Marzieh recently moved back to the U.S. after working for over 12 years in humanitarian and development aid in Jordan. She graduated from Occidental College with a degree in Diplomacy and World Affairs in 2011 and subsequently moved to Jordan to conduct research as a Fulbright Fellow. There she learned Arabic and continued to work in aid programming, serving on projects responding to the needs of Iraqi and Syrian refugees, as well as programs in the education, governance, and peacebuilding sectors - strengthening public systems and empowering resilient, equitable communities. She worked with diverse actors in local civil society, private sector, U.S. government, and U.N. actors, specializing in project management, monitoring and evaluation, research and advocacy, and strategic planning and coordination. Her long-term residency in Jordan, during which she built a meaningful connection with communities and a deep understanding of their context and systems, fueled her passion for local systems strengthening and grassroots empowerment. This approach involves locally-designed and owned initiatives, accounting for holistic welfare of the beneficiaries and environment. Working in aid also drew clear connections between environmental crises, political conflict, and social injustice, which led to her growing interest in climate change, environmental sustainability, and more specifically, sustainable agriculture.

Through the UC Davis International Agricultural Development program, she is pursuing a new set of academic and career goals, building on her experience in public service and project management with skills in applied agricultural sciences, managing crop systems, and environmentally sustainable practices. Her research interests include soil and water stewardship (particularly in water-poor environments), regenerative farming, and transitioning agriculture sectors toward long-term environmental sustainability. Ultimately, she is seeking the knowledge and skills to advocate for sustainable and equitable agricultural policy, as well as to manage farming initiatives that are both environmentally sustainable and economically successful.