From Trip Leader to Environmental Advocate
I first started working for ARCC immediately after graduating from college. At the time, I viewed it as a way to spend my time exploring the world before law school; I never imagined it would evolve into a decade-long career that would fundamentally reshape my life.
My first assignment was a French language immersion trip, leading a group of students through France for a month. From there, my career with ARCC took flight. Over the next 12 years, I led 20 trips across six continents. The “highlight reel” of those years feels like a dream:
- Getting scuba certified in Thailand, white water rafting the White Nile in Uganda, and rock climbing in Bend, Oregon.
- Hiking to Machu Picchu and camping on the Great Wall of China.
- Watching sea turtles hatch in Costa Rica, going on safari in Kenya, and playing with kangaroos in Australia.
- Working with rhino conservation groups in both South Africa and Uganda.
While I checked off nearly every item on my bucket list, the true impact of ARCC lies in the relationships I built. My former co-leaders remain some of my best friends. I stay in touch with guides from around the world and with former students who now reach out to me for career and life advice.
A Change in Trajectory
ARCC did more than just provide travel experiences; it changed the course of my education and career. While I always knew I wanted to pursue environmental law, seeing the global intersection of people and nature firsthand broadened my vision. I realized that environmental issues are inseparable from human rights.
Consequently, when I went to law school, I didn’t just pursue an Environmental Law certificate—I earned one in International Law as well. I dove deep into human rights law, human trafficking law, and international climate change law.
From the Field to the Courtroom
That global perspective defined my legal career. My first job out of law school was as an immigration attorney, where I helped hundreds of Afghans win asylum cases and served clients from Ukraine, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.
Today, I work for Conservation Law Foundation. I am currently in active litigation against Shell Oil, fighting to prevent oil spills in the Atlantic Ocean and protect the “backyards” of local communities. I also continue to represent asylum seekers as a pro bono attorney on the side. I also serve on my local city council.
Even with a demanding legal career, I couldn’t stay away for long. This past year, I returned to lead an ARCC trip in Panama.
ARCC is my second family. I have watched this organization change the lives of countless students, just as it quite literally changed mine. Working for ARCC remains one of the greatest privileges of my life.