While finishing her undergraduate studies at the University of Pittsburgh, Cassidy spent a term in South Africa as a Vira I. Heinz scholar, participating in a program focused on political development and educational policy in post-apartheid contexts. After graduating, she traveled to China, where she worked as a language and history instructor and basketball coach. In 2017, Cassidy returned to the States to earn her master’s in International Education with a concentration on youth development and curriculum writing. This work has informed her more than decade-long career as a K-12 classroom educator. Each summer, she has led student groups on experiential learning programs to China, Japan, South Korea, and through various regions of the U.S.