2004" publication, by the Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the IFR; International Federation of Robotics.  

Cybernetics and Robotics; Their work has been published by Universities and Scientific Journals.  It  has been acknowledged in  numerous news papers and television segments.

Additional Information;

Vic is currently working on a series of Self Empowerment books and an educational series for television.   

Personal Statement

I was born in Oceanside, CA in 1959, where my father was stationed in the Marines. My parents were born and raised in remote areas of Michigan's upper peninsula.  After my father left the Marines, he took a job as a lumber jack north of Glacier National Park in Montana. He took us with him. It was very wild and remote. From there he moved us back to Michigan's upper peninsula, where we lived, first in McFarland and then in Rock. When I was seven he left, and my mother moved us to Marquette, where we stayed until I was sixteen. At that time I married (took the last name of Cook) until I divorced  in 1989, with three children. In 1991, I married John Siegel. We have two children.

Through most of my childhood we lived in poverty and I was chastised for being female. Because of being treated as inferior, when I was old enough, I deliberately secured employment that was, at that time traditionally male oriented. I worked in construction; building houses in subdivisions, and warehouse forms; and in a factory welding tanks. On my own I learned about automotive engine and body repair. I am apprenticing in electrical and mechanical engineering and have invented one humanitarian device so far.

I am self-taught. I am a vegetarian. My other interests include; meditation, yoga asanas (postures), gardening, herbology, landscaping, digital graphics, hiking,  diverse cultures, music composition, film making and teaching.  I have 5 children Aurora and Autumn Siegel, and Michael, James and Sunshine Cook. I also have 5 grandchildren. 

I donate time teaching systems of self-help and empowerment, such as yoga, meditation and herbology.

I have 9 younger siblings.

My creativity is an expression of my life experiences. My poetry often reflects the despair,  hopelessness and confusion, through which I viewed my childhood and early adult life.  My art usually reflects the fleeting moments of otherworldliness, peace, compassion and hope that I encountered during those same years. I initially retreated into imagination, and later rooted my mind into an ever-increasing awareness of God.

Our home life is very peaceful. We live a very quiet, disciplined existence where we all support each other. No one smokes or drinks alcohol. We spend our time together, whether working, meditating-praying, walking, exercising, or socializing.