Originally from Allen Park, Michigan, I moved to Kalamazoo in 2006 to attend Western Michigan University. After changing my major more than once and transferring universities a few times, I graduated with a double major: English Creative Writing and Political Science, and minors in Gendered Women’s Studies and Philosophy. On my “career journey”, I’ve worked in the hospitality and restaurant industry, banking, corporate business travel, higher education, and politics. I love working with people and problem solving and decided to pursue my Masters of Business Administration at Western Michigan University. My focus in my studies were Change Management and Organizational Leadership.
After finishing my masters, I joined the Peace Corps. For just under three years, I had the privilege to live and work alongside the most amazing people in Bugiri, Uganda. During my time in Uganda, I was the National Director of StartUp Uganda, a youth program focused on teaching entrepreneurial and life skills with the goal of placing participants into work experiences within their community. It consists of a series of weeklong workshop camps throughout the country where youth practice public speaking, asset mapping, financial literacy, business innovations, and problem-solving. Back in the US, I knew I wanted to continue this meaningful work in my own community and bring the innovations I learned working abroad back to Youth Solutions.
I am passionate about civic engagement and working together to solve problems at their root cause. In my free time I enjoy cooking, gardening, and learning something new.