Peace Boat US would like to extend a warm welcome to two new interns to the team for the Spring 2024 semester! Kerrie Noble joins us through Hollins University’s Signature Academic Internship Program that promotes professional development among their students in their respective fields. Maria Fernanda Carmona is joining the team after participating in the Peace Boat voyage for the UN Ocean Decade this summer as part of the Youth for the SDGs scholarship program in the Arctic. See their full bios below!
Maria Fernanda Carmona (Mafe) is a finance and compliance officer by profession and one of the Youth for the SDGs Scholars from Panama who sailed through the arctic on the Peace Boat in June 2023.
She has witnessed the incredible power of young people as agents of change and the transformative impact of SDG 17. Her favorite SDG, Partnerships for the Goals, plays a vital role in fueling sustainable development. Mafe believes that together, we can make a difference and shape a brighter future for our oceans and our planet.
Kerrie Noble is a sophomore at Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia. She is working toward her degree in International Studies with a minor in Spanish. She loves literature and the arts, and has been dancing since she was very young. She was fortunate enough to dance for two separate senior theses at Hollins. She is also part of the Sandusky Service House as well as a book club on campus. She was introduced to Peace Boat through Hollins’ Signature Internship program and will be working with Peace Boat for the duration of January.
She is most passionate about Sustainable Development Goals #4 Quality Education and #10 Reduced Inequalities. Recent courses on international studies and social innovation have piqued her interest in the SDGs and the interaction between education, social justice, and climate action. She is excited to work with Peace Boat and would like to develop her communication skills and gain experience promoting peace and sustainability.
Francisco Lara is a recent graduate from Political Science at the University of Costa Rica. He joined Peace Boat US as part of the Youth for the SDGs Scholars in 2023 during the Latin America Voyage; later, as part of his undergrad studies on Political Science, he started an internship remotely from Costa Rica supporting Peace Boat US with communications and reporting and then at COP28 in Dubai, he collaborated on the coordination and managing of Peace Boat US and Partners side events.
He is currently collaborating as Communications Coordinator for the “Youth for the SDGs” Program in Patagonia, an educational and experiential learning program that will take place in Chile and Argentina onboard the Peace Boat.
Molly Rosaaen is the Intern Coordinator and will be providing support and guidance during the Spring 2024 Internship semester.
Molly began working with Peace Boat US as an intern and is now working as a Youth Programs Coordinator which includes the internship program. Molly is a recent graduate from Pace University, double majoring in Political Science and Gender studies. She is passionate about nuclear disarmament and advocates for providing spaces for people to understand the environmental and humanitarian impacts of nuclear weapons. Her favorite SDGs are #13, Climate action and #16 peace, justice, and strong institutions. She believes climate justice can be achieved by providing spaces for everyone to participate in the movement and have their voices heard.
We are so excited to have each of these talented and passionate individuals working with us this semester.