Where are you from?
Reston, VA
What was your undergraduate major, and from which university did you graduate?
Geography, University of Mary Washington
What are some causes/ issues you care about? Why?
I'm most passionate about women's empowerment around the world because I believe that women's equality is the key to community and international development. Empowering the other 50% of the population creates healthier families, a more educated community, and a stronger economy. I'm particularly interested in access to education and reproductive healthcare for women. Quality education and bodily autonomy open doors and opportunities for women who are often denied those opportunities.
What work/intern/volunteer experience do you have and how has it prepared you for your studies?
After graduating from college, I worked for Empowered Women International, a non-profit that provides business and entrepreneurship training for low-income women in the DC area. Later, I moved to Guatemala, where I worked for two community development organizations; one that partnered with local schools to implement WASH, organic garden, academic scholarship, and maternal health programs, and other that provides adolescent girls with academic scholarships and mentorship training. I'm currently working for the Smart Campaign at Accion International, a global campaign to advocate for and ingrain client protection into the DNA of the financial inclusion industry. Altogether, my field experience paired with my program operations experience in the United States has prepared me well to study Global Affairs at Mason.
What aspects of Mason made you choose to study here?
The Global Affairs program at Mason aligns with my beliefs about international development, and it offers me the opportunity to learn more about the subjects I am passionate about: health, geography, population, and international relations. Having grown up in northern Virginia, I am very familiar with Mason’s great reputation in international studies, and I believe it is the right place for me to pursue my career goals.
What do you hope to accomplish while at Mason?
At Mason, I want to learn more about global health and program management that I can carry to a Program Manager position at an international development organization. I'm also looking forward to making friends and forming connections with people who have similar interests to my own.
What are your hobbies?
Some of my hobbies include spending time with family and friends, swimming, volunteering with NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia, and traveling.
What are you most looking forward to while living in the DC area?
I've lived in the DC-area for most of my life. Lately, I've been looking forward to the events I go to with NARAL Virginia - fundraisers, rallies, knocking on doors, public awareness events, etc. I really also enjoy exploring new areas of the city and attending cultural fairs and festivals.
What is your favorite thing about being a student?
My favorite thing about being a student is engaging in thoughtful discussions with my classmates and researching topics I'm passionate about. I'm really looking forward to being back in the classroom exchanging thought-provoking ideas with my classmates, and to have a great excuse to read and learn more about subjects I'm truly interested in.
Which languages do you speak?
I speak English and Spanish. I would love to learn French next!
What was the last book you read? Do you recommend it? (Why/why not)
The last book I read was Fahrenheit 451. I would recommend it - it's particularly relevant to our country's current political climate. The dystopian government in the novel is gas-lighting its citizens and encouraging as little critical thinking as possible to stay in power. It certainly feels like a warning of what can insidiously happen when the people no longer choose to put in the work necessary to maintain a government that works for them. Ray Bradbury also writes in a unique, metaphorical manner that definitely required my full attention - which I can't believe was unintentional. Bradbury wants you to put great thought into each and every word.