Q: What attracted you to Rice University's Master of Global Affairs program?

A: At the time, I was teaching and every summer I went to the Advanced Placement Professional Development courses for teachers which was hosted at Rice. I saw the advertisements for the MGA program and initially thought I would love the coursework and it would make me a better teacher, but after getting into the program, I then fell in love with corporate crisis management (and have been doing it ever since!).

Q: What was your career like prior to the MGA program?

A: I taught advanced placement high school geopolitical courses for 11 years.

Q: Where are you now in your work and what do you do?

A: I currently serve as Director of Crisis and Emergency Management at Venture Global, a U.S.-based liquefied natural gas (LNG) company operating critical energy infrastructure globally. In this role, I lead enterprise crisis management and emergency response programs, providing strategic and leadership to support organizational resilience. My work supports executive leadership and operational teams in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from high-impact events affecting critical energy operations.

Q: What was the highlight/most memorable moment of your experience in the MGA program?

A: My internship at LyondellBasell literally changed my life and my career trajectory, giving me my first corporate opportunity outside of the teaching world. It also provided me the mentorship I needed to transition into and succeed in the business community.

Q: What was your favorite class in the MGA program?

A: Two favorites that stick out to me:

1. Dominic Boyer’s course "Cultural Directions in Global Affairs" was the most enlightening/perspective changing of them all.

2. Dr. Ambler’s Comparative Public Policy course. It wasn’t actually a part of the MGA program, but it was a great course - he was an incredible teacher, the material was enlightening, and I had such a wonderful experience learning from the other students in that course (seniors in their undergrad program at Rice).

Q: What would you say to someone considering Rice's Master of Global Affairs?

A: The flexibility to work full-time and attend classes in the evening was a huge factor for me. The MGA has definitely paid off for me by providing skills and setting the foundation for personal and professional growth, which I am now experiencing in my new role.