What was your first job after college and how did you get it?
When I graduated from the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, I worked as a VISTA Volunteer at the Albany County SAFE Project in Laramie, WY. I worked specifically on the organization's media and worked with clients too. I got the job by
filling out the application, meeting with the VISTA office in Boston and patiently waiting to find out where I would be placed.
How did you get your current job?
I was looking for work and contacted the Board Chair to see if she knew of employment. It just so happened the organization was hiring a Grassroots Director and I wanted the job!
What experiences and/or course work in college best prepared you for this job or influenced your decision to do this work?
Working as a canvasser with MASSPIRG one summer during high school. In college I took many environmental journalism classes and was also active in "investigating" injustices. During my last year of college I considered going into the
PeaceCorps, but learned about VISTA (now AmeriCorp) and decided to serve as a volunteer within the United States.
Any regrets? What experiences and/or course work might have better prepared you for this work?
It might have been helpful if I were more involved in student organizations on campus, I think my college experience would have been richer.
Have you attended graduate school or are you considering graduate school? What degree do you have/would you want and why? Are there any limitations to advancement in your field if you do not have a certain graduate degree?
I obtained my Master's degree from the University of Wyoming in 2000. I plan on obtaining my PhD at some point in the future.
