Michaela Idhammar-Ketpura graduated from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2004 with a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication, Visual Communication, Graphic Design and Photojournalism. During her time at UNC-CH she spent time volunteering with youth in her local community and also lived in South Africa through the Fulbright Multimedia Program and interned at National Geographic Adventure Magazine. After graduating, she moved to Peru to work for an NGO creating sustainable agricultural tourism projects. From 2005 to 2010 she lived in Stockholm, Sweden where she worked in television and movie production, while owning a small book publishing company. In 2010 she moved to Colorado and in 2011 to Aspen where she served as Director of Visual Communication for Challenge America; Director of Marketing, PR, and Communications at Challenge Aspen; Development Director at Aspen Youth Center and finally Executive Director at Aspen Youth Center. She has spent her career working with small businesses and nonprofits but her passion has always been with working with youth as a volunteer and now in her role at AYC. Her goal is to support all youth in becoming strong, resilient, awesome humans.