Mary Jo grew up in small town Iowa, surrounded by the state’s lively political climate. She turned her interest in this area into a BA in Political Science at the University of Northern Iowa, where she had the chance to intern with the Embassy of Mexico in Washington DC and travel to Nicaragua for a service learning class. There she visited an MFI and some of its borrowers, opening her eyes to the world of microfinance and the many benefits it can provide to borrowers, their families, and their communities. Mary Jo later received an MSc in Comparative Politics from the London School of Economics and interned with the National Education Trust while in London. Combining her love of education and international politics, she returned to the University of Northern Iowa to teach political science courses. She has enjoyed sharing her experiences and helping students understand and think critically about pressing world issues, something she hopes to continue and build upon through this fellowship and an eventual PhD. Mary Jo looks forward to contributing to Kiva Zip’s ongoing work in Washington DC and helping educate others about microfinance.