Cecilia Mengo was born and raised in Kenya. She received her Bachelor’s in Human Geography from Moi University in Eldoret, Kenya in 2003. She completed her Masters of Social Work in spring of 2012 from Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green Kentucky, where she received the 2012 Outstanding Graduate Student award. Cecilia also received a certificate in poverty reduction in developing countries from Weitz Center for Development Studies in Rehovot, Israel in the year 2008. Born and raised in rural areas, Cecilia’s research will focus on women empowerment in rural and informal settlements nationally and internationally. Her research will also focus on policies that hinder women empowerment which is drawn from her seven years of experience working on issues of community development and social entrepreneurship with national and international organizations in Kenya. Cecilia also worked as an intern with International Center for Refugees and the Family Resource Program in Bowling Green, Kentucky. She is currently serving as a co-founder and a board member of Laikipia Community Empowerment Center, a grass root Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) in Laikipia District, Kenya. The NGO was established in 2010 to create a platform for people to address issues that affect their day to day life and improve their livelihoods.