Where are you based?

I've lived in Harlem, New York, for 13 years. I love the neighborhood, and with my apartment just a short walk from several of Manhattan's largest parks, I think my dog loves it, too.

What topics and places do you cover?

I don't have beats in the traditional sense. I'm interested in reporting that better connects the dots between travel and the ways we live, and in stories that upend expectations of what a “travel” piece is. Some examples: a deep-dive into Tokyo's honky-tonk culture; a story about the micronation of Westarctica; a feature on Give Kids the World, a nonprofit resort that offers free vacations to critically ill children.

What outlets do you usually pitch (and write for)?

I write for Afar, where I am the executive editor and oversee our award-winning print magazine.

What is your approach to press trips?

I prefer individual trips, but I'm open to smaller group press trips if there's flexibility with the itinerary and some free time. I don't promise coverage, but if I'm on a trip, that means I see some story potential.

What are your professional pet peeves?

A new-to-me contact who writes to ask what I'm looking for instead of sending specific pitches. Also, being pitched on LinkedIn or via my personal email. I understand that these spaces are less crowded, but my professional contact information is widely available—please write to me at my work email!

In your past professional life, you were …

After college, I spent two years teaching English in Greece. Since then, I've moved through a series of roles across media: working in the fashion closet at Vogue in London, serving as a web producer at Vanity Fair, leading special projects at Milk Studios, and working as an editor at Condé Nast Traveler. I've also combined media and teaching in my work as an adjunct professor at Fordham University.

Where would you like to return to?

I have family in Brussels, and I've visited most major cities in the country but have never been to the Ardennes, a hilly region rich with forests and outdoor activities. I also recently returned from a 20-day trip to India and feel like I barely scratched the surface! Next up: Gujarat, West Bengal, and Punjab.

What's on your bucket list?

Senegal, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Brazil. I'm drawn to places with incredible nature and strong food cultures, and each of these destinations seems to offer both in abundance.

Where do you travel for fun?

I've been traveling to Greece every year for the past decade. I spend a week or so in Athens—one of my favorite cities—and then try to go to a new island. Each spring, I also make a point of leaving New York for some quieter time upstate.

What advice would you give your younger professional self?

Introduce yourself to people whose work you admire and want to learn more about, even if it's by email. Some people won't respond, but others will, and you never know where those connections will lead. The sooner you realize how key relationships are to this industry, the better.

What nugget would you like to add that we haven't touched on?

If you find something interesting, there's a good chance someone else will, too. Just because a pitch might not be landing at the moment doesn't mean there's no hope of the piece being published somewhere eventually. I've got a document full of stories I want to write!

How best should people contact you?

Find my email address on my TravMedia profile.