Mackenzie Heffernan

I am Mackenzie Heffernan, a graduate of Rutgers University-New Brunswick with a Bachelors Degree in Geography and Associates Degree in International Studies at the County College of Morris. I am using my spatial understanding skills in order to analyze and create solutions for global, social and environmental issues. With each experience, I learn from culturally diverse communities through hands-on interactions in international development. I am extremely passionate about health and fitness and continue to help others maintain a healthy lifestyle by teaching fitness classes and working with like-minded organizations.

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Growing up I always enjoyed school and found an interest in learning new subjects and languages. In school I chose to study Russian and Spanish while also teaching myself Italian online. Education is very important to my growth as a person and I am grateful to all of the teachers, classmates and professors that have inspired me to keep finding the joy in learning. After I graduated from Rutgers University, I was applying to jobs and figuring out if I wanted to become a teacher or go back to school for my masters. I went to the local community college and found out that I could take one class for free, so I decided to take a class on Human Rights, where I was the youngest student in the class. I believe that we should never stop seeking new knowledge and perspectives in our lives to be able to give back to our communities in the best way possible.

Most recently, I explored a remote role as Visa Specialist at a J-1 visa nonprofit called Cultural Vistas. The experience there taught me about the importance of technology and the legalities behind the Bridge USA cultural exchange programs. In this position, my goals were to assist customers virtually via phone or email, coordinate staffing needs based on client requirements, organize and manage data spreadsheets and files, and collaborate with our team to ensure fluidity across all channels. We used Salesforce to track and review all applications from participants and clients, while also utilizing the task features and data management tools. Previously, I worked with another J-1 visa sponsor called IENA as a Program Coordinator to place camp staff for the summer camp programs in the US.