Raised on a California farm in an unusually self-reliant family with a scientist-father, Sarah Volkman was naturally drawn to the field of biology. She has become a world expert on malaria, a leading cause of death in many countries. She travels widely, often to Senegal, and she collaborates with Senegal scientists and the CDC to gather scientific data that informs international policy through the World Health Organization.

Passionate about experiential learning for both students and faculty, she teaches at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Simmons University School of Nursing. She is also married to a teacher and shepherded two children through Newton Public Schools.

Dr. Volkman will talk about how her life experiences inform her current behaviors and how she works on shared problem solving in cross-cultural settings.