MPA in Development Practice

Student Biographies

Class of 2021

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TALISA ANDERSON University Attended: Tufts University Degree Awarded: B.A. in International Relations Country of Origin: United States Summer Placement 2021: United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Talisa is a social justice activist with over 10 years of experience working with cause-driven organizations that reshape societal norms to be more inclusive of the rights of disenfranchised populations. As a community development volunteer in India, she bolstered funding for child labor and gender-based violence initiatives. Her time in Kanchipuram motivated her to become a certified crisis counselor for survivors of intimate partner violence and sexual assault in New York. Most recently, she developed and managed programs that supported the socio-economic advancement of low-income youth throughout the United States. She is committed to dismantling systemic roadblocks that prevent underserved individuals from fully self-actualizing.

BINTA ANJASNI University Attended: Gadjah Mada University Degree Awarded: B.Sc. in Geography - Regional Development Country of Origin: Indonesia Summer Placement 2020: Asian Development Bank (ADB) Binta is an Indonesian policy planner & evaluator. She earned a B.Sc degree in Regional Development from Gadjah Mada University in 2014. During her undergraduate studies, she worked on a LECB (Low Emission Capacity Building) project with UNDP. She later devoted her time at the Indonesia National Development Planning Agency (Kementerian PPN/BAPPENAS) in the Directorate of System & Reporting of Development Monitoring, Evaluation, and Control (M&E). Involved in development program evaluations for 4.5 years, she is experienced in conducting wide-range evaluation methods, creating indicators, designing logic models, and constructing M&E systems. She has produced multi-sectoral strategic studies and evaluations in areas like infrastructure, energy, agriculture, environment, poverty, and economic development as the baselines to generate policy planning documents at the national level.

CLAUDIA P. BAETHGEN University Attended: Hunter College, Fashion Institute of Technology Degree Awarded: B.A. in Anthropology Country of Origin: United States Summer Placement 2020: Fourth Sector Group (4SG) Claudia lived in Uruguay until the age of 16. She studied Fashion Design at Polimoda in Firenze and the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. While working as a production coordinator with international factories, she became deeply concerned about the problematic environmental and labor practices of the fashion industry. She decided to change her career path and enrolled at Hunter College where she received a B.A. in Anthropology with a minor in Political Science. She is passionate about cultivating greater private sector commitment to improve human rights and environmental accountability mechanisms, and more generally to help achieve SDG targets.

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GARRETT BERGHOFF University Attended: Santa Clara University Degrees Awarded: B.Sc. in Economics and Psychology Country of Origin: United States Summer Placement 2020: International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Garrett graduated from Santa Clara University after studying economics and psychology. Shortly after graduation, he moved to Malawi where he worked in Dzaleka Refugee Camp with Jesuit Refugee Service. There, he took on roles of media and project development, team management, fundraising, and advocacy. After working in Dzaleka, he continued his career in Malawi as a Field Manager for a small non-profit organization focused on children’s education and healthcare. Garrett joined the SIPA community to learn more about international affairs. He hopes his cohort's education with SIPA will be a catalyst for progress in the interconnected fields of global development.

PABLO BUSTO CAVIEDES University Attended: Madrid Autonomous University Degrees Awarded: B.A. in Law, B.A. in Political Science, M.A. in Democracy and Government Country of Origin: Spain Summer Placement 2020: The World Bank Born and raised in Spain, Pablo completed his bachelor’s degrees in Law and Political Sciences in 2018. Although he won a special award for ranking first in his class, he was able to combine his studies with other activities. He interned in two law firms, participated in research groups about migration and volunteered in Latin America. Upon graduation he was awarded a scholarship for a master’s degree in Democracy and Government (UAM). Before joining SIPA, he spent several months between Madrid and Tunis researching EU-Tunisia Relations. He is interested in the link between migration and development, investment for development and program evaluation.

CHIN-LU CHANG GUIDOTTI University Attended: Pontifical Catholic University of Chile Degree Awarded: B.A. in Business Administration, Mayor in Economics Country of Origin: Chile Summer Placement 2020: Humanity and Inclusion Chin Lu Chang was born in Santiago, Chile. She has three years of experience working in the consulting industry as a member of Accenture’s Natural Resources team. Prior to SIPA, Chin Lu ran Almácigo, a social enterprise incubator to support project related to disabilities issues, the first of its kind in Latin America. As a woman with a visual disability, she wants to be part of a cultural transformation towards a more inclusive world; she started this journey in Chile, where she advocated for political regulation changes in public organizations and Universities to open spaces for people with disabilities in graduate studies. As a result of her work, the Chilean government implemented a pilot scholarship program for persons with disabilities to reduce the structural inequality in education among this minority.

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JOSEPH CONWAY University Attended: University of California at Santa Barbara Degree Awarded: B.S. in Environmental Science Country of Origin: United States Summer Placement 2020: International Research Institute for Climate and Society (IRI) Joseph is a California native with a background in environmental activism and sustainability. Over the last three years he has been guiding in Northern Laos for GIVE Volunteers, working to implement asset-based community development initiatives in a rural hill tribe. Inspired by his previous work and travels, Joseph is now pursuing higher education at SIPA to study how social enterprise, eco-tourism, and permaculture design can be scaled up to catalyze sustainable development worldwide. When he isn't studying, you can find him at the local rock-climbing gym, teaching himself new gardening tricks, or exploring the great outdoors.

BRUNA CREDIDIO CAMARA University Attended: Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina Degree Awarded: B.A. in Economics Country of Origin: Brazil Summer Placement 2020: The World Bank Bruna is an Economist who is passionate about the third sector. Having volunteered in local social initiatives since the age of 14, she conducted scientific research in college to investigate mechanisms through which public funds were granted to foundations for implementing sustainability projects in local NGOs. After graduation, Bruna worked as a risk analyst assessing liability and environmental risks at a mining company. For the past three years, Bruna worked in social institutes focused on developing young people in socioeconomic vulnerability. After the MPA-DP she will continue in the third sector advocating for effective policies for public education in Brazil.

PANKTI DALAL University Attended: St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai Degrees Awarded: B.A. in Political Science

Countries of Origin: India Summer Placement 2020: ID2020

Pankti Dalal is passionate about issues surrounding sustainability, resilience and inclusivity of cities in developing countries. Prior to joining Columbia University, she worked in a non-profit organization called “Praja Foundation” in Mumbai, India, which focused on improving the performance of urban governance across cities in India. She collaborated with mayors and provided consultations to the Federal Government to push for a more accountable and transparent urban agenda in Indian cities. She has also served as a legislative assistant to a Member of Parliament in India, working on parliamentary interventions for the landmark Goods and Services Tax (GST) Act, 2017.

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TARA DAS University Attended: Bates College Degrees Awarded: B.A. in Politics and French Countries of Origin: United States and Italy Summer Placement 2020: Think City Born in the United States and raised in Italy, Tara’s interest in development ignited while studying in Senegal and Rwanda during her undergraduate studies. Tara went on to work with an EdTech company in Cambridge, Massachusetts, followed by a year in Casablanca, Morocco as a Fulbright ETA and a year in Rabat, Morocco working with the Center for Disease Control's Data for Health project. At SIPA, Tara looks forward to diving into the intersection of urban development, data, and access to education and healthcare services. In her spare time, she loves dancing, cooking, and the outdoors.

NAVEEN DASARI University Attended: University of Southern California Degrees Awarded: B.A. in Economics Countries of Origin: United States Summer Placement 2020: The Atlantic Council, Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center and The World Bank Originally from Phoenix, Arizona, Naveen earned his B.A. in Economics from the University of Southern California in 2019. While there, he served as Editor-in-Chief of the Social Justice Review, interned for the US Mission to the UN Environment Programme, and was a Local Pathways Fellow for the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network. Most recently, he interned at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, where he conducted research and helped organize bilateral US-India state-to-state energy partnerships. At SIPA and beyond, Naveen hopes to explore environmental economics, energy policy, inequality, and development studies.

MADELEINE DEJEAN University Attended: University of Arizona Degrees Awarded: B.A. in Political Science (foreign affairs) and French Countries of Origin: United States and France Summer Placement 2021: United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Madeleine, originally from Los Angeles, has spent the last four years in Washington, DC, working for an international development consulting firm supporting USAID and the State Department in the areas of Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning; Agriculture; and Security Assistance and Stabilization. This experience sparked her interest in supporting the achievement of sustainable and locally-led development solutions. While at SIPA, she is looking forward to expanding her skillset in the areas of monitoring, evaluation and learning to help organizations improve interventions to strengthen impact. She holds a Bachelor’s from the University of Arizona (Bear Down) in foreign affairs and French.

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RACHAEL EPLEE University Attended: Virginia Tech Degrees Awarded: B.S. in Environmental Policy and Planning B.A. in International Studies Country of Origin: United States Summer Placement 2020: International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Rachael grew up in the Ragged Mountains outside of Charlottesville, Virginia. She attended Virginia Tech where she studied Environmental Policy and Planning alongside communities in southwest Virginia. Upon graduating she worked in education and outreach for Osa Conservation in Costa Rica at a biological station in the Osa Peninsula. Most recently she worked in migrant education in Central Virginia, and as a Project Producer for the film River of Gold which discusses gold mining in the Peruvian Amazon. Her work is based on a deep love of nature, fresh food, and people and she hopes to continue her studies of the economics that surround protecting both human and natural systems.

SOHA ESHRAGHI University Attended: University of California, Berkeley Degree Awarded: B.A. in Political Science, Global Poverty and Practice Countries of Origin: United States and Iran Summer Placement 2020: ArcelorMittal Soha graduated from UC Berkeley with a B.A. in Political Science and Global Poverty and Practice. She first became interested in agriculture, rural policy and gender while completing her undergraduate practicum in rural Uganda with a public health NGO, where she saw little take-up of programs. How can poverty interventions succeed in a region where families continue to suffer from low productivity and an inability to invest in their family's health and education? For the past five years she worked at the World Bank where she examined and monitored agricultural regulations in Africa, Central Asia, and East Asia, with the ultimate aim of promoting smart policies that support agribusiness and connect farmers to markets.

GABRIELA ESLAVA BEJARANO University Attended: Universidad de Los Andes Degree Awarded: B.A. in Law Country of Origin: Colombia Summer Placement 2020: International Finance Corporation (IFC) Gabriela is a lawyer, with a Minor in Journalism and Literature. She is an environmental advisor for the Colombian Red Cross where she is developing an approach to humanitarian aid in harmony with nature. She is a former researcher at the Colombian think tank Dejusticia, where she led the first climate change and future generations’ lawsuit in Latin America resulting in the recognition of the Amazon rainforest as a subject of rights. Gabriela has worked as an environmental advisor at Colombia’s National Congress, where she partook in creating economic instruments for biodiversity conservation, among other issues. Her focus of work is on environmental policymaking.

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RICARDO GARCÍA COYNE University Attended: National Autonomous University of Mexico Degrees Awarded: B.A. in Political Science and Public Administration Countries of Origin: Mexico and United Kingdom Summer Placement 2020: New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) Born in Mexico City, Ricardo is a Mexican-British citizen committed to making his city a more inclusive and sustainable place to live. He graduated with honors from the National Autonomous University of Mexico in 2016 with a degree in Political Science and Public Administration. Before joining SIPA as a Fulbright grantee, Ricardo spent four years working at NGOs and a think tank, collaborating with government agencies and international organizations (such as USAID and IDB) on projects related to affordable housing, climate change, economic development and regulation. He joined the MPA-DP to focus on sustainable urban policies.

SAWAMI HAYASHI University Attended: The University of Tokyo Degree Awarded: B.A. in Liberal Arts Country of Origin: Japan Summer Placement 2020: United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) Sawami graduated from the University of Tokyo with a BA in Liberal Arts. While studying, she developed her interest in educational problems that marginalized communities (including racial minorities) face, through her field research in countries such as the Philippines. After graduation, she joined PwC in Tokyo and worked as an advisor for public-private partnership projects. She analyzed the profitability and potential of various projects, and has also supported realizing large scale infrastructure privatization projects. Her ambition at SIPA is to develop her ideas on how to empower marginalized people in developing countries through effective collaboration of the public and private sectors.

KATIA JOO University Attended: Boston College Degree Awarded: B.S. in Business Management (concentrations Finance and Marketing) Countries of Origin: Brazil and United States Summer Placement 2020: Jeffrey Sachs Center on Sustainable Development Katia holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Boston College. As a passionate advocate for global gender and economic equality, Katia began her development career in Uganda where she volunteered with ChildVoice International in providing holistic, restorative care to former female child soldiers. She later worked in Thailand as a manager of a social enterprise that offers employment and personal development opportunities to victims of sex trafficking. Most recently, she worked as a Project Finance Analyst for a social impact firm. At SIPA, Katia is excited to continue learning about the intersection of business and equitable, sustainable development.

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AIZHAN KAMIDOLA University Attended: Nazarayev University Degree Awarded: B.A. Economics Country of Origin: Kazakhstan Summer Placement 2020: UNICEF Aizhan was born and raised in Kazakhstan. She graduated from Nazarbayev University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics in 2018. As a student, Aizhan volunteered for projects focused on quality education, teaching high school students in Turkey and was in charge of sending Kazakhstani students to volunteer abroad. After graduating, she started her career in a non-governmental charitable foundation, where she managed projects that provided basic social assistance to children from low-income families. At SIPA Aizhan intends to learn how to implement projects that reduce poverty and inequality and to expand her knowledge of social policy.

BRIAN KENNEDY University Attended: Bates College Degree Awarded: B.A. Economics Country of Origin: United States Summer Placement 2020: International Research Institute for Climate and Society (IRI) Brian is interested in how technology and institutions are used to respond to environmental challenges, particularly in the context of the coast. Most recently, Brian worked as an economics researcher at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute in Portland, Maine where he focused on climate adaptation in commercial fisheries and aquaculture. Concurrently, he founded Foothill Fuels, a firm that develops and markets renewable fuels for outdoor recreation. At SIPA, Brian hopes to build an expertise at the intersection of tech, finance, and coastal climate adaptation. He is from Long Island, NY and likes to surf, doodle, and look at buildings.

SARAH KHALBUSS University Attended: University of Pittsburgh Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Philosophy in International and Area Studies, Sociology Country of Origin: United States Summer Placement 2020: Search for Common Ground Sarah Khalbuss is the daughter of Syrian immigrants. During university, she took a special interest in the Middle East region, honing her family's mother tongue, and worked twice a week with recently resettled Somali Bantu families. After graduating from university, she worked as a Fulbright ETA grantee. That year, she witnessed the rising tensions and attitudes towards migrants and refugees. Sarah co-founded Istanbul&I, a social impact organization creating social inclusion programs and volunteer projects for refugees. She joins SIPA with a sustained interest in migration and development, and how experiential learning and education can be a powerful tool to empower migrants.

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MIN JUN KIM University Attended: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Sciences in Global Studies Country of Origin: Republic of Korea Summer Placement 2020: UNICEF No matter how small the contribution, one act of kindness can create a huge impact on others. Min Jun learned this while volunteering in Indonesia, teaching English and lending a hand. This mindset, mixed with his passion for sustainable development in developing countries, led him to major in Global Studies with a concentration in Wealth and Poverty. After graduation, he fully developed his potential through his experiences as an enlisted interpreter in the ROK Army Special Warfare Command and his work at the National Institute for International Education. Based on his experiences and the knowledge he will learn at Columbia’s SIPA, he hopes to become the center of change that one day helps make the world a better place.

MINJI KO University Attended: Ewha Womans University Degrees Awarded: B.A. in History; B.A. in Political Science Country of Origin: Republic of Korea Summer Placement 2020: Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre Born and raised in South Korea, Minji has over two years of professional experience in project management and gender-inclusive consulting. As an undergraduate, Minji interned with IAEA in Vienna UN Headquarters and Concern Worldwide Korea where she developed her professional interests in sustainable development. After graduation, she worked as a researcher in International Women and Family Foundation, an NGO focused on improving economic capabilities of women in Southeast Asia. She was deeply involved in various development projects including vocational training projects for underserved girls in Laos and Bangladesh. At SIPA, Minji wishes to improve her expertise in gender-inclusive economic development.

RYAN LASNICK University Attended: Elon University Degree Awarded: B.A. in Political Science and Policy Studies Country of Origin: United States Summer Placement 2020: Independent research with Aniket Shah Ryan graduated Elon University in 2015 after studying Political Science and Policy Studies. After graduating he moved to DC where he worked on private-sector development and smallholder farmer supply chain research. Wanting to gain further international experience he left DC and moved to Israel where he worked on the implementation of the SDGs for the Israeli Government. Following his passion for integrated development he moved again to Ghana where he managed rural education, health, and agricultural programs. At SIPA Ryan hopes to combine his diverse interests with the MPA-DP’s holistic curriculum to build sustainable livelihoods for communities around the world.

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YECHAN LEE University Attended: Handong University Degree Awarded: B.A in International Area Studies and Economics Country of Origin: Republic of Korea Summer Placement 2020: Independent research with Glenn Denning Yechan has worked at an NGO under the Korean Ministry of Unification to help Korean businesses understand North Korea and how to facilitate business with North Korea in a sustainable way. His heart lies with the sustainable development of food, agriculture, and cities for all poor and developing countries. He showed his genuine love for people globally while at college by leading many volunteer and development projects in various places including Siem reap, Bangkok, Chiangmai, Ubon, Dhaka, Hunchun and Primorsky Krai. In the future, he wants to contribute to effective applications of SDGs for improving everyone’s quality of life.

CAROLINA LEIVA University Attended: Pontifical Catholic University of Chile Degree Awarded: B.A. in Social Work Country of Origin: Chile Summer Placement 2020: Coda Societies Convinced that through public-private partnerships a greater impact can be achieved in social development, Carolina has worked with a network of 140 enterprises named Acción Empres, aimed to improve the socio-environmental performance of their business. She was part of the Talloires Civic Volunteer Program at Western Sydney University contributing to the inclusion of indigenous communities in higher education. Before SIPA she worked at Renca Municipality developing a social innovation laboratory named Ideas Factory to involve companies, entrepreneurs and civil society as protagonists of local development.

JORGE MARQUEZ GASPAR University Attended: Universidad Metropolitana - Universidad Central de Venezuela Degree Awarded: B.S. in Economics Country of Origin: Venezuela Summer Placement 2020: Chemonics International Born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela, Jorge holds an Economics degree from Universidad Central de Venezuela and graduate studies in Politics and Government from Universidad Metropolitana. From 2015 till 2017 he worked in Parroquia Petare, which holds one of the most densely populated shanty towns of Latin America, as Director of Culture at the Mayor’s Office of Sucre Municipality. Later, he joined Transparencia Venezuela – a national chapter of Transparency International -- as Coordinator of Public Finance, where he monitored the public expenditure of the Venezuelan government. In April 2019, he became project manager of a humanitarian aid initiative, helping more than 5000 people in vulnerable situations across Venezuela.

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KATHERIN MARTINEZ University Attended: Universidad de Los Andes Degree Awarded: B.A. Economics Country of Origin: Colombia Summer Placement 2020: IMAGO Global Grassroots An economist who graduated from the Universidad de Los Andes (2014), Katherin studied several courses from a Master in Peacebuilding in the same University. Since then Katherin has worked in both the private and the public sector. Katherin spent three years as a Risk Analyst in Citibank Colombia and invested the last two years working for the National Government of Colombia in the National Planning Department as an Economic Advisor in the Royalties Direction. During this last employment, Katherin focused on public finance policies and the interaction between government actors and rural development to foster economic growth. Katherin is interested in education and economic and social development policies.

SHANNON MCKENNA University Attended: United States Military Academy at West Point Degree Awarded: B.S. in American Legal Studies Country of Origin: United States Summer Placement 2020: Dexis Analytics Originally from Highland, New York, Shannon comes to Columbia from the U.S. Army where she served as an Engineer Officer and then as a Civil Affairs Officer. She held numerous leadership and staff positions. Shannon deployed multiple times with the Army, including a deployment to Afghanistan where she managed construction projects across Afghanistan. She also deployed to Tajikistan and Kazakhstan, where she led the Civil Military Support Element based at the U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. Shannon transitioned out of the Active Duty Military in Summer 2019 after 10 years of service. Shannon is excited to join the SIPA Family.

LUCIA MERCADO CORDOVA University Attended: Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru Degree Awarded: B.A. in Political Science and Government Country of Origin: Peru Summer Placement 2020: Pratham Education Foundation Lucia lives in Peru and has worked in high ranking national public institutions

enhancing education and training policies for the past four years. At the Ministry of

Education, she formulated and implemented the first Dual System education model

for VET and developed pertinence and education quality policies; while at the

Ministry of Production she worked towards improving training strategies for micro-

entrepreneurs. Previously, she has worked as a researcher on access to intercultural

bilingual education and the quality of rural education with Peruvian indigenous

communities. Her main goal is to empower others and promote positive social change

through education.

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JAVIER MONTERROSO MONTENEGRO University Attended: Colby College Degree Awarded: B.A. Government, minor Economics Country of Origin: Guatemala Summer Placement 2020: CapShift Javier has experience implementing migration policy and reintegration programs, electoral observation missions, and business incubators for SMEs. Recently, Javier served as Senior Project Officer at The Trust for the Americas – Organization of American States in Washington, D.C., where he led development projects and PPPs strategy to launch a regional network of innovation laboratories in Jamaica, Mexico, Colombia, and Honduras. Javier also holds a DPMI Certificate in International Development and Social Change from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies. A UWC and Ruta Quetzal Alumnus, Javier has lived in Guatemala, France, Hong Kong, and USA. He speaks Spanish, English, and French.

JULIANA NIÑO PARDO Universities Attended: Universidad Externado de Colombia/ Universidad de Los Andes Degree Awarded: B. A. in Anthropology and Public Affairs Country of Origin: Colombia Summer Placement 2020: Taghyeer Juliana is an anthropologist, who has always sought to translate her analytical skills into concrete actions. Her goal is to transform her passion of understanding human beings into acts that positively impact them and get them involved. Her main interests are advocacy, civil participation and field work. She has worked for NGOs (researching obstacles to gain access to health services in certain populations), public sector (promoting civic participation initiatives) and UN entities (in peace building and territorial development agendas), as a researcher, an implementer and other times as a leader.

FRANCISCO JAVIER PARDINAS FAVELA University Attended: Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM) Degrees Awarded: B.A. Business Administration, B.A. International Relations Country of Origin: Mexico Summer Placement 2020: Fourth Sector Group (4SG) Francisco Javier was born and raised in Mexico City. He holds a double bachelor degree in Business Administration and International Relations from the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México. Prior to graduating he was an intern at the Permanent Mission of Mexico to the OAS. His bachelor’s thesis won the ITAM Research Award for its outstanding research on the perception of violence and its impact in the Mexican Stock Market. Upon graduation, he worked as a corporate finance analyst in the private sector where he focused on financial valuation, country risk analysis, project evaluation, and business plan strategies. Most recently, he provided consulting services to financial institutions and banks, including Mexico’s largest development firm.

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SUNGWOO PARK University Attended: Johns Hopkins University Degree Awarded: B.A. in Sociology, International Studies, East Asian Studies Countries of Origin: Republic of Korea and United States Summer Placement 2020: Think City Sung was born in Seoul but moved to the US at an early age and now calls Chicago his home. Prior to SIPA, Sung worked as a researcher at the Eurasia Group in New York, where he helped manage the firm's quantitative indices and contributed to the firm's research on emerging markets and geopolitical issues. For the past year, Sung has also worked on assisting Dr. Donald Green in the Political Science Department in his research on field experimentation. In his free time, Sung is an aspiring amateur baker and film critic.

NAMI PATEL University Attended: New York University Degree Awarded: B.A. in Political Science Country of Origin: United States Summer Placement 2020: Fourth Sector Group (4SG) Nami has worked in grassroots nonprofits, both domestically and internationally, as a communications professional for the last four years. Most recently, she lived in Guatemala working on indigenous education and agricultural social enterprise projects. She is passionate about empowerment through storytelling and has also worked with low-income public housing and immigrant populations in New York City. Prior to her development career, Nami worked as an immigration paralegal for three years. She is excited to return to NYC and shift gears to concentrate on business development and for-profit social good ventures. Specifically, she aims to improve market and education access for underserved communities at home and abroad.

JULIEN PIGOT University Attended: Insper Degree Awarded: B.A. in Economics Country of Origin: Brazil Summer Placement 2020: Impulso Julien is a 30-year-old Brazilian and the son of French and English parents. He is passionate about politics and economics, and has worked in the private, public and third sectors. Additionally, he has been involved with political movements. Julien has the soul of a backpacker and the heart of a musician. He will get carried away talking about cultures, languages, history, experiences, and ideas.

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LAURA PULECIO DUARTE University Attended: Universidad de Los Andes Degree Awarded: B.S. in Economics Country of Origin: Colombia Summer Placement 2020: Leadership for the Ecozoic (L4E) Laura is a Colombian economist and speechwriter. She worked for three years researching poverty in the Dominican Republic and Peru. There, she evaluated the impact of Conditional Cash Transfer programs and the scope of financial inclusion policies on vulnerable populations. For the past three years, Laura worked as the speechwriter to the Inspector-Attorney General of Colombia (IAG). She established evidence-based speeches to communicate with the public with transparency using understandable data. There, she created the IAG-Lab, a space for academia and the public sector to evaluate and implement policies that prove to work in the Colombian post-conflict context..

SEVITA RAMA University Attended: Rice University Degrees Awarded: B.A. in Cognitive Sciences; Policy Studies Country of Origin: United States Summer Placement 2020: Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) Born and raised in Michigan, Sevita is joining the MPA-DP program after four years working in Egypt and Tunisia on economic development projects. Most recently, Sevita implemented an EU-funded project with Oxfam to promote inclusive growth through social entrepreneurship in the southern Mediterranean region. In Egypt, Sevita’s work with rural communities inspired her passion for social justice through food. Sevita hopes to link photography and storytelling to her work with marginalized communities and find innovative ways to uplift rural voices in food. At SIPA, Sevita looks forward to connecting with like-minded peers and gaining a more conscious approach to a continued career in the global South.

DIANA RINCON University Attended: Universidad de los Andes (Colombia) Degrees Awarded: Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and B.A. in Political Science Country of Origin: Colombia Summer Placement 2020: Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment (CCSI) and The World Bank Diana is a lawyer and political scientist from Bogota, Colombia. Her first years of experience in addressing labor rights issues from a law firm and a Human Rights clinic allowed her to approach the employment context of her country from different perspectives. The challenges in the labor market and the compliance with human rights standards at the workplace led her to work at the Ministry of Labor. There she worked on the implementation of public policy strategies to close gender gaps and to achieve the productive inclusion of victims of Colombia’s armed conflict. Diana also worked as a consultant for UN Women’s Economic Empowerment division in Colombia, providing technical advice for the strategy to promote the private sector’s commitment to gender equality standards under the scope of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

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CARLOS ROJAS University Attended: National Autonomous University of Mexico Degree Awarded: B.A. in Sustainable Development Country of Origin: Mexico Summer Placement 2020: Secretaría de Desarrollo Social del Gobierno del Estado de Yucatán Carlos Rojas was born in Mexico City and raised in the State of Yucatán. He completed his undergraduate degree in Sustainable Development at the National Autonomous University of Mexico and focused on coastal area resource management. He began his professional career working in the Campeche Secretary of Fisheries where he focused on improving the living conditions of traditional fishers. During the last six years, Carlos implemented poverty alleviation programs in rural and urban areas with the Mexican Federal Government. Most recently, Carlos directed the Mobile Health Units Program, which provides healthcare to nearly 10,000 communities in rural Mexico.

MARIA JIMENA ROJAS MENDEZ University Attended: Universidad de los Andes Degrees Awarded: B.A. in Law and Graduate Degree in Socio-Economic Evaluation of Projects Country of Origin: Colombia Summer Placement 2020: Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment (CCSI) and Incofin Investment Management Maria Jimena has four years of interdisciplinary experience in the private, social and public sectors. After working as a project finance attorney, she joined the Habitat for Humanity Colombian team as Project Management Coordinator to pursue her passion for social impact projects. Most recently she worked advising the Colombian Ministry of Agriculture’s General Secretary, following up public policies and resources for correct execution. She is a Global Shaper within the community born out of the World Economic Forum. She is thrilled to join SIPA to consolidate her career change into the impact investing sector to promote solutions around inequality and climate change.

HASMIK SAHAKYAN University Attended: Yerevan State University Degrees Awarded: M.A. in International Relations; B.A. in International Relations Country of Origin: Armenia Summer Placement 2020: The World Bank Born and raised in Armenia, Hasmik holds a B.A. and a M.A. in International Relations from Yerevan State University. Her acquaintance with American Peace Corps Volunteers and involvement in their implemented projects in her hometown ignited her interest towards international development. Originally interested in international affairs, she passionately engaged in international development projects ranging from women empowerment to the development of social, political, economic, and healthcare systems of Armenia. She has more than eight years of professional work experience with USAID-funded development projects through the Public Diplomacy and the Consular Sections at the U.S. Embassy in Armenia.

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BRYAN SHERRILL University Attended: Lafayette College Degrees Awarded: B.S. in Civil Engineering; B.A. in International Studies and Spanish Country of Origin: United States Summer Placement 2020: Engineering for Change Originally from Arizona, Bryan graduated from Lafayette College with degrees in Civil Engineering, Spanish, and International Studies. While at Lafayette, Bryan spent his time conducting research on renewable water systems and economic development in both Central America and the Caribbean. Most recently, he lived in Kerala, India where he worked as a field fellow for the non-profit organization Profugo designing rainwater catchment systems for drought mitigation and sustainable business models for rural economic development. As a MPA-DP student, Bryan is most interested in better understanding the environmental policy surrounding sustainable engineering infrastructure in developing countries and is looking forward to broadening his depth of understanding.

HANNAH STODDARD University Attended: Lewis & Clark College Degree Awarded: B.A. in International Affairs Country of Origin: United States Summer Placement 2020: Adapt Peacebuilding and The New Humanitarian Hannah graduated from Lewis & Clark College with a B.A. in International Affairs. She spent a semester in India studying public health and conducted research on gender barriers affecting access to drug rehabilitation. Following graduation, Hannah interned for an organization that funds residential solar projects in Haiti. Most recently, she worked for a nonprofit organization that implements the U.S. State Department’s International Visitor Leadership Program, bringing international leaders to Los Angeles to meet with their professional counterparts. Hannah is especially passionate about increasing women’s access to educational and professional opportunities through cross-sector solutions.

MARJORIE ROSE TOLSDORF University Attended: University of Pittsburgh Degree Awarded: BPhil in International in Russian and Easter European Area Studies Country of Origin: United States Summer Placement 2021: United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Marjorie Tolsdorf is passionate about the economic and political development of women in conflict and post-conflict settings. Prior to her studies at Columbia University, she worked for a non-profit called Naa’m – Arab Women in the Center, aiding Palestinian women who are victims of domestic violence to combat femicide in central Israel. She was a Fulbright Scholar to Western Siberia in the Russian Federation where she taught university-level American government and civics courses and co-supervised Yugra State University’s international language institute to promote foreign language acquisition and diplomacy in Russian higher education. Additionally, Marjorie was an Information & Technology White House Intern in the Office of Presidential Correspondence where she utilized Salesforce to connect the President to the American constituency.

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AVANTIKA THAKUR University Attended: National Law School of India University, Bangalore Degree Awarded: B.A. LLB (Hons) Country of Origin: India Summer Placement 2020: UNICEF Avantika is passionate about creating sustainable solutions for delivering quality education. Upon graduation she pursued the Teach for India fellowship and taught 2nd and 3rd grade students in a low income school in New Delhi. During her latest stint at a governance consulting firm, Samagra, she worked with the state of Haryana on education and good governance. She was part of a state systemic transformation project aiming to improve learning levels in government schools. She also assisted the Chief Minister’s office in running a good governance fellowship of 25 associates to boost governance at the district level.

MARIA CLAUDIA VENTOCILLA University Attended: Universidad del Pacífico Degree Awarded: B.A and Postgraduate Certificate in Economics Country of Origin: Peru Summer Placement 2020: International Research Institute for Climate and Society (IRI) Maria Claudia is a Peruvian economist with over seven years of sustainable development experience. After graduation, she joined the Netherlands Development Organization to work on inclusive business projects throughout Latin America. She further pursued this path by studying business innovation at the base of the pyramid in South Africa and cofounding a social consultancy agency named Inclusiva. Most recently, she worked for the UNDP, mainstreaming the SDGs, and for the Peruvian government, improving the network of centers for productive innovation and technological transfer. Maria Claudia joins SIPA to strengthen her skills to continue working towards a more inclusive economy.

KHANH VU University Attended: Kent State University Degree Awarded: B.A. International Relations; Minor: Nonprofit Studies Country of Origin: Vietnam Summer Placement 2020: MIT D-Lab Khanh is a Vietnamese citizen who earned a B.A. in International Relations with a minor in Nonprofit Studies. During college, she spent a semester in Geneva, serving World Vision International as a Humanitarian Affairs intern and participating as a member of the Student Organizing Committee for the 19th International Humanitarian Conference on Conflict Resolution. After graduation, Khanh interned with American Red Cross, Save the Children, InterAction and Youth Service America helping with projects focused on emergency response, youth development, and M&E. Khanh spent the past few years helping nonprofit organizations tell their stories and raising funds through various digital marketing platforms. Khanh’s interests lie at the intersection of peacebuilding, post-conflict development, and wellbeing-centered economic and public policies.

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JASON WEST University Attended: Princeton University Degree Awarded: B.A. in French Country of Origin: United States Summer Placement 2020: Open Society Foundations Raised in the town of DeLand in central Florida, Jason is a graduate of Princeton University where he studied politics and francophone literature focusing on the writings of French Caribbean authors. He has worked in domestic and international settings on projects aimed at improving health outcomes and strengthening community partnerships. A primary takeaway from this work has been an interest in the mobilization of resources and information between the various entities invested in development. Jason joins SIPA with the intention of learning to implement projects that directly address communal and regional needs, while building professional relationships in the process.

AMY QINGYI XIE University Attended: Smith College Degree Awarded: B.A. in Economics and Government Country of Origin: China Summer Placement 2020: Incofin Investment Management Born and raised in China, Amy graduated from Smith College with a B.A. in Economics and Government in 2018. During college, she explored non-profit and development work by interning with an international human rights NGO in Geneva and leading a project in Yunnan, China for the Projects for Peace. Before joining SIPA, she worked at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in D.C. as a Junior Fellow in the Asia Program and conducted research on Asian economies. Coming from both the project and research background, Amy is thrilled to join the MPA-DP program to gain more on-the-ground experience and further improve her quantitative skills.

AMAY YADAV University Attended: University of Delhi Degree Awarded: B.A.(H) Political Science, LLB Country of Origin: India Summer Placement 2020: Saajha Born in India, Amay holds a BA(H) in Political Science and an LLB degree. He is passionate about using sports and education as way of providing equality of opportunity and empowering youth -- especially girls -- in rural parts of India. Upon graduation, he worked at an edtech start up working towards providing access to quality education using MOOCs. He then worked as a football coach and teacher at an NGO which works towards helping girls prevent child marriage and put their future in their own hands. Most recently, he worked for a political party leading up to the 2019 national elections as a coordinator but also as a student trying to understand voting behavior.