I was born in Canada but moved to Panama at the age of 7 with my Panamanian parents. Two years later, I decided to become a biologist — and bought my first microscope and notebook to observe the natural world. I've always been passionate about nature, and over the years I have become more involved with food security problems from a global perspective, particularly food nutrition and the environment.

In addition to taking an environmental leadership course at Oregon State University, I've also gained practical experience working with the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama. After an internship at The Washington Center in Washington, D.C., I graduated in September 2013 and finished my Master's degree at the University of Waterloo this year in Environment and Resource Studies!