Madeline Mortell is a Brigham Young University student from Boise, Idaho studying public relations. She joined the Cambodian Oral History Project this past August and currently serves as our social media lead. She also helps with the project database.
Madeline’s introduction to Cambodia began with in-country missionary service for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Since completing her missionary work, she has been involved in several jobs related to Cambodia, including teaching Khmer language at the Missionary Training Center in Provo, UT and volunteering with the Cambodia Job Foundation based in Phnom Penh.
Besides school and work, she enjoys sports (especially tennis and racquetball) and—in the midst of the COVID pandemic—has taken up baking as a coping hobby. About working for the project, she says:
I feel truly blessed to be able to read and listen to these interviews as a part of my job. I learn every day and marvel at the Cambodian people’s resilience and peace. I feel closer to humanity as I learn from others’ stories. I hope this project can grow and grow and benefit many other people.