Storm Sivak
International Development | Food Security | Agricultural Development.
About
Working where soil meets community.
I am an international development practitioner focused on food security, agricultural development, and community-led solutions, preparing to serve with Peace Corps Madagascar. My background brings together graduate study, field research, language learning, and community service, all centered on partnering with communities to strengthen local food systems and livelihoods.
My Path
How I got here.
Undergrad
International Affairs & Philosophy
Studied the intersection of global systems, ethics, and political thought.
Language & Immersion
French Study in France
Developed French language skills through immersion study abroad in France.
Field Experience
Mexico & Malawi
Gained early field experience working across two very different development contexts.
Graduate Study
International Development Studies
Focused on food security and agricultural development at the graduate level.
Field Research
Capstone Research in Zimbabwe
Conducted applied field research for graduate capstone work.
2026
Peace Corps Madagascar
Beginning service as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Madagascar, working in food security and agricultural development.
Approach
How I Approach Development.
These are the values that guide how I work — principles built not from textbooks alone, but from paying attention in the field.
Listen before acting.
Start by understanding what people already know, do, and value. Good development doesn’t arrive with answers — it arrives with attention.
Learn local priorities.
What matters to a community is rarely what an outsider assumes. Effective work begins with learning, not prescribing.
Build trust through consistency.
Relationships take time. Showing up reliably and following through on small commitments is how credibility is earned.
Ask questions instead of assuming expertise.
The most useful thing an outsider can offer is a good question. Local knowledge almost always runs deeper.
Support community-led solutions.
Sustainable change comes from within. The role of an outside practitioner is to support, not to lead.
Life Outside Work
Beyond the Work.
Life is about more than work. These are the things that make me curious, grounded, and human—the parts that feed back into everything else.
↑ Hiking
Moving through landscapes.
Mountains, trails, and long walks have a way of clearing the head and offering perspective. Getting outside and moving through landscapes on foot is how I think most clearly.
⬡ Scouting & Youth Leadership
Leadership shaped by service.
Years of involvement in Scouting shaped how I think about leadership, service, and community. Working with young people remains one of the most grounding things I do.
◉ Genealogy & History
Connecting present to past.
Tracing family lines and understanding where people came from. There’s something quietly compelling about connecting the present to its past.
◎ Language Learning
Opening doors that translation cannot.
Learning French brought language out of the classroom and into daily life. Madagascar now gives me the opportunity to begin again with Malagasy and continue learning how language shapes relationships and belonging.
⊕ Cultural Exchange
Learning across differences.
Experiences living, studying, and working across cultures have reinforced lessons that are difficult to learn from a classroom alone: curiosity, humility, patience, and a willingness to listen.
Next
In September 2026, I begin 27 months of Peace Corps service in Madagascar, working in food security and agricultural development.
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