International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center
August 2016 I served as graduate student support staff on an undergraduate study abroad trip to CIMMYT research headquarters in Texcoco, Mexico. I communicated complex research concepts and translated Spanish - English between farmers and students.
Fulbright Research and Organic Coopertive Work, Uruguay
In addition to my formal research in Uruguay (2012 - 2013) I partnered with the organic farmer cooperative, Ecotienda, in Montevideo. Throughout the entirety of my nine month grant period I worked closely with the cooperative on the compilation and distribution of their community supported agriculture shares. Over time, I began to understand the market limitations of the organic industry in Uruguay and their cooperative. Ultimately, I secured a three month Fulbright grant extension to collaborate with the farm members and document their supply chain and market limitations. I aided them in grant writing for capital improvements in order to increase their market presence and efficiency.
USDA - Foreign Agricultural Service, West Africa
My interest in food security grew as I served as a Program Analyst (2010 -2012) with the the USDA, FAS, Office of Capacity Building and Development, Food Security Division. Wherein, I managed a multi-million dollar 12-country portfolio in West Africa, reviewing and awarding McGovern-Dole School Feeding Program grant proposals and monitoring their progress throughout the life of their contract.
In 2008-2009 I worked as an English teaching assistant in a primary school in Alcalá de Henares, Spain. I assisted in curriculum design and execution for grades pre-k through 6th and organized school-wide recitals and performances in English.