Raised next to the ocean on the tiny New York island of Long Beach, Katherine has always sought far-flung adventures while somehow managing to wind up at home on the beach during the summer. She studied Sociology and Visual Art at Oberlin College where she developed a great interest in collective organizing as an active member of the Oberlin College Student Cooperative Association. Since graduating, Katherine has explored opportunities in various fields including marketing, design, tech and the nonprofit sector. These varied experiences and a passion for social impact led her down the path of social enterprise, where she worked in marketing and business development at a fair trade retail organization. While visiting artisan cooperatives in South America, she saw first hand the power of income generating projects to create lasting economic growth for marginalized groups. Katherine is excited to return to South America with Kiva to help grow similarly empowering enterprises through microfinance.