Ava earned her master’s degree in Global Technology and Development from Arizona State University and focused her research on the transformative effects of adolescent study abroad programming. She has also conducted applied research on immigration policy and development practices and currently works in talent development at a nonprofit. Ava is passionate about helping young leaders gain new experiences and perspectives—a passion she developed through her membership in the Next Generation Service Corps. She has lived in Spain, Italy, and Japan, and has traveled to many places, including Trinidad, Mexico, Hungary, and the Middle East. Ava plays the viola in a local orchestra and loves to camp, hike, swim, and rock climb in her free time. She is fluent in Spanish and proficient in Italian, and she has led summer travel programs to Costa Rica and Ecuador.