How would you describe yourself in 3 words?

Quiet, hopeful, curious

When is your birthday?

I was born on my grandmother’s 63rd birthday, too close to Christmas.

If you could do or be anything in the world, what would it be?

Those possibilities are so endless, it’s impossible to choose just one. I’d pick something that’s the opposite of what I am now, just for variety. So I might be an artist, musician, or engineer.

What is a dream that you have? What is something that you are passionate about?

I believe that the world has enough resources for everyone, but that these resources need to be distributed more equitably. So maybe the dream is bringing happiness and prosperity to everyone in the world through redistribution.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Right here or maybe somewhere else, still doing what I do now, but more of it.

Tell us your RISE story. What are you RISE-ing from? What are you RISE-ing to?

I have always believed in the power of one person to change things. I recently heard an African proverb: If you think you’re too small to make a difference, try sleeping in a closed room with a mosquito. I’m rising from inaction to action, from observing to acting.

What is one thing you want people reading this to know?

Doing nothing doesn’t help anyone. Doing even a very small thing makes a difference and can have positive ripple effects that you never would have expected.

What would you say to those who think they can’t make a difference in the world?

Whether you know it or not, everything you do has some effect, somewhere. If you choose your actions carefully, you can bring about changes you never expected right away or perhaps farther in the future. You may know of the change you brought about, which can be very gratifying, or you may not know of it, but you still caused it to happen.

What does RISE mean to you?

RISE means the opportunity to work with a passionate, dedicated, caring, creative team of people who want to effect positive change in the world.