After many years of fitting in volunteer work and service trips during a busy corporate career, DJ has made the leap make humanatarian work her full-time career through joining the Kiva Fellows program and by pursuing a doctorate degree in diplomacy and international relations. Originally from Seattle, DJ has traveled to some 60 countries and all seven continents, enjoying adventure trips as well volunteering as a Habitat for Humaniity Global Vilage team leader and joining disaster relief work teams in Haiti and Japan. 

DJ finds the best way to learn about a country and its culture is to live and work side-by-side the deserving families that recieve a hand up, not a hand out through sustainable solutions and is honored to serve as a Kiva Fellow in Tbilisi, Georgia, inspired by Kiva's misson to connect people through lending to aliviate poverty.