I am a peacebuilding and development professional with six years of professional experience, including time spent in Afghanistan. I’m entering my second year as the MA in International Development Program Coordinator at American University. I also consult part-time with the Institute for Development Impact’s West Africa branch.

I spent three years at The Institute for Inclusive Security, a women, peace and security organization based in Washington DC. While there I supported the organization’s South Asia programs- Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Myanmar. In this role, I conducted training, research, and advocacy to increase women’s participation in these countries’ peace and security decision-making processes.

I also spent two years at AMIDEAST, a DC-based nonprofit that manages numerous cross cultural exchange and study abroad programs with students from the Middle East and North Africa.

As a young black woman from a low income background raised in the deep South, I’ve had to navigate a lot of challenging circumstances. Deciding to pursue a career in a field where black women’s participation is all too rare has complicated this even more. Thankfully I’ve learned some valuable lessons, including how to be my own advocate that I otherwise may not have developed.

I believe that as humans we’re meant to share access and provide support to others. It’s a belief I infuse daily into my role as a PC at AU and one that I’m happy to bring to this role as well.

Ask Me About…

• New Orleans (seriously, I love talking about my hometown!)
• Life in DC (I’ve lived here 6 years and counting!)
• Women, peace, and security (WPS)
• Being a black woman in the DC professional sphere

Outside of AU, I spend my time…

• Traveling
• Cooking (I love trying new recipes and attempting to recreate cuisines of the world in my own kitchen)
• Consulting
• Generally catching up on the years of pop culture I missed during undergrad/grad school

I am a member of the following groups/associations…

• I am proud to be a National Museum of African American History & Culture Charter Member (donated to the museum a couple of years before it opened)!
• I am also a member of several virtual listservs that connect women working in security and peacebuilding.

I have lived in…

• New Orleans
• Morocco (Rabat)
• Williamstown, MA
• Washington DC

I have traveled to…

• Afghanistan
• Chile
• Denmark
• Egypt
• Ireland
• Israel
• Italy
• Morocco
• Norway
• Pakistan
• Panama
• Spain
• Sweden
• Thailand
• UAE and definitely others I’m forgetting…

Basically if you want to talk international travel (and amazing travel deals) I’m your girl!