My Values

I find that taking stock of the way I think and the things I value is the best way to ensure that whatever path my life takes will be one that I can be proud to say I have walked. After examining my own mind and professional values, I can boil them down to a handful that represent the things I think most benefit the world and the workplace when embodied and promoted.

Cross-cultural Communication

Personal Growing

Social Equity

Interdisciplinary Thinking

The ability to bridge cultural divides, to understand other perspectives (or to be humble and listen when understanding is lacking), is critical in our modern world. To do this takes constant effort, continual growth and ever-present mindfulness. It takes work to shift the lens through which we see the world. It takes even more to identify the lens of others and adjust your own accordingly. But doing so is worth the work. It not only eases communication between perspectives, but equalizes them. Communication, as always, is key. Gender, race, nationality, ability, education, religion: all contribute to an identity and a culture. All serve as grounds upon which we divide ourselves and justify misunderstanding and maltreatment. But it shouldn’t be this way. Ultimately, there is no one solution. There is no one way to bring people together. It will take knowledge and skills of all sources and kinds, combined through collaboration and adaptability, to make the world a better place for all.

My Self

From Texas, to Arizona, to Alabama, Paris and now Washington, my restless passion for new places, new people and new things has been a central feature in my life from the first. An “old soul”, I love to gather up as many strange and bizarre anecdotes from history and store them away to be pulled out at random times, often to the confusion or delight (I hope!) of my unwitting audience. Music is another great love of mine, though I have no skill in making it and am better off as an enthusiastic admirer. It is one of the few things that has the ability to bind people together, even if their tastes differ.

As a student, and a burgeoning professional, I am constantly looking to learn and grow the knowledge and skills that will best help me make an impact alongside the people who share my community.