People are curious by nature. We love to learn, and the more we do, the better our understanding of the world and those with whom we share it becomes. As an educator and curator, it is fascinating to see the ways we each share what it means to be human. Whether through a lecture, discussion, or program, the approaches to expressing the “human experience” are endless and unique, and yet, there are also a lot of commonalities to discover. Providing support and elevating the voices and ideas of the diverse groups throughout the state of Florida is what excites me most about joining Florida Humanities as the Grants Coordinator, working closely with Grants Director Lindsey Morison.

Raised with a love for traveling near and far, culture and history have always piqued my interest; but there is no place quite like home. As the first native Floridian in my family, my youth was spent experiencing all that Florida had to offer—from the beaches and state parks to the museums and cultural festivals. Falling in love with the Humanities led me to pursue a degree in Anthropology (B.A, 2006, University of Central Florida) and, later, Heritage Studies (M.A., 2013, Newcastle University, England). Working first in the field of education for English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), both locally and overseas, and then at Florida History and Art museums has nurtured my passion for bringing together arts, history, culture, and people. The research, collaborative, and creative skills needed for teaching a classroom or curating an exhibition will be essential in helping Florida Humanities applicants critically and creatively craft their proposals.

I am thrilled to be joining a team that matches my enthusiasm for creating opportunities for communities to share history, literature, culture, and personal stories—all the things that make us who we are! It is a true joy and honor to serve Florida community applicants through thoughtful and knowledgeable counsel as they move through the grant process. By promoting these successful stories to an even wider audience, we will support and raise awareness for each distinctive story that makes up Florida heritage.