Tours: U.S. Embassy Skopje, North Macedonia; Crisis Management Support, Operations Center; U.S. Embassy Zagreb, Croatia; U.S. Consulate General Jerusalem; Coalition Provisional Authority, Baghdad, Iraq; U.S. Embassy Cairo, Egypt; Arabic Language School Tunis, Tunisia; Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs; The Watch, Operations Center; U.S. Embassy Kathmandu, Nepal

Career Track: Public Diplomacy

Years of Service: 24

Prior Experience: Before I joined the Foreign Service, I worked jobs as a research assistant for various non-profit and academic institutions and as a freelance journalist. The closest thing to a pre-Foreign Service career was my 10 years working every possible job in restaurants – from the back to the front of the house. Truly great preparation for a career in diplomacy!

Languages: Macedonian, Arabic, French, Nepali

Education: MA in National Security Studies, National War College; BA in International Relations, Brown University

Interesting Experience: A career in the Department of State is always an adventure – mine has been full of unexpected experiences, fascinating encounters, and non-stop learning. When I joined, I could never have predicted the incredible journey on which I was embarking. Each new assignment brings its own exciting opportunities and challenges. Some of my most interesting experiences have been: assisting North Macedonia’s entry into NATO – a 25 year U.S. policy goal; supporting negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians; coordinating U.S. government responses to crisis events worldwide; coaching new Iraqi journalists on the role of an independent press; assisting sick and injured U.S. mountaineers in Nepal; mentoring Egyptian university students establishing a Model U.S. Congress program; listening to exchange participants tell ME all the great things about the U.S.; and, most of all, meeting, working with, and learning from incredible colleagues and counterparts around the world.

Last Post: Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy Skopje

Why I Chose a Foreign Service Career: I always wanted a career that felt purposeful, allowed me to contribute to my community, kept me challenged, and took me around the world. The Foreign Service was all that, and more, rolled into an amazing career.