Liz works on the Global Health team at the United Nations Foundation, where she supports resource mobilization efforts for the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) — a partnership between WHO, UNICEF, the Gates Foundation, Rotary International, the Gavi Alliance, and CDC.
She loves to travel and has been to 30+ countries and 48 states. Prior to 2020, she had been to more countries than states, but she fixed that with a few epic road trips during the pandemic -visiting 28 national parks!
Extracurriculars
Liz loves being outside and her goal for 2026 is to start exploring more Maryland State parks for hiking and camping. She is also trained as a yoga instructor, but is not currently teaching. If something keeps her active, moving, and/or connecting with people, she’s in! Just with Cowork members alone, she has played tennis, explored downtown restaurants and shops (especially thrift stores!), and regularly participated in the weekly trivia team that our members formed.
Why we love Liz
The thing about Liz that stands out immediately is her genuine interest in people. When Liz asks you how you are doing she wants an honest answer. She is fully attentive as you respond which makes every conversation feel like an important one, regardless of the topic. She takes the time to stop and fully listen, to ask questions, and engage – it’s one of the most noticeable things about her. Liz is also eager to jump in to help someone, to join in any social opportunity, and to greet a new member with a smile and a conversation. She has a warm, calming personality, which is an absolute joy to around!
Q&A with Liz
How did you get into your field?
I started working in polio eradication in 2014, at the Pan American Health Organization. I had just finished my Master of Public Health and was eager to make an impact on global health. At the time, the target for eradication was 2018, so I figured I’d get to help wipe out a disease within the first four years of my career and then move on to something else. Unfortunately, it hasn’t gone according to plan. The eradication deadline was delayed to 2023, and then to 2029. Hopefully we’ll cross the line soon!
What inspires you and keeps you going?
Right now, my biggest motivation is my 6 month old daughter, Adeline. I’m also inspired by people who are out there making a difference. There’s a lot that’s terrible in the world right now, but there are also a lot of people helping. I recently came across the Mr. Rogers quote: “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.'” So I’m starting to look for the helpers.
Maybe it’s because I’m a new mom, but I’ve been paying a lot of attention to Ms. Rachel lately. She built her platform making videos for kids, and honestly speaking to kids the way she does is harder than it looks and I respect her for that – but what I respect more is how she has taken a stance on political and social issues. She’s spoken out for children affected by the conflict in Gaza, and in June 2026 she brought hundreds of letters and drawings from detained children to Capitol Hill to hand to members of Congress. She keeps doing it despite the backlash it’s brought her. I have tremendous respect for her.
Cowork Frederick members tend to be a little unconventional. How does that apply to you?
My 20s were for career building. My early 30s were lost to the pandemic – and to the various adventures remote work made possible. My late 30s have been for family-building. As I approach 40, I’m hoping my 40s will be about life-work balance, with a heavier emphasis on the life side: my daughter, my family, my community. I want to keep putting down roots here in Frederick.
Work will keep playing a role, but I want to work smarter, not harder. No more working late nights and on weekends the way I did in my 20s and early 30s. I’d rather spend that energy making core memories with my daughter – traveling, hiking, taking in the world around us.
Which of the guiding values defined by Cowork Frederick members speaks to you?
I’ve recently started to re-cultivate my curiosity. This is something I had when I was younger, but I feel like I lost it along the way, especially in those years that I was so focused on my career only. Lately, I’ve been more curious about the world around me and about the people I meet. This comes up in different ways for me – whether it’s looking up the name of a tree that I walked by or asking about someone’s life.
Any tips for what someone wanting to enter the same line of work/business can do to help ensure success?
The global health field is currently going through some serious challenges with the reductions of development assistance funding from many big government donors, the dissolving of USAID, and the US pulling out of the World Health Organization. That said, global health needs are higher than ever and I do not see this field going away. My recommendation to anyone wanting to go into this field is to pay attention to the current changes in global health architecture, where there is a big shift toward country-led and regionally led institutions. Understanding how those systems operate will be very valuable.
Why Cowork Frederick?
I love being around people as I work. However, my office is in DC and I don’t enjoy the commute, so I work remotely 4 days a week. Finding Cowork has been a great way to get out of the house and to get to know people in Frederick. I truly value the community and the friendships I’ve built through Cowork!
For those who want to learn more, how can you be reached?