“As Forrest Gump’s mom once said ‘Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get.’ This phrase has rung true on my career path as my curiosity has led me to embrace opportunities presented to me. Once I graduated from North Carolina A&T State University with a Master’s Degree in […]

“My love of foreign languages and other cultures became a guiding influence in my life at a young age. Throughout my formal education, I studied Japanese, Chinese, French, and Spanish, and I had the opportunity to study abroad in several countries. I think nothing impacts young minds like seeing firsthand how other people live. After leaving […]

“I am fascinated by how the world works. My grandparents lived in Japan and traveled extensively. Their stories enchanted me, and I wanted the same experiences and insights. I studied economics and history at Miami University (Ohio) and then set off traveling. I spent a year in China and two and a half years in […]

“I’ve always disliked the feeling of being on the sidelines and not having a voice in decisions that impacted my daily life. At a young age, that discomfort led me to work with the Superintendent of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (NC) and eventually the Mayor’s Office to improve educational outcomes for local high-need schools. Since graduating Davidson […]

“My fascination with the natural environment influenced my career path – from starting in a laboratory analyzing contaminants, to field investigation, regulatory reviews, and program management. Growing up without handheld devices, I was left with idle time wandering through creeks, wetlands, sewers, and forests. After finishing at Virginia Tech with a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology, […]

“My career path has seen a lot of twists and turns, but at the end of the day, the one craft I consider integral to my being, both personally and professionally, is writing. Finding authors I still love to this day helped me get through high school; being able to express myself through writing allowed […]

“Throughout college I was unsure of what I wanted to do with my degree in political science, but I knew I wanted to make a difference. This desire to make an impact led me to explore a career in outreach and communications; I wanted to help people learn about the projects in their communities. Although this […]

“As a young child in Cuba, I wasn’t used to seeing women in high-regarded positions. When my family and I relocated to the United States as refugees, I remember being star-struck by women in leadership. I would play pretend “businesswoman” as one of my favorite pastimes and my love of business and project management has […]

“As a young arts student, I was fortunate to live near Washington, D.C. and have parents who appreciated the great resources the city had to offer. I distinctly remember visiting the Phillips Collection and my father excitedly pointing out a Paul Klee. I was unimpressed. My perspective aligns more closely with my father’s now, and […]

“As the unofficial family administrative assistant and gadget guru, I quickly learned the importance of clear communication, new technology, and building relationships. Shortly after graduating from York College of Pennsylvania with a degree in Public Relations and Marketing, I was able to launch my career in public service. My first project gave me the opportunity to […]