Amber’s desire to learn about the world and those who inhabit it stemmed from her childhood. With a father as a professor of history, she spent summers with her family in Germany and Austria so her father could further his research. The opportunity to travel and experience other cultures enabled her to understand the importance of connecting with and learning from her fellow human-beings. With that understanding, she found herself drawn to anthropology as a young adult. From there she pursued a degree in that field, receiving her BA in Cultural Anthropology from the University of Minnesota in 2006. Amber’s holistic approach to research stems from the belief that a culture can be properly understood if all elements are uncovered, thus allowing one to see how they function as a complete and complex system. The overall enjoyment of engaging with and learning from others- through research or personal experience- make up not only her professional life, but her personal one as well. Grateful to call the Big Island of Hawaii home since 2014, Amber enjoys not just the natural beauty of the island but being immersed in the local Hawaiian culture. In her free-time, Amber can be found pursuing her passions for travel, photography and connecting to her natural surroundings—whether it be working in her garden, hiking to the nearest mountain top or a grounding yoga session on the beach.”