4,426 miles – that’s how far Casey Rickles’ current residence is from her hometown of Gadsden. After receiving her bachelor’s degree in political science from Auburn University, Casey was accepted into the renowned Paris School of International Affairs (Sciences PO) where she is currently studying human rights and humanitarian action (gender studies and Latin America). In the fall of 2022, Casey took a semester off from Auburn to work for the United States Mission to the United Nations in New York City. While there, she served as the assistant to the U.S. Ambassador to the UN’s Economic and Social Council. As if her studies at Sciences PO didn’t keep her busy enough, Casey serves as the chief of staff for Code to Inspire, a nonprofit organization that empowers Afghan women and girls through technological education.