A 20-something nonprofit fundraiser, storyteller, and nerd on a mission to more meaningfully contribute to this great, big world. I believe in the wisdom of the gut and the power of voice – I am constantly pondering my next adventure. I studied art history at Connecticut College, got a master’s in modern and contemporary art history from the University of Texas at Austin. After graduation and getting married, I took off on a dream trip: a honeymoon road trip through Western America. Now, we’ve moved to my hubby’s hometown of Portland, Oregon and I’m seeking new experiences.
Storytelling
I wrote my first book at age six. It’s written in crayon and I bound the cardboard covers with yarn. The tale, “Down Reis Park Path”, featured a girl getting lost in the woods and finding her way back thanks to the friendly forest animals.
Twenty something years later, I’m still drawn to stories. They inform, inspire and entertain. They can connect generations and ignite change. I love true stories – uncovering the tiniest details and figuring out what inspires people. The little magical moments of good are my favorites to tell.
Other adventures:
– I studied art history in Buenos Aires for a semester and got an award in my photography class for depictions of local life.
– I worked in a museum during college, assisting the curator by doing condition reports on artworks in the vault and aiding with exhibition set up and take down. I even got to move a mummified falcon once!
– I studied indigenous cultures and evaluated the education department of a museum while working a Spanish speaking internship in Uruguay.
– I played a lot of soccer growing up and still have the scars to prove it. I’ve competed internationally, went pretty far in the Olympic Development Program, and coached for a bit. My old goalie gloves still smell really gross.
– I taught myself how to rock climb and recently completed my first multi-pitch; a nerve–racking trip up an 1,200ft monolith in Mexico (see my stories for more on that)
Stark West Travels 