I grew up on a farm in rural Illinois. After graduating high school, I moved to Brazil taking part in a year long Rotary Youth Exchange. Falling in love with traveling and culture, I later ventured off to reside in Mexico. I was a recipient of the "Tri-National Competencies Across Borders and Corporate Social Responsibility" grant which taught specific international skills ensuring greater understanding of corporate social responsibility. After time in Mexico, I decided to further my international competencies by studying in Thailand. I spent one year living in Bangkok, while learning about South East Asian politics, socio-cultural development, and economics. I returned back to the United States to finish up my degree in International Studies at the University of South Florida. I later worked with Citibank as an Anti-Money Laundering Analyst for Latin America, focusing on Brazil while investigating transactions related to anti-terrorism and the prevention of drug trafficking.
Starting August 2011, I will be living in Senegal as a Peace Corps Volunteer. My role as Urban Agriculture Extension Agent will bring me back to my farming roots by teaching locals sustainable agricultural methodologies while improving food security. I am thrilled to learn about West Africa!
