Amy is a Midwestern Isthmian, growing up in the bogs, fens, and prairies outside Chicago with frequent trips back to Panamá. She completed a Bachelor’s in Anthropology and a Master’s in Urban Planning and Policy at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC). She believes Mariame Kaba’s adage that Hope is a Discipline and is inspired by the ways that NNACoE cultivates hope to bring about necessary transformation in the health professions. With 15 years of experience in health research and grant management she is delighted to now contribute to the strategic and sustainable growth of NNACoE initiatives. In 2023, Amy collaborated with the NNACoE team and Project Mosaic to develop the center’s first Strategic Plan. She works closely with NNACoE leadership as well as institutional and external partners to advance AI/AN medical and allied health professions workforce goals while staying grounded in NNACoE’s mission, vision, and values. In her spare time, Amy is a plant medicine learner, bat & bird-watcher, and serves on the board of Pueblo Unido PDX. To find joy, Amy loves frying up batches of patacones or tajadas.