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Selected Alumni
Selected Alumni
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Information Officer
U.S. Agency for International Development, Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance - Washington, DCCAN YOU EXPLAIN YOUR CURRENT ROLE?
USAID/OFDA information officers (IOs) report on U.S. humanitarian assistance to foreign countries in response to disasters—both natural disasters, such as hurricanes or earthquakes, and complex emergencies, often involving an element of conflict or political instability. We create info products for internal and external audiences that report on humanitarian needs, context developments, and the response efforts U.S. partners, including NGOs and UN agencies. In addition, IOs serve on Disaster Assistance Response Teams (DARTs), deploying overseas to support the delivery and coordination of life-saving humanitarian assistance.
DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER THOUGHTS YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE ABOUT EPD OR SIPA?
My coursework in the Political Development professional track within EPD, as well as the EPD workshop, taught me how to analyze complex political environments while improving my technical writing skills. Internships arranged through SIPA, other SIPA courses, and extracurricular simulations gave me a stronger understanding of the role of various organization in emergency contexts while expanding my Africa regional specialization. Lastly, I continue to draw upon the strong network of SIPA alumni in the humanitarian field.
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Senior Consultant
Dalberg Advisors - Kigali, RwandaCAN YOU EXPLAIN YOUR CURRENT ROLE?
We work to solve some of the most important and difficult global problems. We partner with and serve communities, governments, and companies across the world. On a weekly basis, I work with a team of passionate and creative problem-solvers to drive the creation of innovative and results-oriented solutions for Dalberg’s clients – helping them change the development landscape around the world. Most recently, I worked with a team to revise the organizational design of a large UN organization, write a landmark report on the digitalization of African agriculture, and analyzed agricultural value chains in East Africa to identify causes of post-harvest loss and identify strategies to minimize the loss.
DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER THOUGHTS YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE ABOUT EPD OR SIPA?
SIPA is an incredible melting pot of different ideas, perspectives, and opinions. Classes and teachers are top-notch, but it is the relations you form with your classmates that make the journey special.
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Program Manager
William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MichiganCAN YOU EXPLAIN YOUR CURRENT ROLE?
I design customized monitoring and evaluation plans for private-sector and development organizations to improve their strategy and operations to enhance social impact in low- and middle-income countries.
DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER THOUGHTS YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE ABOUT EPD OR SIPA?
SIPA was a highly enriching experience; the variety of classes that I took helped me understand the nuances of international development. I especially appreciated and enjoyed my EPD capstone project and the Methods for Development Practice course that prepares you for your eight-month-long, real-world capstone. The course taught me methodologies that I use frequently in my current role; and my capstone helped me develop the key qualitative and quantitative research, communication, and data skills necessary for working with private sector organizations.
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Investment Analyst
International Finance Corporation - Asia Pacific Region - Karachi, PakistanCAN YOU EXPLAIN YOUR CURRENT ROLE?
I work for the Infrastructure and Natural Resources Group in the Karachi office, where I assist the Portfolio Team in managing investments in Pakistan (mostly in the energy sector). Part of my role also involves working on new transactions for expanding IFC's presence and creating new markets in Pakistan.
DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER THOUGHTS YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE ABOUT EPD OR SIPA?
The SIPA experience has not only helped me advance professionally in my career but personally too, as I have a huge network of friends all over the globe now!
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Director, Innovation
The Rockefeller Foundation - New York CityCAN YOU EXPLAIN YOUR CURRENT ROLE?
I serve as a portfolio manager for our Innovation work, which includes grant portfolios focused on Data & Technology and Innovative Finance. This includes internal operational management and external partnership development, as well as overall portfolio strategy. I also focus on developing the team's influence strategy, which is how we seek to amplify the impact of our grantees and partners.
DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER THOUGHTS YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE ABOUT EPD OR SIPA?
Connecting with practitioners who fostered my professional development and learning goals was key to my success in the EPD program. I especially valued the workshop experience, which was an opportunity to substantively engage on a project that bridged both academic and professional pursuits.
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Foreign Service Officer
U.S. Agency for International Development - Dakar, SenegalCAN YOU EXPLAIN YOUR CURRENT ROLE?
As a foreign service officer, I design and manage USAID's education investments, support education policy reform, and advance U.S. policy priorities in countries around the world. This requires working with other U.S. Government agencies such as the Department of State and Department of Defense, local Ministries of Education, the private sector, NGOs and children, youth, parents and many other actors. Our ultimate goal is to support partner countries' capacity to deliver quality education to all children and youth.
DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER THOUGHTS YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE ABOUT EPD OR SIPA?
Get to know your professors and your classmates; we both bring tremendous expertise and experience that you can learn from. You will run across professors and classmates in a restaurant in Mozambique, at a conference in Burundi, in the halls of Congress or the UN for the rest of your life!
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Senior Associate
Civitas Public Affairs - Washington, DCCAN YOU EXPLAIN YOUR CURRENT ROLE?
Civitas Public Affairs works with leaders from across the political spectrum to forge bold, bipartisan government relations plans to solve the critical issues of our time. Senior Associates at Civitas work closely with Principals in the firm to design and lead winning campaigns for our clients. Many of Civitas’ clients are progressive advocacy organizations and foundations who leverage our expertise in policy development and political strategy, particularly at the state and local levels. My personal portfolio consists of immigration and mental health policy, in addition to supporting targeted efforts to diversify the pipeline of elected officials in the United States.
DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER THOUGHTS YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE ABOUT EPD OR SIPA?
I decided to switch my focus from international development to US domestic issues during my fourth semester at SIPA, after experiencing the results of the 2016 presidential election. It was a challenging decision but the wide array of classes, resources, and mentors available at SIPA made the transition successful. The core skills I gained through my EPD coursework are transferable, they are as useful in my current work passing US state policies as it was at my internship with the UNDP.
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Policy Manager
J-PAL Global - Cambridge, MACAN YOU EXPLAIN YOUR CURRENT ROLE?
I lead J-PAL's Firms sector and work closely with sector co-chairs to (i) describe the current state of knowledge in firms research, (ii) develop new randomized evaluations with implementing organizations to answer key questions on firms' development and (iii) build relationships with key partners in governments, NGOs, foundations and multilateral aid agencies worldwide. I also write publications and create materials for policy outreach, including policy insights and presentations, to highlight J-PAL's work and research in the Firms sector.
DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER THOUGHTS YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE ABOUT EPD OR SIPA?
It has been more than a year since graduation and I am still using my notes from class and applying what I learned at SIPA in my daily work. If I had one piece of advice for incoming students, I would say choose classes that are out of your comfort zone and learn new skills and perspectives. In particular, the EPD program at SIPA has a great range of economic and political development courses that prepared me well for my role here at J-PAL.
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Foreign Service Officer
U.S. Department of State - Washington, DC (posted to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in November 2020)CAN YOU EXPLAIN YOUR CURRENT ROLE?
As a Political Officer in the Foreign Service, I will be responsible for keeping a trained eye on the political climate at my foreign post and deciphering events as they relate to U.S. interests, negotiations, and policies. Currently, I am engaged in intensive study of the Amharic language at the Foreign Service Institute to prepare for my first tour in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia where I will serve for two years as a Political/Economic Affairs Officer.
DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER THOUGHTS YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE ABOUT EPD OR SIPA?
The best part of my SIPA experience was the EPD capstone. Our team's project with IOM-Libya was perfect for me because it dealt with a topic (migration) and region (MENA) that were the focus of my studies, and it gave me an opportunity to work with my favorite professor (Lisa Anderson), travel to two countries in the MENA region (Tunisia and Egypt), and co-produce a report that will soon be published by IOM.
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Strategy, Learning, and Impact Manager
Humanity United, San FranciscoCAN YOU EXPLAIN YOUR CURRENT ROLE?
Humanity United is a foundation dedicated to cultivating the conditions for enduring freedom and peace. Working from a belief that whatever problems humans create humans can solve, we support and build efforts to change the systems that suppress human rights and contribute to human suffering. In my current role, I support strategy development, learning, and impact within our Forced Labor & Human Trafficking portfolio. I also steward cross-organizational initiatives including the build-out of responsible data guidelines and an inclusive foresight practice at HU. As a cross-functional role within the organization, I enjoy weaving threads across our organization, finding synergies, and values-aligned ways of working better together towards our mission.
DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER THOUGHTS YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE ABOUT EPD OR SIPA?
Coming to SIPA was one of the best decisions I've ever made for my career. The biggest advantage of studying at SIPA was the opportunity to learn from practitioners who are at the top of their respective fields in international and public affairs. The EPD concentration was grounded in real-world learning opportunities both inside and outside the classroom. The EPD workshop was one of my most valuable experiences during my SIPA experience. Working with an international social enterprise in Lombok, Indonesia enabled me to enter the professional world with not only new skills in my toolbox but with a broader perspective.
For incoming and current students, one piece of (unsolicited) advice that I would give would be: Take the hard classes! Take the advanced economics courses, statistics, and other quant classes. These foundations will be an advantage in any field you choose to go into!
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Partnerships and Policy Development Officer
WISE-Qatar Foundation - Doha, QatarCAN YOU EXPLAIN YOUR CURRENT ROLE?
An initiative of Qatar Foundation, WISE is a think and action-tank that promotes innovation in education. I liaise with organizations in different countries (in particular in Latin America, where I am originally from) to disseminate findings from our research projects and innovative practices from our programs and partners.
DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER THOUGHTS YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE ABOUT EPD OR SIPA?
The EPD coursework provided me with great skills to assess the quality and impact of education programs; and gave me valuable exposure to international development challenges - very relevant for the engagement with organizations from different parts of the world.
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Financial Sector Analyst, Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP)
World Bank Group - Washington, DCCAN YOU EXPLAIN YOUR CURRENT ROLE?
I work with CGAP's Policy and Business Model pillars. I undertake research as well as develop knowledge products and influence strategies on cutting-edge topics within financial sector development. Some of my areas of research include digital banking, digital divide and data-driven financial inclusion and privacy. I work closely with a range of stakeholders including policymakers, regulators, and financial sector providers across developing countries.
DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER THOUGHTS YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE ABOUT EPD OR SIPA?
The EPD concentration provides hands-on training in development practice. It arms students with the skills, tools, and frameworks to take on roles as international development practitioners within the private, non-profit, and public sectors.
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Associate, Markets Group
Federal Reserve Bank of New York - New York CityCAN YOU EXPLAIN YOUR CURRENT ROLE?
I prepare daily briefings on international developments for stakeholders in the Federal Reserve System and the Treasury Department. Additionally, I work to implement the monetary policy decisions of the Federal Reserve’s Open Market Committee through daily financial operations to achieve our mandate of maximum employment and price stability.
DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER THOUGHTS YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE ABOUT EPD OR SIPA?
The EPD curriculum, specifically my Workshop project, helped me understand the global ramifications of international economic policy. It provided me the opportunity to study first-hand the circumstances economic policy can create for a country’s diverse population.
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ANDERS ENGHILD MIA ‘18
Senior Consultant
Dalberg Advisors - Kigali, RwandaCAN YOU EXPLAIN YOUR CURRENT ROLE?
We work to solve some of the most important and difficult global problems. We partner with and serve communities, governments, and companies across the world. On a weekly basis, I work with a team of passionate and creative problem-solvers to drive the creation of innovative and results-oriented solutions for Dalberg’s clients – helping them change the development landscape around the world. Most recently, I worked with a team to revise the organizational design of a large UN organization, write a landmark report on the digitalization of African agriculture, and analyzed agricultural value chains in East Africa to identify causes of post-harvest loss and identify strategies to minimize the loss.
DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER THOUGHTS YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE ABOUT EPD OR SIPA?
SIPA is an incredible melting pot of different ideas, perspectives, and opinions. Classes and teachers are top-notch, but it is the relations you form with your classmates that make the journey special.
YAQUTA KANCHWALA FATEHI MIA '11
Program Manager
William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MichiganCAN YOU EXPLAIN YOUR CURRENT ROLE?
I design customized monitoring and evaluation plans for private-sector and development organizations to improve their strategy and operations to enhance social impact in low- and middle-income countries.
DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER THOUGHTS YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE ABOUT EPD OR SIPA?
SIPA was a highly enriching experience; the variety of classes that I took helped me understand the nuances of international development. I especially appreciated and enjoyed my EPD capstone project and the Methods for Development Practice course that prepares you for your eight-month-long, real-world capstone. The course taught me methodologies that I use frequently in my current role; and my capstone helped me develop the key qualitative and quantitative research, communication, and data skills necessary for working with private sector organizations.
FARHEEN GHAFFAR MPA '19
Investment Analyst
International Finance Corporation - Asia Pacific Region - Karachi, PakistanCAN YOU EXPLAIN YOUR CURRENT ROLE?
I work for the Infrastructure and Natural Resources Group in the Karachi office, where I assist the Portfolio Team in managing investments in Pakistan (mostly in the energy sector). Part of my role also involves working on new transactions for expanding IFC's presence and creating new markets in Pakistan.
DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER THOUGHTS YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE ABOUT EPD OR SIPA?
The SIPA experience has not only helped me advance professionally in my career but personally too, as I have a huge network of friends all over the globe now!
HUNTER GOLDMAN MIA ‘19
Director, Innovation
The Rockefeller Foundation - New York CityCAN YOU EXPLAIN YOUR CURRENT ROLE?
I serve as a portfolio manager for our Innovation work, which includes grant portfolios focused on Data & Technology and Innovative Finance. This includes internal operational management and external partnership development, as well as overall portfolio strategy. I also focus on developing the team's influence strategy, which is how we seek to amplify the impact of our grantees and partners.
DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER THOUGHTS YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE ABOUT EPD OR SIPA?
Connecting with practitioners who fostered my professional development and learning goals was key to my success in the EPD program. I especially valued the workshop experience, which was an opportunity to substantively engage on a project that bridged both academic and professional pursuits.
LAUREN GREUBEL MPA ‘15
Foreign Service Officer
U.S. Agency for International Development - Dakar, SenegalCAN YOU EXPLAIN YOUR CURRENT ROLE?
As a foreign service officer, I design and manage USAID's education investments, support education policy reform, and advance U.S. policy priorities in countries around the world. This requires working with other U.S. Government agencies such as the Department of State and Department of Defense, local Ministries of Education, the private sector, NGOs and children, youth, parents and many other actors. Our ultimate goal is to support partner countries' capacity to deliver quality education to all children and youth.
DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER THOUGHTS YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE ABOUT EPD OR SIPA?
Get to know your professors and your classmates; we both bring tremendous expertise and experience that you can learn from. You will run across professors and classmates in a restaurant in Mozambique, at a conference in Burundi, in the halls of Congress or the UN for the rest of your life!
KRITHIKA HARISH MPA '17
Senior Associate
Civitas Public Affairs - Washington, DCCAN YOU EXPLAIN YOUR CURRENT ROLE?
Civitas Public Affairs works with leaders from across the political spectrum to forge bold, bipartisan government relations plans to solve the critical issues of our time. Senior Associates at Civitas work closely with Principals in the firm to design and lead winning campaigns for our clients. Many of Civitas’ clients are progressive advocacy organizations and foundations who leverage our expertise in policy development and political strategy, particularly at the state and local levels. My personal portfolio consists of immigration and mental health policy, in addition to supporting targeted efforts to diversify the pipeline of elected officials in the United States.
DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER THOUGHTS YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE ABOUT EPD OR SIPA?
I decided to switch my focus from international development to US domestic issues during my fourth semester at SIPA, after experiencing the results of the 2016 presidential election. It was a challenging decision but the wide array of classes, resources, and mentors available at SIPA made the transition successful. The core skills I gained through my EPD coursework are transferable, they are as useful in my current work passing US state policies as it was at my internship with the UNDP.
SERENE HO MPA ‘18
Policy Manager
J-PAL Global - Cambridge, MACAN YOU EXPLAIN YOUR CURRENT ROLE?
I lead J-PAL's Firms sector and work closely with sector co-chairs to (i) describe the current state of knowledge in firms research, (ii) develop new randomized evaluations with implementing organizations to answer key questions on firms' development and (iii) build relationships with key partners in governments, NGOs, foundations and multilateral aid agencies worldwide. I also write publications and create materials for policy outreach, including policy insights and presentations, to highlight J-PAL's work and research in the Firms sector.
DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER THOUGHTS YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE ABOUT EPD OR SIPA?
It has been more than a year since graduation and I am still using my notes from class and applying what I learned at SIPA in my daily work. If I had one piece of advice for incoming students, I would say choose classes that are out of your comfort zone and learn new skills and perspectives. In particular, the EPD program at SIPA has a great range of economic and political development courses that prepared me well for my role here at J-PAL.
CONOR MCGUIRE MIA '19
Foreign Service Officer
U.S. Department of State - Washington, DC (posted to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in November 2020)CAN YOU EXPLAIN YOUR CURRENT ROLE?
As a Political Officer in the Foreign Service, I will be responsible for keeping a trained eye on the political climate at my foreign post and deciphering events as they relate to U.S. interests, negotiations, and policies. Currently, I am engaged in intensive study of the Amharic language at the Foreign Service Institute to prepare for my first tour in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia where I will serve for two years as a Political/Economic Affairs Officer.
DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER THOUGHTS YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE ABOUT EPD OR SIPA?
The best part of my SIPA experience was the EPD capstone. Our team's project with IOM-Libya was perfect for me because it dealt with a topic (migration) and region (MENA) that were the focus of my studies, and it gave me an opportunity to work with my favorite professor (Lisa Anderson), travel to two countries in the MENA region (Tunisia and Egypt), and co-produce a report that will soon be published by IOM.
TWISHA MEHTA MPA '12
Strategy, Learning, and Impact Manager
Humanity United, San FranciscoCAN YOU EXPLAIN YOUR CURRENT ROLE?
Humanity United is a foundation dedicated to cultivating the conditions for enduring freedom and peace. Working from a belief that whatever problems humans create humans can solve, we support and build efforts to change the systems that suppress human rights and contribute to human suffering. In my current role, I support strategy development, learning, and impact within our Forced Labor & Human Trafficking portfolio. I also steward cross-organizational initiatives including the build-out of responsible data guidelines and an inclusive foresight practice at HU. As a cross-functional role within the organization, I enjoy weaving threads across our organization, finding synergies, and values-aligned ways of working better together towards our mission.
DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER THOUGHTS YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE ABOUT EPD OR SIPA?
Coming to SIPA was one of the best decisions I've ever made for my career. The biggest advantage of studying at SIPA was the opportunity to learn from practitioners who are at the top of their respective fields in international and public affairs. The EPD concentration was grounded in real-world learning opportunities both inside and outside the classroom. The EPD workshop was one of my most valuable experiences during my SIPA experience. Working with an international social enterprise in Lombok, Indonesia enabled me to enter the professional world with not only new skills in my toolbox but with a broader perspective.
For incoming and current students, one piece of (unsolicited) advice that I would give would be: Take the hard classes! Take the advanced economics courses, statistics, and other quant classes. These foundations will be an advantage in any field you choose to go into!
AURELIO NASCIMENTO DE AMARAL MPA ‘17
Partnerships and Policy Development Officer
WISE-Qatar Foundation - Doha, QatarCAN YOU EXPLAIN YOUR CURRENT ROLE?
An initiative of Qatar Foundation, WISE is a think and action-tank that promotes innovation in education. I liaise with organizations in different countries (in particular in Latin America, where I am originally from) to disseminate findings from our research projects and innovative practices from our programs and partners.
DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER THOUGHTS YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE ABOUT EPD OR SIPA?
The EPD coursework provided me with great skills to assess the quality and impact of education programs; and gave me valuable exposure to international development challenges - very relevant for the engagement with organizations from different parts of the world.
ARISHA SALMAN MPA '19
Financial Sector Analyst, Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP)
World Bank Group - Washington, DCCAN YOU EXPLAIN YOUR CURRENT ROLE?
I work with CGAP's Policy and Business Model pillars. I undertake research as well as develop knowledge products and influence strategies on cutting-edge topics within financial sector development. Some of my areas of research include digital banking, digital divide and data-driven financial inclusion and privacy. I work closely with a range of stakeholders including policymakers, regulators, and financial sector providers across developing countries.
DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER THOUGHTS YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE ABOUT EPD OR SIPA?
The EPD concentration provides hands-on training in development practice. It arms students with the skills, tools, and frameworks to take on roles as international development practitioners within the private, non-profit, and public sectors.
KATHERINE SULLIVAN MIA '19
Associate, Markets Group
Federal Reserve Bank of New York - New York CityCAN YOU EXPLAIN YOUR CURRENT ROLE?
I prepare daily briefings on international developments for stakeholders in the Federal Reserve System and the Treasury Department. Additionally, I work to implement the monetary policy decisions of the Federal Reserve’s Open Market Committee through daily financial operations to achieve our mandate of maximum employment and price stability.
DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER THOUGHTS YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE ABOUT EPD OR SIPA?
The EPD curriculum, specifically my Workshop project, helped me understand the global ramifications of international economic policy. It provided me the opportunity to study first-hand the circumstances economic policy can create for a country’s diverse population.