Julia is a Morganton native who recently returned home after nearly a decade living and working abroad. Julia's journey has taken her from classrooms in Spain to communities in Malawi as a Peace Corps Volunteer, and later to nonprofit leadership roles across the United Kingdom, where she worked to strengthen communities through partnership, engagement, and inclusion.

Most recently, Julia has worked with nonprofits focused on refugee inclusion, community engagement, and social impact. She helped lead community-led welcome programs, developed training and storytelling initiatives, supported grassroots leaders, and built partnerships with local organizations, government agencies, and community groups to strengthen support networks for newcomers. Across her career, she has managed grants and programs, facilitated collaborative initiatives, and worked alongside communities to create lasting, locally driven change.

Fluent in Spanish and passionate about the power of local communities, Julia is excited to bring her global experience back to Burke County. She is dedicated to helping create opportunities, strengthen connections, and support the people and organizations that make her hometown a special place to live and work.