Susan Heller Evenson was first introduced to DR Congo through the world of specialty coffee. As a green coffee trader at Seattle-based Atlas Coffee Importers, she frequently travels to the African Great Lakes region to strengthen relationships with Atlas’ coffee-producing partners. She’s actively involved in strengthening the coffee value chain in DRC and has also developed curriculum as a Content Creator with the Specialty Coffee Association.
After receiving her BA in Comparative Religion and Comparative History of Ideas from the University of Washington in 2005, Susan spent time in Switzerland studying Comparative Literature at the University of Geneva. She’s happy to continue her penchant for comparing things by regularly cupping/tasting coffee.
Susan first learned about the Congo Initiative in 2018 and has been an enthusiastic supporter of their transformative work in North Kivu. She is honored to join Congo Initiative’s board.
When not at Atlas, Susan can generally be found reading, rock climbing, crafting, running (in the rain, after her two kids, or occasionally both), or trying to get above the rain clouds and into the mountains.
