Michelle DeFreese

Michelle received her BSc degree in Anthropology at Rutgers University and studied abroad at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London. She completed an MA in International Affairs at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (IHEID), University of Geneva in Switzerland. During her postgraduate studies, she completed internships at the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) in Rome and the Permanent Mission of Timor-Leste to the United Nations in Geneva. Following her studies, Michelle was based at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) in Mexico and traveled to document project activities, organize stakeholder focus groups, and carry out interviews of smallholder farmers and farmer cooperatives in Africa and Asia. Originally from New Jersey, Michelle is a polyglot and is looking forward to learning Swahili during her field placement.