Catherine Johnson, although originally from the state of North Carolina, completed her Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Berry College in Rome, Georgia in 1996. After graduation, Catherine made the life altering decision to travel internationally and had the opportunity to work as an au-pair in the Netherlands. She later also worked in a youth hostel in Killarney, Ireland. In June of 2000, Catherine joined the Peace Corps and worked in a shelter for battered women and children and served as a part-time life-skills teacher in the local middle school on the beautiful, Eastern Caribbean island of Grenada.

Following the Peace Corps, Catherine went back to North Carolina to attend Wilson Community College for an Associate of Arts degree toward becoming a sign language interpreter. Her previous experience as a Peace Corps volunteer lead her to her current area of study at Gallaudet University where she has aspirations to again work in the non-profit sector, specifically with deaf and hard of hearing children in rural communities.

When the opportunity arises for Catherine to "unwind" you will most likely find her out walking or camping, or simply enjoying a good book while sitting under a tree with her dog Killarney. Prior to entering her second and final year of the MA program in international development, Catherine completed her practicum by conducting research for Community Based Rehabilitation with CBM. This semester she is working in the outreach department with the United States Council on Disabilities