By Merritt Frey, Executive Director

Mali Rising's board of directors is a great, dedicated group of people. They keep the organization on track strategically, help friend- and fund-raise, and generally donate a lot of time and work. We want to welcome a new board member, Katie Murphy.

Katie joined the board in 2018 (we’re just a bit late in our welcome!) after helping out as a volunteer for years. We asked her a few questions to help us all get to know her better:

What inspired you to join Mali Rising’s board?

That’s easy, my Mom.  She was a pretty amazing lady and she helped me to recognize the things that really matter in life. That, coupled with our shared believe in the importance of education, made my decision to join the Mali Rising board a simple one. 

What work/project/task have you found most satisfying so far?

The majority of my time is spent working with the Mali Rising Youth Ambassador Program.  It is so incredibly rewarding to work with high school students from across the country who spend time educating their peers and local communities about Mali Rising and its mission.   

What is something surprising or interesting you’ve learned about Mali since you’ve joined the board?

Children in rural Mali travel an average of 40 miles to and from school each week.  That’s a lot of miles!  

 What do you hope to take away from the board experience?

I hope to have an impact, small or large, on the lives of others. Whether it’s an impact on students in Mali or students here in the U.S. as they learn more about the Mali culture and people. And let’s not forget the impact this experience has had on me so far.  I am grateful to work with this dedicated group of people. 

 What do you do for fun?

Fun. Hmm. I love to spend time with my family, especially when we can get away from our usual routine to travel together.  "Dropping off the grid,” just the four of us, for a few days (or more) is better than chocolate (and I love chocolate).

We send our thanks to Katie for all she does for Mali Rising and Mali’s kids! Want to volunteer like Katie? Check out our Get Involved page.