PROJECT MANAGER
- Master’s degree in Public Health from Grand Valley State University
- Bachelor’s degree in Landscape Architecture from Michigan State University
- 3 years of experience in project management and coordination
- 4 years of experience in built environment design and planning, and community engagement in rural communities
Fostering community connection and improved health outcomes through policy initiatives and design
Prior to her work with Blue Zones, Rachel worked with rural communities in the Midwest to advance their built environment goals. She has worked on projects across parks and recreation planning, trail planning and design, playground design, streetscape design, and other community public space design.
Inspired by the connection between our built environment and public health, with a desire to be a part of the change, Rachel returned to school to obtain her Master’s degree in Public Health from Grand Valley State University, focusing her studies on the health impacts of declining public spaces for teens. While in school, Rachel was fascinated and inspired by Blue Zones and Blue Zones Project communities, which led her to join the Blue Zones Activate team in Barry County, Michigan.
Rachel has been a part of the Blue Zones national team since 2022, managing a portfolio of policy-focused Blue Zones Activate projects across the country, as well as many other Blue Zones transformation initiatives and design works.
