Dr. Lott began her professional career as a journalist, working for a variety of publications in the United States and Africa. Human interest stories, travel, and politics across the Horn of Africa were primary areas of reporting. Dr. Lott’s work as a journalist in Somalia led to her embarking on a second career in international development. After working as a consultant and professional with several non-governmental organizations, she joined the United States Agency for International Development as a democracy and governance specialist. Dr. Lott has worked on development projects across the globe, from Africa to Latin America to Asia. Her areas of expertise include gender, civil society, and governance. Dr. Lott holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, Santa Barbara; Master of Arts from Syracuse University, New York; and Doctor of Philosophy from Maastricht University in the Netherlands. She was sworn in as the USAID Malawi Mission Director on September 18, 2020.