In school, she pursued the finer points of storytelling, as a reporter for WCAX-TV in Burlington, Vermont and a writer for CBS MarketWatch.com. Patel has covered a range of issues from breaking news; D.C. sniper shootings, to long-term investigations; Anthrax to policy stories; Clean Water Act and SUV safety.

She attended Medill on an editorial scholarship and while there received another fellowship to study religion, spirituality and values in our society.

Prior to the cold Midwestern winters, Patel enjoyed weather in the Bay Area where she worked as an anchor and reporter for a weekend South Asian community-based show. In addition, she free-lanced as a writer at the San Jose Mercury News, India West, India Focus Magazine and India Post.

Her previous incarnation included 10 years in the financial industry in different capacities at Merrill Lynch in San Francisco, Heller Financial and North Trust Bank in Chicago. Somewhere between the millions she was earning for others, she chose the life of a mendicant and figured Journalism would get her there the fastest.

Patel holds an undergraduate degree in Economics and Accounting from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. She was born in Gujarat, India and grew up in London, England.