Cierra joined Gapingvoid in 2022, bringing a decade of experience in design strategy, project management, and communications and outreach. Prior to joining Gapingvoid, Cierra worked at the intersection of food security, human-centered design, and community, leading initiatives at the Crop Trust, Feeding America, the MIT Media Lab, and an early-stage food hub.
In these roles, she’s launched and managed large-scale international events, led user research efforts, developed communication and marketing strategies, and designed curricula and digital platforms. Cierra describes this work as one big adventure, which has taken her 900 miles from the North Pole to lead public relations efforts at the Svalbard Global Seed Vault – to Frankfurt to design a new mission-driven scenario for Catan, one of the world’s most popular board games – to Abu Dhabi and Cusco to launch tasting experiences attended by international influencers, celebrity chefs, and Heads of State. Through thoughtful analysis and imagination, Cierra designs experiences grounded in purpose that unite people, build connections, and deliver real-world insights.
Cierra holds a Master’s of Science in Engineering and Management from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and a Bachelor of Arts in Commerce and Business from Rhodes College. She has been awarded fellowships for social impact, agriculture, and environmental work in Cambridge, Dublin, Bonn, Memphis, and Valdez. She has a passion for hosting family and friends around good food and is an advocate for local food systems change and economic development in Memphis, TN.
