Sarah grew up in Holland and graduated from Holland High School. She started to be interested internationally when her family hosted an exchange student. When she was a student at Hope College, she intentionally took international courses in Africa and the Caribbean and studied for a year abroad. After graduating she worked in many different countries, including Ecuador, China, Japan, and Mozambique.

 

After studying with two Fulbright Scholarships, Sarah applied for the Rotary Peace Scholarship program. She received a Master's Degree in public policy and peace and reconciliation from International Christian University in Tokyo, Japan. While working on this degree, she did an internship with the US State Department. This helped secure a diplomatic position with the State Department after graduation.

 

Sarah's first assignment with the State Department was in China and she is currently stationed in Sweden. She is in Holland on maternity leave and has just learned that her next assignment will be in Papua New Guinea. Her specialty is consular work. This means that she deals with immigration interviews, visa applications, and citizen services. In New Guinea, Sarah will be working as the Public Affairs Officer.