I am passionate about creating art that educates people about the impact of war and aids in the healing of those impacted. I share my research and professional artistic journey through lectures and presentations. I started out as a classical ballet dancer which gave me the opportunity to perform works that addressed important social issues and positively impacted disadvantaged and disenfranchised communities. My desire to serve led me to join the Marines and be deployed to Fallujah, Iraq. When I returned from war and left the Marines, I co-founded Exit12 to communicate my war experiences through the only medium I knew – dance. After several platoon mates took their own lives in 2011, I realized that my fellow veterans also needed a way to process their own experiences. I also acknowledged that the military experience is extremely diverse, as is the population that serves. Upon this realization, Exit12 started working with veterans and military families to foster healing across the veteran and military family communities and tell diverse stories that might not otherwise be told through the arts. In addition to my expertise in choreography and movement workshops, I also have strong skills in nonprofit administration, strategy, marketing, fundraising, research, dance, and choreography – which I love sharing with students through lectures, guest teaching opportunities, and mentorships. I am also have experience in the following roles: a junior research scientist for a current research project for USAF/NAMRU, early career researcher at Trinity Laban, administration for Soldiers’ Arts Academy in the UK, and am pursuing my PhD at York St. John University in the UK.Other areas of interest include connecting with other professionals in social impact arts, moral imagination, veterans, peace building, artistic diplomacy, international relations, and academia.
Listed skills include Dance, Choreography, Non Profits, Theatre, and 46 others.