Since beginning my career in journalism over 30 years ago at CNN, I have covered stories in over 45 countries and on six continents. I worked on staff for CNN (Washington, DC) and Newsweek (London) and am currently a London-based freelance writer covering arts, culture, international development and education stories.  I have also had acting deputy editor roles with both the Wall Street Journal Europe‘s “Off Duty” section and the Financial Times’ fDi magazine.

Some of the major stories I have reported on over the years have included post-conflict politics and society in the Balkans, the global barriers in girls’ education, the international contemporary art market and European social trends. My work has been published in the New York Times, Financial Times, Times of London, Conde Nast Traveller, People, Los Angeles Times, National Public Radio, Open Democracy, PRI’s The World, Salon, Scientific American, The Lily, Foreign Policy and Washington Post. (For an expanded list of subjects head here). I have also done media consulting for UNICEF and J.K. Rowling’s Lumos Charity.

Available to order now, my first book Ghetto Classics: How a Youth Orchestra Changed a Nairobi Slum, was published in early 2023 (based on a New York Times piece I wrote back in 2016).  I am also in the midst of completing my second book, How I Became Your Mother: My Global Surrogacy Journey, focused on cross-border surrogacy.

Born and raised in Michigan, I have a BA from Albion College (Michigan), an MSc in the history of international relations from the London School of Economics and an MA in international journalism from London’s City University. I have also served as both president and vice-president of the Association of American Correspondents in London. I also serve on the Board of Trustees for the Art of Music foundation and Michigan Fertility Alliance.

The above photo was taken on assignment in Kigali, Rwanda with a group of internally displaced women doing work at an arts-based collective.