Sarah Vella

Among Sarah’s most challenging life experiences was running a restaurant and bar with her father in Malta when she was 12. He had limited education so Sarah became his business partner and, by age 16, manager of a staff of up to 15 employees. She came to the U.S. when she was 21, carrying one suitcase, $500 and determination. By working two jobs and attending school part time, it took 10 years before she was financially able to transfer to UC San Diego. Today her sights are on a career with the State Department Office to Monitor and Combat Human Trafficking. She spent last year in Thailand doing research and providing education for indigenous people impacted by human trafficking.