Rachel began her career with ISA in December 2005. She graduated with honors from the University of Texas at Austin in 2003, with a major in Anthropology and a minor in Spanish. During college, she studied abroad in Belize, participating in an archaeological dig. This experience inspired her to join the Peace Corps, and she worked as a Community Health Volunteer in northern Peru. She completed projects in large-scale latrine production, a girls youth camp, vegetable gardens, English teaching, and health talks for community members.

Rachel has extensively traveled through Peru, Ecuador, Argentina, Uruguay, Mexico and Guatemala, and has visited parts of Spain, Honduras, Jamaica and Canada. She has led both LPI and ISA groups in San José, Costa Rica and Santiago, Dominican Republic during the summers of 2006 and 2007. She's enamored with Latin American countries and their culture and encourages students to experience life abroad.

What do you like most about your current city?
I love Austin, Texas because it's such a liberal, cultural city. The weather is usually nice, we have a greenbelt and lakes, and there are a lot of great places to go hiking and running. It's also the live music capital of the world and home of the Texas Longhorns! What’s not to love?!?

If you could visit anywhere in the world where would you go?
I love Latin America so much that I would love to go back, see old places and visit new ones. I am also ready to tour Europe!

What do you like best about working with ELAP?
I love hearing the enthusiasm from volunteers before their program starts and just setting up all the details.

What is something about yourself that would surprise ELAP participants?
I love reading and watching shows about space travel and astronomy, it fascinates me. I also love anything science fiction and playing video games.