Growing up Sierra had a somewhat nomadic childhood within the United States, and so the mobile lifestyle of an expat has felt familiar. Born in Rhode Island, her family traveled for several years eventually landing in Tomales, CA when she started middle school. In July 2001, after graduating from UC Davis, Sierra headed off to serve in the Peace Corps in Honduras working in health education and youth development. After completing service she spent the following 18 years living in Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Mexico working in secondary education, first as a social studies teacher and eventually as a school counselor. In August 2023, she returned to the United States, relocating to Penngrove, California. Sierra is currently accompanied on her journey by her 11 year old Nicaraguan golden retriever, Seba. This is her second time returning to the US, but the first time returning "home" to California.
In 2013 Sierra relocated to Austin, Texas for two years, yet found the readjustment to being back in the US, and still a flight away from family, challenging and returned to Latin America in 2015. Now returning to the Bay Area has allowed her to develop deeper relationships with family and friends, seeing them on a more regular basis. She has been served well by approaching this move similarly to moving to another country: expect there to be cultural misunderstandings, keep an open mind, and get involved in activities that you enjoy to meet people with common interests and experiences. The RPCV community has always felt like a family and an organic way to deepen roots in an area. Community is important to her!