Staff Spotlight: Liv

Formerly an AmeriCorps VISTA member in the 2020-2021 cohort, Liv is now a full-time employee at US Together. She serves as the Development Specialist for all three US Together offices, with a home base in Cleveland.

Liv resides in her hometown of Brecksville, Ohio, a charming suburb fifteen minutes outside Cleveland proper. Additionally, Liv can trace her family genealogy to English origin on her father’s side and Czech descent from her mother. Her multicultural background grows more diverse with her language skills, speaking some Arabic and German (she lived in Germany for a semester!). 

Liv’s academic background is perfectly tailored for a career in the non-profit sector, with a degree in International Relations and Arabic studies with a minor in Arabic at The Ohio State University. Under her college mentors, Dr. Hollie Nyseth and Dr. Morgan Liu, she conducted independent research in Rwanda regarding the reconciliation between women after the genocide. Liv mentioned the importance of this experience saying, “I found my research in Rwanda to be pivotal in my academic career and my life today.”

At US Together, Liv has taken a central role in developing relationships with community partners. She finds helping refugees overcome cultural barriers after arriving in the United States is encouraging, and she greatly enjoys witnessing Clevelanders welcome new Americans with open arms.

After her time at US Together, she plans to attend graduate school to obtain a Ph.D. in sociology, researching gender, war, and immigration. Working at US Together has allowed her to gain experience while interviewing potential graduate programs and schools.

Outside of work, Liv enjoys walking and playing with her dog, who is (arguably) the cutest Labradoodle in the world. She is also passionate about film, with her all-time favorite movie being The Devil Wears Prada.