AMIGOS: What skills did you gain as a young leader with AMIGOS that have helped you develop as a professional?

Katie: One of the first things that comes to mind is critical thinking and problem solving. Objectivity is another skill. I learned how to collect information from multiple sources to come up with an informed decision. It also taught me flexibility because there is so much that happens that you could never plan for. Professionalism is another important skill — the ability to present yourself as a young leader and also recognizing the expertise and authority of those with whom you are working. The other practical skills I learned were personnel management, capacity building, budget management, resource allocation and crisis management. You also learn how to network with partner agencies and host communities.

 

AMIGOS: What did you learn the most from your work with AMIGOS?

Katie: There were so many opportunities with AMIGOS. I was able to collaborate and work alongside people at many levels, and I extracted lessons from each of them. This ranged from host families who graciously opened their hearts and homes and asked for little in return to the commitment level of groups in the community that shared their wealth of knowledge. Additionally, the partner agency staff worked tirelessly to ensure the quality of the experience for Volunteers, and my fellow Project Staff members were some of the most impressive and globally-minded people I have ever encountered.

 

AMIGOS: How do programs like AMIGOS make a difference in the world?

Katie: I am not aware of many other organizations that engage youth with the same amount of responsibility, and AMIGOS demonstrates such respect for individual and collective creativity and innovation. That’s something that sets AMIGOS apart from other organizations, and it makes a difference on many different levels. AMIGOS alumni are instilled with a sense of civic engagement that will usher them in as the next generation of leaders in international development. Host communities also benefit from the cultural exchange, and Volunteers and Project Staff help debunk the American stereotypes that are often held. It has also been amazing to see the shift in AMIGOS and in other international development organizations from prescriptive, prefabricated programs to those that focus on capacity building and the needs and interests of the community.

 

AMIGOS: Did AMIGOS influence your interest in international development?

Katie: Definitely. AMIGOS pushed me in a different direction. My first year with AMIGOS, at age 17, was my first time leaving the United States. It reconstructed my worldview. I began to think critically and realize that there are ways of life different from my own. I thought about equality and sustainable development. Before volunteering with AMIGOS, I didn’t even know what international development was.

 

AMIGOS:What was growing up in Albuquerque like?

Katie: Albuquerque is diverse in a way that is different from much of the country because of the enormous Hispanic population and Native American population. My father is a pharmacist and my mother is a dental hygienist. I heard about AMIGOS as a junior in high school in my Spanish class, and my parents have been supportive. I am still the only one in my family that has been out of the country.

AMIGOS:Do you have a passion for Latin America due to your AMIGOS experience?

Katie: I was inspired by the way of life of the people I came in contact with in all Latin American countries, and it was fascinating to recognize the similarities by virtue of being human. Since my first summer, I have developed an obsession with Latin America.

 

AMIGOS: What are some of your academic and career milestones?

Katie: I earned a bachelor's degree in Latin American Studies and Spanish from the University of New Mexico. I started out as a pre-physical therapy major, and AMIGOS definitely redirected my professional direction. After graduating, I spent several years conducting cancer and substance use research, and I was able to use the summer to do AMIGOS. I decided to get an MPH because it is very interdisciplinary and relevant in many sectors. My focus was in behavioral sciences and health education.

 

AMIGOS: What was the selection process like for your upcoming fellowship with Catholic Relief Services in Africa?

Katie: I applied in December 2007 and it was very involved and lengthy. In February, they narrowed the search down to 700 people who had applied, and all of those individuals had a master’s degree in a relevant field of study along with international development experience. They chose about 200 for phone interviews and flew out 50 finalists to Baltimore. After several panel interviews and writing tests, I was one of 22 chosen. They assigned me to do HIV/AIDS work in Malawi, Africa.

 

AMIGOS: What will you be doing?

Katie: It is a one-year fellowship program. I will be writing grant proposals, working on monitoring and evaluation of projects and working with counterparts. Malawi is one of the least developed countries in the world, and my focus will be on HIV/AIDS. The infection rate is about 15 percent in the country, and there are more than 500,000 children who have been orphaned by the disease. The life expectancy is about 38 years for men because of HIV/AIDS and economic problems. I am really looking forward to working in this field and also experiencing another continent. It will only broaden my exposure and make me a more competent development professional.