Bio

Personal Background

Grace Gegenheimer is a ninth-generation native of Tucson, Arizona and is a self-described “daughter of the desert.” She carries with her the landscape, the history, and the culture of her hometown wherever she goes – and will proudly whip out her phone to show photos of sunsets and saguaros to perfect strangers all over the world.

Grace’s interest in politics and global affairs started at a very young age. She remembers the coverage of the Bush/Gore presidential race when she was in first grade, and will never forget being kept out of school on September 11, 2001 and watching the horrors from that day unfold on live, national television. Additionally, her father always had something for her and her sister to watch – whether it be the local news, 60 Minutes, or some documentary he found, and he clipped articles from newspapers and magazines that he wanted them to read. This cultivated a strong sense of awareness early on and is something that both Grace and her sister have only continued to build upon as they navigate their careers and professional lives.

In high school, Grace was a cross country runner and the first female runner from her school to qualify for the State meet – earning her a varsity letter as a freshman. She would return to State every year thereafter, making her the first cross country athlete from her high school (male or female!) to qualify all four years. She was accepted to the University of Arizona where she has strong family ties – her maternal grandparents were both U of A graduates and her paternal grandfather served as Chairman of the Faculty for 17 years, was Editor of the Arizona Quarterly, and headed the English and American Literature department in addition to being a professor. Though part of her wanted to venture away from home, Grace is glad that she chose to stay in Tucson for college. Originally accepted as a Special Education major, she quickly found herself feeling “stuck,” and after spending some time reevaluating, she decided to pursue a degree in Political Science with a focus in Foreign Affairs. Once it clicked, it all made perfect sense! She describes her education at the U of A as “well-rounded,” as she was able to take classes that met so many of her interests – including German, astronomy, Greek and Roman art and archaeology, acting (theater), and a myriad of others. The highlight of Grace’s college experience was the time she spent studying abroad in Prague, Czech Republic during the summer of 2014, and in Rome, Italy the following summer. She was always told growing up that “travel is the best education you can get.” Having the opportunity to be in a structured classroom setting in another country while enjoying the benefits of living like a local and making discoveries on her own was an environment in which she thrived. She returned home both times with her mind expanded to new dimensions and with a new outlook on life.

One day in March of 2018, Grace’s supervisor put a single piece of paper face-down on her desk and said “I don’t want you to leave, but this is a good opportunity.” It was from the Governor’s Southern Arizona Office just down the street – and they were looking for a Deputy Director. As she read through the position description, she knew that she was a solid candidate but was torn between leaving the coworkers she had grown to love, and taking advantage of the opportunity that had been placed right in front of her. She ultimately decided on the latter – and on her 24^th birthday she received the call that she was being offered the position of Deputy Director. From trips to Casa Grande, Yuma and Douglas, to flying in the co-pilot’s seat for a binational summit in Hermosillo, Mexico, to riding in the U.S. Vice President’s motorcade at the southern border, Grace appreciated the many occasions to be out of the office to staff the Governor and senior leadership at various events. She learned about the policy issues that are most important to Arizonans, came to understand how vital the Arizona-Mexico relationship is from both an economic and cultural standpoint, and was involved in the behind-the-scenes work that goes into preparing and carrying out an event involving high-level public officials. Though a great experience, Grace chose to leave in June 2019 for a number of reasons. She married her high school sweetheart three months prior to this, had plans to travel with her sister that summer, and with all the life changes going on she knew she needed to find something more fulfilling and where her skills and passions would be appreciated.

In July 2019, Grace set off to Guatemala to spend a month living with a wonderful host family in the city of Quetzaltenango – locally known by its Mayan name, Xela. Adjusting to this environment was difficult since it was completely different than any of the 25 countries she had previously traveled to – many of which were in the Global North. Seeing the ravages of poverty, the devastating long-term consequences of a civil war that only ended 23 years prior, and the effects of a patriarchal society on a country’s men, women, and children was a bit of a shock. Even so, she felt warmth and hospitality from those she met – as well as their strength and determination to reshape the future of their homeland. While in Guatemala, Grace worked with two different organizations: one of which was an NGO called AMOIXQUIC Asociación de Mujeres that supports indigenous women in the country’s highlands through empowerment and education programs. Alongside the Assistant Director, Grace traveled to rural communities and delivered two-hour workshops entirely in Spanish that covered everything from reproductive and sexual rights, domestic violence, and gender equality. These conversations were eye-opening, and it was wonderful to meet women who were forward-thinking and self-sufficient despite the obstacles they faced.

Upon her return home, Grace was accepted into the University of Arizona’s MA program in International Security Studies – something she had considered pursuing since graduating in 2016. While she re-immersed herself into the world of essays, policy memos and lengthy readings, she was presented with another job opportunity after a 7 month-long hiatus from the workforce. In January of 2020 Grace started working remotely as Executive Assistant for someone who is both a pioneer and a powerhouse in the industries of biotechnology and medical diagnostics. Her boss wears many different hats – serving as President and CEO of a healthcare consulting firm, Managing Director of a venture capital fund, Professor of Practice at Arizona State University’s College of Health Solutions, and a Director on the Boards of various public companies around the world. At the height of the pandemic, she also became an advisor to the Rockefeller Foundation and has co-authored their reports on COVID diagnostics – in addition to publishing her own weekly COVID Testing Newsletter. Between all of these things, Grace stays very busy – but she loves the work she gets to be a part of, and as an introvert she especially loves working remotely!

The rest of 2020 through today has been the busiest couple of years in Grace’s life – both personally and professionally. She accomplished one of her lifelong dreams of becoming an author with the publication of her debut poetry collection, The Way She Blooms, in the summer of 2020. Her book has reached the hands of readers across the globe and recently won the silver medal in poetry/verse in the Global Book Awards for Self-Publishing. She and her husband welcomed their first child in early 2021 and have managed to juggle working, studying, and parenting simultaneously – all from home and during a pandemic! Since graduating in May 2022, Grace has been traveling as often as she can, and exploring the possibility of living and working abroad with her family in the near future.