I work as a Program Development Assistant at Ascend: Leadership Through Athletics, a mountaineering program for Afghan girls in Afghanistan. I designed Ascend's Program Monitoring and Evaluation system and conducted Ascend's first program evaluation to reflect on the achievements and lessons learned of a sport-for-development program in the complex context of Afghanistan. I continue to conduct M&E, and support grant writing and fundraising efforts. As a longtime female athlete, I value Ascend's method of using sports as a powerful way to empower girls and women across the globe. I graduated from George Mason University with a B.A. in Conflict Analysis and Resolution, concentrating in Community and Organizational Conflict. I have three years of nonprofit and nonprofit sports management experience, including work at Fund for the Public Interest, NPR, and George Mason University Women's Rugby Team. When I'm not volunteering for Ascend, I work for a catering company and play rugby for my local women's team. I'm currently seeking an entry-level position at a global peacebuilding organization that focuses on grassroots efforts in Asia and Southeast Asia.
I'm joining the SportandDev.org community to network with and learn from other sport and development organizations to bring new ideas and connections to Ascend. Secondarily, I'm looking to learn about the sport&dev community to develop myself as an early-career professional.