I founded The Field School of Hvar, because I believe that schools can be an engine for healthy communities and a powerful instrument for building agency in young people.

I am an American by birth and upbringing, and I now live on Hvar with my partner, who is local, and our young son, who was born in Croatia. We chose to live on Hvar because of the free-range childhood that we felt the island could offer our family. However, schools in Croatia tend to be quite traditional and do not suit all children. Recognizing that other families - both Croatian and international - share our aspiration for a more holistic approach to learning, I began investigating how I could bring together the best possible educational community in our island paradise.

Before coming to Hvar, I began my career in grassroots placemaking, convening a festival of music and technology that drew 20,000 attendees. I went on to work under the head of operations and fundraising at The Aspen Institute, a global think tank based in Washington, D.C. I am a “double Hoo” with an undergraduate degree in literature and an MBA from the University of Virginia.

Outside of work, home, and learning Croatian, my passions are (as you might expect from the themes in our program) hiking, gardening, and reading. I am extremely grateful for all the wonderful people I have already met on this journey to launch The Field School of Hvar, and look forward to meeting new allies and co-conspirators as we continue onward. If you are inspired by the work we’re doing, please get in touch!