The daughter of anthropologists, I learned to walk and talk in Papua New Guinea and was a high school exchange student in Cajamarca, Peru. These experiences fueled my passion for travel, and led to an early career in travel writing. I researched and wrote for travel guru Arthur Frommer; published extensively in travel trade publications; and was the writer of travel videos produced by JCV Productions, the company I co-founded and managed.   

I’ve been a New York City-based non-fiction writer, editor and Spanish-English translator; a news producer for Colombian national television news (RTVC, Caracol, AM/PM); a public relations writer and executive; a school counselor, parent liaison and college office director in  NYC public schools Working with students on their personal statements ignited my passion for personal essays, my recent writing focus.