Sophia Krizner is originally from Tallahassee, Florida, but currently studies at the University of Virginia, where she is a Jefferson and Echols Scholar pursuing a degree in Commerce with a minor in Entrepreneurship. At UVA, Sophia founded NEXO (Network for Entrepreneurial Xpansion and Opportunity), an organization dedicated to empowering students in developing regions with the skills, mentorship, and resources to launch their own businesses. It was through NEXO that she first came into contact with Kids Alive International and began collaborating with the director of their Dominican Republic facility.

Aside from entrepreneurship, Sophia is also experienced in strategic consulting, investment research, and program design for education. She is a senior analyst at the Alternative Investment Fund and a project leader at SEED Consulting at UVA, where she consulted local and international ventures. Sophia is passionate about creating systems that allow young people to turn their ideas into action with a history of creating nonprofits in both her local community and global communities to further education and economic opportunity.

While in the Dominican Republic this summer, Sophia will focus on implementing an entrepreneurship curriculum that allows students to develop business plans, explore innovative problem-solving, and prepare for a capstone pitch competition. She hopes that this experience not only equips students with the skills to thrive but also brings dignity, purpose, and a better understanding of God's calling to their lives.