Isabella Moo is the first Karen refugee to work for the United States Senate, and she is proud to be a product of the Utica City School District. She is no stranger to breaking barriers, having overcome obstacles since childhood. Today, she serves as the Central New York Deputy Regional Director for the U.S. Senate, grounded in a deep commitment to advocacy, service and giving back to the community that shaped her.
Moo and her family were among the first Karen refugees to resettle in Utica, arriving in 2001. As she learned a new language and adapted to a new environment, she struggled at times to embrace her identity and was often misidentified as Korean or Thai. Still, she carries her heritage with pride. “I am proud to be Karen,” she shares. “Even though my culture and heritage come from a people without a nation state, without a country or passport, I know who I am.” Her early years were marked by both hardship and resilience. After her father passed away from leukemia, her mother raised three daughters while navigating life in a new country. During that time, Thea Bowman House became a cornerstone of support for her family, offering stability, care and opportunity at no cost.
Moo recalls spending days at the Utica Public Library, just steps from her home, and finding a sense of belonging through the programs that surrounded her. “If it wasn’t for Thea Bowman House and how they serve the community with such generosity, I don’t think I would have been as well cared for,” she reflects. “They became like family. They were there every single day, like second parents. They made sure we were never without. Through their partnerships, we were able to experience things many kids take for granted, like going apple picking or spending a day at Water Safari. Those moments mattered.” Today, she remains deeply connected to Thea Bowman House and her roots in downtown Utica, carrying forward the same spirit of service that once supported her.
At school, Moo explored a wide range of interests. She was a three-sport athlete and an active participant in Proctor High School’s NJROTC program, which became a defining influence in her life. Under the mentorship of retired U.S. Naval instructor Master Chief Mark Williamson, she developed the confidence, leadership and presence that would define her path forward. “If it wasn’t for NJROTC, I wouldn’t have understood what it meant to be civically engaged,” she explains. “Master Chief taught me how to carry myself. Something as simple as a handshake became a lasting lesson, and to this day, it stays with me.” Through his guidance, she learned how to lead with discipline, communicate with purpose and step into any room with confidence, regardless of circumstance. Those lessons became the foundation not only for her professional career, but for how she shows up in service to others. One of the most meaningful lessons she carried from her time as a student is perspective. “You never know what someone is going through,” she says. “A simple smile can make a difference.”
After graduating from Proctor, Moo studied international relations, with minors in legal studies and Asian studies, a world advantage language certificate in Mandarin Chinese and later earned a Master’s degree in Counterterrorism and Homeland Security from American University. Her global curiosity began early. As a student, through OHM BOCES, she traveled to China on an exchange trip, an experience that broadened her worldview and inspired her to pursue international work.
She once planned to teach economics at Polytechnic University in Jinan, Shandong Province, China, but when the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted those plans, she pivoted. Drawing on her passion for justice and advocacy, she began lobbying for the Burma Bill from her hometown, Utica. That work led to connections within government and ultimately opened the door to her role in public service. “I wouldn’t have been able to dream as big as I have without Proctor or Utica,” she reflects. “Utica is a place that is accepting, loving and deeply philanthropic toward immigrants and refugees. That kind of community is rare.”
The relationships she built in school remain meaningful to this day. Teachers like Mr. Robertello, Mrs. Mullen, Miss Tiff Azzarito, and Mrs. Nix helped shape her intellectual curiosity and sense of self, while friendships formed in the classroom became lifelong connections. She even returned years later to play the piano at a former teacher’s wedding, Mrs. Jess Kokoszki, a full circle moment that reflects the lasting impact those relationships have had on her life. Beyond the classroom, Moo participated in volleyball, softball, soccer and tennis, experiences that reinforced teamwork and consistency. While her coaches supported her growth as an athlete and teammate, it was her foundation in NJROTC that shaped her leadership.
That foundation extended beyond school and into her early involvement with the Karen Football Association, where she first began to understand the power of sports as a platform for representation and global connection. As an intern, Moo supported the organization through grassroots efforts and freelance grant writing, helping to advance a vision much larger than herself, one that sought to elevate the Karen community onto a global stage through sport. She also credits founder Kyle Johnson as a mentor who helped raise her voice in advocacy, including collaborating on efforts such as recognizing Denim Day and raising awareness on issues impacting women. What began as a grassroots effort rooted in identity and opportunity has since grown into something far greater. Today, the Karen Football Association has expanded its presence to the professional level, with representation connected to Major League Soccer in the Twin Cities of Minnesota.
Moo has remained deeply committed to giving her time back. She volunteers to coach youth volleyball at Tabernacle Baptist Church and within the community to provide a safe and structured environment for young people, served as a coach at the Utica Academy of Science, and continues to stay active in volleyball communities across New York State. Whether mentoring youth athletes, playing, or helping manage tournaments, she views this work as an extension of the same service and leadership that once shaped her. Moo believes strongly in the power of education and creativity. “Education is the key to liberation, but bearing in mind intelligence is relative. Knowledge is power,” she says. “No matter what you learn, you will always have something to contribute. Progress is never the work of one person. It comes from people coming together, sharing ideas, and building something greater.”
Her commitment to service extends far beyond her professional role. She has traveled to more than 20 countries, building water filtration systems in rural Nicaragua, helping construct libraries and schools in Burma and Thailand, delivering essential supplies to North Africa, and supporting coral restoration efforts in Puerto Rico. She has also helped fund education opportunities for children impacted by conflict. “The reason I travel to these places is to serve,” she says. “If Utica hadn’t served me the way it did, I wouldn’t be able to serve others.” Her journey is rooted in gratitude. Every step forward reflects the support she received and her commitment to pay it forward. “I’m proud to be a Raider. I’m proud to be a Utican. And I’m proud to be Karen.”