Avery Closser

Avery grew up in Hailey, Idaho and is a recent graduate from the University of Puget Sound, where she received a double degree in International Political Economy and Spanish, as well as a minor in Latin American Studies. During her junior year, Avery studied abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where she took classes at local Argentine universities, volunteered at a children’s literacy non-profit organization, continued to practice her Spanish, and traveled throughout Argentina. In 2018, Avery interned for the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project in Tacoma, WA, where she gained a comprehensive insight into the injustices of US immigration law, and became passionate about advocating for immigrant and refugee rights. Avery continued to study this field, completing a thesis titled “Re-thinking Humanitarianism: Central America’s Unseen Humanitarian and Refugee Crisis.”

After graduation, Avery returned to Idaho to enjoy the outdoors, before moving to Colombo, Sri Lanka for a three-month internship with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. Although this was an incredible experience, Avery is enthusiastic about her return to the Pacific Northwest, and her work as an intern for the International Visitor Program. She is excited to engage with both the local and global community, as well as connect with people about international issues she is passionate about.