aboutme

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I was born and raised in Greenville, South Carolina. After graduating from the College of Charleston with a B.S. Psychology and a B.A. International Studies, I slowly started inching my way towards the West Coast. I had a two year (turned three, thanks to COVID) pit stop in Omaha, Nebraska, where I worked for a reproductive health and rights organization. In October 2021, I landed in San Francisco, and cannot imagine any place where I would rather spend the rest of my life. Here, I live out my professional passions of working with organizations all over the world to combat climate change and promote environmental justice. I derive inspiration from the color, form and natural beauty that embodies the Bay Area.

I love to travel. When I visit a new place, whether for work or vacation, I anchor my experience in people, food, and the outdoors. When I am at home, I tap into creative outlets and our vibrant queer community. I play in a queer kickball league, take dance classes every week, and spent some time earlier this year volunteering with Open House, an organization that pairs buddies with isolated LGBTQIA+ seniors.

FINDS INSPIRATION

IN FLORA + FAUNA

Spending time outdoors is how I connect with a place. When I first moved to San Francisco, I would spend every evening after work exploring a new city park. One month and thirty parks in, I already felt deeply rooted in my new home.

My weekends were spent exploring outside of the city. The wide array of climates and biodiversity in Northern California will never grow old to me. Earlier this year, I took forest and seaweed foraging classes through Forage SF to learn more about the indigenous (and delicious) native plant species in and around the Bay Area.

WORKS WELL UNDER PRESSURE

My first diving experience was in Curacao in 2015. I now have my PADI Advanced Open Water Certification, and try to incorporate a dive trip into my travels whenever possible (especially in warm water)!

My favorite place I’ve been to so far was Komodo National Park in East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. There, I saw cuttlefish, mantis shrimp, nudibranchs, and a ton of reef sharks.

SEEKS

INTERPERSONAL CONNECTION

When I travel extensively to a region, I try my best to learn the local language. Within my International Studies degree, I concentrated my studies in Latin America and the Caribbean. I minored in Spanish, and spent the fall of 2016 studying in Santiago, Chile. There, I lived with a host family, and learned the beautiful nuances of Chilean Spanish. Without this experience, I would not have learned about Chilean folk music, regional cuisine, or the influence of Indigenous groups on Chilean Spanish linguistics.

When I joined the Packard Foundation in 2021, I found that most of my work was focused in Indonesia. This summer, I spent two months in Bali taking intensive language courses. Now having intermediate proficiency in Indonesian, my professional and personal experiences in-country have completely changed. I have found greater joy, connection, and understanding between my colleagues and folks that I meet while traveling. I cannot wait to return.