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Diane Addison
MIA/MPH (Epidemiology) Dual Degree 2011
 Diane Addison is originally from Ghana, and has lived in various places including Oklahoma, Senegal and Switzerland. Her undergraduate degree is from Boston College where she double majored in French and Psychology. After she received her B.A., she worked for a NGO that focuses on public health. She also interned for UNAIDS in 2008 where she worked in the Office of the Chief Scientific Adviser while doing research on changes in the inclusion of women and girls in HIV clinical trials. Read more |
Brittney E. Bailey
MIA 2011
2nd-year student, Economic and Political Development (EPD)
 Brittney graduated magna cum laude from the University of Southern California (USC) with a B.A. in International Relations and a B.A. in Spanish. Prior to joining SIPA, Brittney conducted research on education policy as a Fulbright Scholar in Colombia and worked as a consultant for USAID, helping to create the first comprehensive development strategy for Afro-Colombians and indigenous peoples in Colombia. Read more |
William Bairamian
MIA 2010
2nd-year student, International Security Policy (ISP)
 William Bairamian is originally from Glendale, CA, which is about 10 minutes north of Los Angeles. He graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a B.A. degree in Political Science/International Relations and a minor in French. He also studied in Lyon, France at the Institut d’Etudes Politiques. Upon graduation, he worked for Shell Trading’s Gas & Power division in San Diego, CA and, immediately before coming to SIPA, worked on the Hillary Clinton presidential campaign as a regional field director and assistant political director in California, Texas, and North Carolina. While at SIPA, William served as the 2009-2010 MIA President on the School of International and Public Affairs Student Association (SIPASA) board. Read more |
Radhika Batra
MPA 2010
International Finance and Policy
 Radhika Batra is a second-year MPA student, with a concentration in International Finance and Policy. Prior to joining SIPA she worked at a domestic microfinance organization and at the grassroots level on livelihood development in rural Rajasthan. Her professional experience showed her the ability of credit, as well as the private sector to shape positive change. Radhika intends to pursue finance in emerging markets upon completion of her degree. Read more |
Nicolas Beauch
MPA 2010
Advanced Policy and Economic Analysis
 Nicolas Beauch is a second-year MPA student from France pursuing a concentration in Advanced Policy and Economic Analysis. In Paris he studied at the Ecole Polytechnique. At the end of his studies there, he was chosen to be part of the ministerial program, which pays him to study. Through this program, he obtained a Masters in Humanities, Management & Finance from Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussees. Now he is pursuing his MPA at SIPA while officially employed by France’s Ministry of Environment, Sustainable Development, & Urban Planning. Prior to SIPA, Nicolas’ training for his future career in the ministry included working in the private sector at BNP Paribas in London and at the Boston Consulting Group in Paris. He has also worked for the French Agency of Development on creating a strategy to support financial systems in Africa. Read more |
Andrew Buher
MPA 2010
2nd-year MPA student, Management
 Andrew Buher is a second year MPA candidate with a concentration in management. Prior to enrolling at SIPA, he worked in the government and non-profit spaces dealing primarily with education. Andrew is magna cum laude graduate of Rider University where he received his B.A. in politics. At Rider, Andrew was a Presidential Fellow at the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress in Washington D.C. Read more |
Jonathan Burnston
MIA 2011
First-year Student, Economic and Political Development (EPD)
 Jonathan Burnston talks about what made SIPA stand out for him. The caliber of students and faculty, and the people who come in for talks, etc, are amazing – the highest level. A lot of schools would be hard-pressed to compete with that.” Watch the video interview
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Carrie Campbell
MPA 2009
International Energy Management and Policy
 Before arriving at SIPA, Carrie Campbell worked for the New York City Parks Department, taught English in Mexico and started an after-school program for Mexican immigrants in Birmingham, AL.
"As someone interested in studying urban development policy with a focus on migration and energy issues, having the ability to supplement the wide array of SIPA courses with courses offered through the Planning and Engineering schools is a great perk." Read more
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Wendy L. Carlson
MPA/MSW Dual Degree 2011
SIPA /
School of Social Work
Human Rights Concentration
 Prior to joining SIPA Wendy served with the U.S. Navy as a cryptologist, received her BFA in Photography from the San Francisco Art Institute, and after spending a semester in Cambodia decided to apply to SIPA. Wendy is taking advantage of her opportunity to attend both SIPA and the School of Social work and elaborates on her experiences in her biography. Read more
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Tse-Ming “Mike” Chang
MPA 2009
Urban Policy
 Tse-Ming “Mike” Chang, from Kaohsiung, Taiwan, says SIPA’s reputation, diversity and location in New York were well known to him. But beginning his program, he appreciates how successfully the school integrates those resources. “We have numerous career panels of major companies and international institutions, we have senior governmental officials and established entrepreneurs among our classmates, and we have many famous professors from various departments within the same building for us to consult. Read more | Watch the video interview
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Sandhya Chari
MPA 2010
Economic and Political Development (EPD)
 Sandhya attended UCLA, where she pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a minor in public policy. After graduating from UCLA, she pursued her interest in advertising, marketing and media by taking a position with Google Inc. in Online Sales and Operations. Read more |
Sasha Chavkin
MIA/Journalism Dual Degree 2010
SIPA /Journalism
Human Rights
 Sasha Chavkin is a dual degree student at SIPA and the Columbia Journalism School. He is a freelance journalist who writes about the environment, international affairs and American politics, and specializes in investigative reporting. Sasha has written for publications including Mother Jones, the Huffington Post Investigative Fund and The Nation. He hopes to work as an investigative reporter following his graduation from Columbia. Read more
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Reda Cherif
MIA 2011
Economic and Political Development (EPD)
 Reda, a native of Morocco, completed his MBA in France prior to attending SIPA. Prior to joining SIPA he worked in investment banking in both London and New York. Read more
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Donna Chu
MIA 2009
Economic and Political Development (EPD)
 Before SIPA, Donna Chu taught secondary school English in Peace Corps Benin for two years and worked for a year and a half in case management in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.
"SIPA had the extra draw of being located in New York with access to the U.N. and all the agencies working in humanitarian relief and development.” Read more
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Cecily David
MPA 2010
Management
 Before arriving at SIPA, Cecily David completed coursework in African studies at the University of Ghana, Legon, and worked for the Bahá’í International Community (BIC) United Nations Office in New York. “I decided to come to SIPA because it seemed to be the most internationally-focused of the policy schools, and it gave me access to organizations I was interested in working with in New York." Watch the video interview
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Audrey Desiderato
MIA Dual Degree 2010
SIPA /
Sciences Po
 Audrey Desiderato is pursuing an MIA as an International Dual Degree student, and is the Program Assistant for the Global Public Policy Network at SIPA. Her focus is International Energy Management and Policy. Having finished a year of studies at Sciences Po in Paris, France, Audrey is now completing her degree at SIPA in New York as part of the Dual Degree program. Prior to coming to SIPA, Audrey received her B.A. in economics and B.A. in Political Science from UCLA. Upon graduation she worked in Los Angeles as part of the start-up team that launched GOOD Magazine. Following, she moved to Kuala Lumpur and worked with a social enterprise that provides employment opportunities for disadvantaged women through ICTs (information communication technologies). Read more
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Anesa Diaz-Uda
MPA 2010
Management and Institutional Analysis
 Anesa Diaz-Uda is a second-year SIPA student pursuing an MPA degree with a concentration in Management and Institutional Analysis. She graduated cum laude from Vassar College with a B.A. in Political Science and Economics. Read more
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Carrie Dorn
MPA/MSW Dual Degree 2011
SIPA / School of Social Work
Urban and Social Policy concentration with a specialization in Management
 Carrie grew up in Northern New Jersey and now considers New York City home. Prior to attending Columbia, Carrie worked as a social worker in East Harlem, providing counseling and advocacy services to families with children. She has also spent time abroad, studying in Aix-en-Provence, France, working in Seoul, Korea and volunteering near La Libertad, El Salvador. Read more
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Aakash Doshi
MIA 2010
Second year student, International Energy Management and Policy
 Aakash Doshi is a second-year MIA student concentrating in International Energy Management and Policy (IEMP). Originally from Philadelphia, Aakash spent four-years prior to SIPA working on Wall Street in asset management and credit derivatives trading. At SIPA, he served as executive member and MIA/MPA class treasurer on the School of International and Public Affairs Student Association (SIPASA) board. Read more
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Pablo Espinel
MIA 2011
Economic and Political Development/Latin America
 Pablo Espinel is from Ecuador and prior to joining SIPA was an Environmental Engineer. He came to SIPA seeking to change his career trajectory. Read more |
T’Errance Favors
MIA 2009
International Security Policy
 T’Errance Favors, from Denver, Colorado, worked as a high school Spanish teacher before coming to SIPA. He says he wanted to shift his career toward public service with an international focus. “What I like best is the number of teaching practitioners involved in the concentration. I have taken classes with professors who are active military, leading researchers at think tanks and former ambassadors. Each of these individuals was able to provide us with current applications of the content of their course. Read more | Watch the video interview
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Emily Fischer
MIA 2012
2nd-year student, Economic and Political Development (EPD)
 Emily talks about why she chose SIPA what she did prior to attending. Read more |
Monica Gadkari
MPA 2010
Second year student, Management
 Monica Gadkari applied to SIPA to study in the MPA program with a concentration in Management. Her focus is international development—specifically gender, health and development and she has worked at various NGOs abroad and in the US. Most recently, she was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Romania. She was born and raised in New Jersey and went to undergrad at Georgetown University. Read more |
Raúl E. Gallegos
MIA/MSc (Journalism) Dual Degree 2011
 Raúl, born and raised in El Salvador, has lived and worked in various cities, including San Francisco, Miami, Los Angeles and Caracas. He is a dual-degree Journalism MSc /MIA, with a concentration in International Energy Management and Policy at SIPA. Prior to graduate school, Raúl worked as a journalist for the LA Times, as a reporter and editor for Institutional Investor and, most recently, as foreign correspondent for Dow Jones in Venezuela, where he covered oil and politics. Read more |
Ana-María Poveda Garcés
MPA-DP 2011
 Ana-María, a native of Colombia, talks about her career in development prior to joining SIPA and provides advice for prospective applicants. Read more. |
Nora Gordon
MIA 2010
2nd-year student, Human Rights
 Nora Gordon is a second year MIA candidate at SIPA in the Human Rights program. Her specialization is in Conflict Resolution and she served as the Program Assistant in the Gender Policy Program. Nora graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in Peace and Conflict Studies and has experience working on Peace building and Conflict Resolution projects in Brazil, Rwanda, the West Bank, Syria, and Timor-Leste. Before coming to SIPA, Nora worked as a community organizer in Brooklyn, where she continues to live and volunteer. Read more |
Mayuri Gosh
MIA 2011
2nd-year student, Economic and Political Development Concentration, South Asia Specialization
 Mayuri, a citizen of India, put together a short biography focused mainly on her time prior to SIPA. She is a “J-termer” – a term used to describe students who enroll in the spring term. Mayuri started in the spring of 2010. Prior to SIPA she worked for a multi-national software giant as a technical analyst, but spent time with her company working on issues related to corporate social responsibility. Mayuri also writes about her involvement in the United Nations Studies Program. Read more |
Molly Grodin
MIA 2009
Economic and Political Development
 Molly Grodin has a background in healthcare corporate communications, and is completing a Master of International Affairs in Economic and Political Development. Watch the video interview |
Maria Soledad Guilera
MIA 2012
1st-year student, Urban and Social Policy Concentration, Management Specialization
 Maria, a citizen of Argentina, held several positions related to public policy prior to attending SIPA and most recently worked as a political consultant at Poliarquia Consultores. She also has volunteered for Un Techo para Mi País (http://www.untechoparamipais.org/) a Latin American NGO that through the construction of transitional houses works with families in poverty to help them develop as a sustainable community. Read more |
Beatriz Guillén
MIA 2011
2nd-year student, Economic and Political Development
 A second-year international student from Spain MIA student talks about her internship and how she spent the summer between academic years. Read more |
Scott E. Hartley
MIA/MBA Dual Degree 2011
SIPA / Business School
International Economic and Finance Policy
 Scott E. Hartley, a joint-degree MIA/MBA student at SIPA and Columbia Business School concentrating in International Economic Policy and Entrepreneurship respectively, holds a BA in Political Science from Stanford University. At Stanford, Scott was the co-recipient of the Dean of Student’s Outstanding Achievement Award for his role as Director of Stanford in Government’s international fellowship program. Read more |
Homa Hassan
MIA 2012
1st-year student, Economic and Political Development Concentration, International Organizations Specialization
 Homa attended Columbia College in South Carolina and was admitted to SIPA straight out of her undergraduate program. She was Student Body President in her senior year and co-hosted a nationally syndicated radio show. Homa integrated into SIPA very quickly and has served as an Editorial and Digital Assistant for the Journal of International Affairs and will be taking over the reigns as co-chair of the Human Rights Working Group in the coming year. Biography |
Kelly Heindel
MIA 2010
Economic and Political Development
 Kelly Heindel has a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in International Business, and has worked with AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps and in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry. "The amount of course options is staggering and it is pretty easy to take courses through other schools at Columbia." Read more |
Maria Jose Hernandez Medina Mora
MPA 2012
1st-year student, International Finance and Economic Policy concentration with a specialization in Advanced Policy and Economic Analysis
 Maria grew up in Mexico and earned her undergraduate degree from Instituto Tecnológico Autónomode México (ITAM) in Mexico City. After one term Maria is confident she made the right choice in choosing SIPA. She states that SIPA “has given me the opportunity to meet students, alumni and other people working in the fields that I’m interested in; this network tool is just there for me to grab and exploit.” Biography |
Seunghee Hong
MPA 2011
2nd-year student, International Security Policy Concentration, International Conflict Resolution Specialization
 Seunghee, a native of South Korea, talks about some of the choices that have changed her life and led her to SIPA. At SIPA she has taken advantage of programming through the various regional and functional institutes and she completed an internship at UNICEF’s Division of Policy and Practice. Biography |
John Hughes
MIA 2010
Political and Economic Risk Analysis
 John is a second-year SIPA student pursuing an MIA degree with a concentration in Political and Economic Risk Analysis. He holds a B.A. in English Literature from Colby College in Waterville, Maine, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude. Read more
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Josh Huneycutt
MIA 2010
Environmental Policy Studies
 Josh is a second-year SIPA student pursuing an MIA degree with a concentration in Environmental Policy Studies (now part of the Energy and Environment Policy Concentration). After graduating from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in Chemistry and Spanish in 2005, Josh continued his work in a research laboratory at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, designing methods for the detection of pharmaceuticals in drinking water for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Read more |
Anahi Ayala Iacucci
MIA 2010
Human Rights
 Anahi Ayala Iacucci from Brescia, Italy, says she chose SIPA because of its tremendous worldwide reputation in international affairs. “Speaking with SIPA students while working and during my academic experience, I relished their knowledge and prodigious preparation. Furthermore, I had the opportunity to read and listen to SIPA professors, and was immediately attracted by the depth of interconnection between their practical experience and academic knowledge.” Read more | Watch the video interview
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Michael Jaggers
MIA 2010
International Economic Policy
 Michael Jaggers holds a B.A. from Brown University, concentrating in Business Economics and European History. He began studies at SIPA in January 2008, and addresses the challenges of entering midyear: "It puts a real premium on understanding what courses you want to take, and how you will schedule those classes in the semesters ahead.” Read more
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Catherine Jing
MIA 2010
Management and Institutional Analysis
 Catherine Jing began in an international and media communications concentration, and describes how she was drawn to management.
"During the first semester, I felt that I was drawn into the endless possibilities that the management field can offer. Management courses teach you solutions in businesses.”
Read more |
Arif Kamruddin
MPA
2nd-year, dual concentration in International Finance and Economic Policy and Economic and Political Development
 Arif Kamruddin is a Fulbright Scholar from Pakistan pursuing an MPA degree and dually concentrating in International Finance Policy and Economic & Political Development. He also holds Bachelors and Masters degrees with honours in business administration from the Institute of Business Administration, Karachi, Pakistan – Pakistan’s oldest and most respected business school Read more |
Yata Kande
MIA 2009
Economic and Political Development
 Yata Kande is an Economic and Political Development concentrator, focusing on gender and Africa. “The one thing that really attracted me in terms of SIPA’s curriculum was its international focus, compared to other schools that had a more domestic focus. Also, the school’s proximity to the United
Nations.” Watch the video interview
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Laura Keating
MIA 2009
Environmental Policy
 Laura Keating previously worked at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a bipartisan, non-profit foreign policy think tank in Washington, DC. While at CSIS, she managed a program on international water challenges and their impact on U.S. foreign policy objectives.
At the SIPA admitted student open house "...I looked out across the sea of people gathered in the room and it seemed like every nationality, every color, and every walk of life were represented." Read more
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Julie Klein
MPA 2010
2nd-year student, International Security Policy
 Julie is a second-year SIPA student pursuing an MPA degree with a concentration in International Security Policy. She graduated from Haverford College with a B.A. in Political Science. Before coming to SIPA, Julie spent four years working in the United States Senate. Her focus was largely on domestic issues, so this degree and her focus on security issues is helping her transition into a foreign policy career. Read more |
Lauren Klein
MIA 2011
International Media and Communications/Information and Internet Policy
 Lauren Klein is a first-year MIA student concentrating in International Media and Communications with a focus in information and Internet policy. Before coming to SIPA, Lauren worked as a freelance journalist based in New Delhi, India. Her work has appeared in The Christian Science Monitor, the AP's asap, and Mint, a business publication of The Wall Street Journal. She started reporting at The (Stamford) Advocate, a daily newspaper in Stamford, Conn. She earned her B.A. in Critical Social Thought from Mount Holyoke College. Read more |
Go Kobayashi
MPA 2010
Dual degree with London School of Economics
 Go Kobayashi is a second-year SIPA MPA, concentrating on Economic and Political Development. He is a Dual Degree student, completing the first year curriculum at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), and holds a BA in Law from Tokyo University in Japan. Read more |
Junji Koike
MPA candidate 2011
2nd-year student, International Finance and Economic Policy
 Junji Koike is originally from Japan. His undergraduate degree is from Keio University. After he earned his degree in Policy Management, he worked as a policy researcher in the Japanese think tank Nomura Research Institute. While working there, he got involved with projects related to public management, public finance and local government. He is planning to go back to Japan after SIPA.Read more |
Stephan Koppányi
MIA 2011
International Security Policy
 Stephan Koppányi is a first-year MIA student concentrating in International Security Policy (ISP). He is from Vienna, Austria, and came to SIPA on a Fulbright scholarship in order to complement his previous studies and professional experience with a Master's degree from a U.S. university. Read more |
Julia Kotlyar
MIA 2009
Management
 Julia Kotlyar is a Management concentrator and a representative on the Russian International Association. “New York is really a character of Columbia University. Outside of the amazing faculty, you’re also getting the experience of New York, the networking, etc.” Watch the video interview
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Jessica Lustbader
MPA-DP 2012
Jessica graduated from Cornell in 2006 and in her interview talks about her favorite course and what she has appreciated most about SIPA. Read more |
Bryan Lupton
MIA Dual Degree 2010
SIPA /
Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore
Bryan Lupton is pursuing an MIA as an International Dual Degree student, concentrating in International Security Policy. Having finished a year of studies at SIPA in New York, Lupton is completing his second year at Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP) at the National University of Singapore. Bryan is from Denver, CO, received his BA in English literature from Colorado State University, and served two years in the United States Peace Corps as a rural HIV/AIDS prevention volunteer in Zambia. Read more |
Erica N. Sanders
MPA 2012
1st-year MPA student, Urban and Social Policy
Erica, graduate of the University of Miami (1999), talks about the educational and professional journey that brought her to SIPA. With experience in both the private and non-profit sectors prior to joining SIPA, Erica’s hope is to acquire the skills necessary to be an effective manager and leader in the area of education policy. Biography |
Abibata Shanni Mahama
MPA 2010
Economic and Political Development
 Abibata Shanni Mahama is a SIPA student pursuing an MPA degree with a concentration in Economic and Political Development. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Ghana, Legon. She is from the northern part of Ghana with known challenges such as high illiteracy rates and negative cultural practices, which mostly affect girl-child education and encourage early marriages. As my personal contribution to improving the lives of my people she seeks to engage herself in outreach programs such as dress making and sheabutter extraction organized by Ghanaian Danish Community Program aimed at eliminating some of these challenges. Read more
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Libby McCardle
MPA 2010
Second year student, Social Policy
Libby McCardle is a second-year SIPA student pursuing an MPA degree with a concentration in Social Policy. Within her concentration area, she is focusing on health policy and has taken a number of courses at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia. She holds a B.S. in Finance and Economics from Susquehanna University in Pennsylvania. Prior to attending SIPA, Libby worked at JPMorgan Chase Bank in New York and London for four years as an operational risk manager and commodities product controller. Read more |
Benedict Moran
MPA 2010
Economic and Political Development
Benedict Moran is a joint-degree student at SIPA and the Graduate School of Journalism, holding a BA from McGill University. Upon graduating from University he traveled for a year and half in Africa and the Middle East. From 2002 to 2004 he was a community health worker for the Peace Corps in Benin, West Africa and later worked for a French NGO. For the past years he has been working as a journalist. Read more |
Faridah Nassali
MIA 2010
Economic and Political Development
 Before joining SIPA, Faridah worked with varied organizations in the public and the not-for-profit sectors in Uganda. Specifically she worked with the Inspectorate of Government/Ombudsman as a State Prosecutor and I worked with the Uganda Association of Women Lawyers (FIDA-Uganda) as a legal volunteer on gender issues. It was the varied challenges in these sectors that triggered her to apply to SIPA with the goal of finding the center point in her career. Read more
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Victoria Okoye
MIA/Urban Planning 2010
Economic and Political Development Concentrator
 Victoria Okoye is pursuing an Economic and Political Development concentration at SIPA with a professional focus on Urban Planning and Development. She earned a Bachelors in Journalism and a Bachelors in International Studies from the University of Missouri. She came to SIPA with a strong interest in women’s issues, human rights and African economic development. Here experience was in these areas as well – she did research work on gender issues related to women’s empowerment in political decision-making; did internships working on immigration issues related to human rights and women’s rights/gender-based violence and HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. Read more
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Carrie O'Neil
MPA 2010
2nd-year MPA student with a concentration in Human Rights and with a focus in International Conflict Resolution
 After graduating from Dartmouth College, Carrie O’Neil worked on the Mississippi Gulf Coast for a non-profit doing rebuilding and community development after Hurricane Katrina. She went on to work for Seeds of Peace as a facilitator developing and implementing intensive coexistence programming for young adults from the Middle East and South Asia. While at SIPA she has focused on international conflict resolution, human rights and reconciliation, work that has brought her to Northern Ireland, Rwanda and the Republic of Georgia during her time at SIPA. In the fall of 2010 she will continue her studies of human development and conflict resolution at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Read more
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Shannon O'Rourke
MPA 2010
2nd-year MPA student, Environmental Policy Studies
 Shannon O’Rourke is a second year Master of Public Administration student with an Environmental Policy Studies concentration. A Californian born and raised, prior to coming to SIPA she led media campaigns focused on Western energy and climate change issues -- when she wasn’t out hugging trees or using “dude” to emphasize a point. Read more
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Alec Oveis
MPA 2010
2nd-year MPA student, International Economic and Finance Policy
Prior to attending SIPA, Alec Oveis worked in Washington, D.C., on Capitol Hill and in journalism. He earned his B.A. in history from Yale. While at SIPA, Alec served as the 2009-2010 MPA President on the School of International and Public Affairs Student Association (SIPASA) board. Read more |
Magdalena Pampillo
MIA 2010
International Energy Management and Policy
Magdalena Pampillo holds a B.S. in Environmental Engineering from the Universidad Catolica Argentina of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Prior to studying at SIPA, Magdalena developed her career in the environmental field, working for Argentina’s biggest industrial conglomerate Techint, where she worked for the oil, gas and steel industry in the corporate sector leading various projects from 2005-2007. Magdalena also has experience in the public sector working for the Secretariat of Environmental and Sustainable Development analyzing clean available technologies for several industries. Read more |
Richard Parker
MIA 2011
2nd-year, International Security Policy
 A second-year MIA student talks about his SIPA experience. Prior to his matriculation at SIPA Richard worked for two years in the Capitol Hill office for Representative Rush D. Holt (NJ-12) where he witnessed firsthand policy formation in his role as Staff Assistant. Read more
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Lauren Pesso
MPA 2010
Economic and Political Development
 Lauren is a third-year dual degree SIPA/Social Work student pursuing an MPA with a concentration in Human Rights, and a MS in Social Work with a focus on Advanced Clinical Practice. She holds a BA in Sociology and Religion from Wesleyan University, and spent a semester studying in Ghana through the School for International Training. Read more
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Molly Garfield Powers
MPA-DP 2012
 Molly grew up in Boston studied religion and anthropology in college. Following graduation she worked for ocean-based experiential education programs, the Hudson Sloop Clearwater and Ocean Classroom Foundation. SIPA’s location interested her because New York is a global hub of development organizations, jobs, and internship opportunities. Biography
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Lauren Quillian
MPA 2010
2nd-year MPA student, Urban Policy concentration
 Lauren Quillian graduated with a B.A. in Spanish and Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia. She worked for two years on a Donor Advised Giving program for United Way international. Immediately prior to SIPA she was working for a USAID international development contractor DAI. With DAI, she did a 4 month assignment in Equatorial Guinea. Biography
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Lacey Ramirez
MIA 2011
2nd-year student concentrating in Economic and Political Development with a specialization in Advanced Policy and Economic Analysis
 Lacey is spending her time at SIPA rigorously building on her quantitative skills to conduct analyses of development program impact. Prior to SIPA, Lacey was a health volunteer for the Peace Corps in Morocco where her work focused on maternal and child health. She also has a research background exploring civic development of minority groups in the United States. Lacey also studied CAFTA in Costa Rica and wrote a thesis on the impact new trade agreements would have on the status quo. Read more
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Megan Rapp
MIA 2011
1st-year student, Economic and Political Development Concentration with Advanced Policy and Economic Analysis Specialization
 A first-year student with experience in the Teach for America program talks about the learning environment at SIPA. Read more
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Estelle Rosine Raimondo
MIA
Second-year, Human Rights
Estelle is a Fulbright student from France, concentrating in Economic and Political Development. She completed her undergraduate studies at Sciences Po, Paris and studied one year at Wellesley College in Massachusetts. Read more |
Heidi Rosbe
MIA Dual Degree 2010
SIPA / Sciences Po, Paris
 Heidi Rosbe is a second-year SIPA student pursuing an MIA degree with a concentration in Human Rights. She is also following the Conflict Resolution Program and has focused on Gender Policy, serving on the Conflict Resolution and Gender Policy Working Groups while at SIPA. Heidi’s regional focus is the Middle East. She holds B.Sc. in Mathematics and Computer Science from McGill University in Montreal. Read more |
Sadaf Sajwani
MIA 2011
First-year Student with a Concentration in Economic and Political Development
 “The management courses at SIPA have a lot potential in terms of helping me get where I want to be. There are a lot of practical skills I’ve gained with the economics courses, statistics, budgeting; a lot of those practical skills.” Watch the video interview
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Liyu Sheng
MIA 2011
International Media and Communications
 Liyu Sheng is a first-year MIA student with a concentration in International Media and Communication. He did his B.A. at Fudan University in Shanghai and Waseda University in Tokyo, majoring in media and liberal studies. Prior to enrolling in SIPA, he was an intern at Marketplace Public Radio's Shanghai Bureau. He also worked with NPR's On The Media and On Point as a translator and fixer during their projects in Shanghai. His coursework includes business writing, economic analysis and Chinese foreign policy. Read more |
Andrew Sinclair
MIA 2010
Middle East
 Andrew Sinclair is a second-year MIA student talks about what he did prior to joining SIPA, his motivation for applying to the program, and what it was like to begin the program in the spring semester. Read more |
Leehe Skuler
MPA 2009
International Economic Policy
 Before joining SIPA, Leehe Skuler lived in Berlin, Germany for more than a year, working at the Aspen Institute of Berlin. There she focused on geopolitical transatlantic relations, conducting extensive research on social and political trends in Iran. Leehe holds a B.A. in Philosophy, Economics and Politics from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Read more
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Eugene Sokoloff
MIA 2009
Russia and the Former Soviet States
 Eugene Sokoloff talks about his experience while attending SIPA. Eugene is part of the Harriman program, focusing on Russia and the former Soviet states. He explains the benefits of a regional concentration and provides recommendations for prospective students. Watch the video interview (Windows Media Player) |
Sawako Sonoyama
MIA 2011
2nd-year Economic and Political Development (EPD) Concentrator with Management Specialization
 Sawako was born in Japan and grew up in Southern California. She moved to the Bay Area for her undergraduate degree at University of California, Berkeley where she studied Anthropology and Mathematics. After graduation, she moved to and fell in love with San Francisco where she worked in a non-profit organization related to international education. She has extensive travel back ground, including a study abroad year in Spain and a three months global voyage where she worked as an interpreter for a Japanese NGO. Read more
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Catalina Spinel
MPA 2012
1st-year student, Economic and Political Development Concentration, Advanced Policy and Economic Analysis specialization
 Catalina, a citizen of Colombia brought her passion and experience with entrepreneurship to SIPA to cultivate her interest in emerging markets. In her first year Catalina assumed the post of treasurer for a student organization and will be making a SIPA sponsored trip to Japan. Biography
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Erisha Suwal
MPA 2011
2nd-year student with a concentration in Economic and Political Development and a specialization in Advanced Policy and Economic Analysis
 Erisha is a citizen of Nepal and prior to starting at SIPA was working as an investment analyst at Brown University’s Investment Office to gain some experience in finance. Her interest lies in grassroots movement for policy advocacy. She aspires to return to Nepal and engage in policymaking. Read more
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Fabian Suwanprateep
MIA Dual Degree 2011
SIPA / Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (National University of Singapore)
 Fabian, a German Citizen, is currently enrolled in the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore and the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University, New York. As a scholarship holder from the German Academic Exchange Service, he is pursuing a Dual Master Degree in Public Policy and International Affairs. Read more
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Megan Tackney
MPA 2012
1st-year student concentrating in Human Rights with a specialization in Advanced Policy and Economic Analysis
 Megan was born in Brooklyn and attended George Washington University. Prior to joining SIPA she worked for both the Center for Health and Gender Equity (CHANGE) and the National Women’s Law Center (NWLC). The co-curricular program in Gender Policy, along with SIPA’s strength in both domestic and international policy drew her to the program. Biography
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Kristoffer Tangri
MIA 2010
International Security Policy
 Kristoffer is a second-year SIPA student from Germany pursuing a MIA degree with a concentration in International Security Policy. He was awarded a two year scholarship by the German Academic Exchange Service and holds a B.A. in Political Science and Public Administration from the University of Konstanz and a M.Sc. in Population and Development Studies from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Read more
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Antonio Trevino-Rangel
MPA 2012
1st-year student, International Finance and Economic Policy Concentrator with a specialization in Advanced Policy and Economic Analysis
 Antonio, a citizen of Mexico, worked for the Ministry of Finance before enrolling at SIPA. His desire upon graduation is to return to Mexico and provide solid analysis for the financial challenges faced by the government. Read more
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Andrew Umans
MIA/MBA 2010 Dual Degree
SIPA / Columbia Business School
International Energy Management and Policy Concentration with a specialization in the Middle East
 A dual degree student talks about his experience pursuing a degree from SIPA and the Columbia Business School. Read more |
Kate Wilkinson
MPA 2009
Management
 Kate Wilkinson grew up in Africa, completed her undergraduate degree in Connecticut and worked in corporate and non-profit partnerships in France and Guatemala. Her background and interest in corporate social responsibility recently led her to focus on developing a social enterprise for women in Zambia. Read more | Watch the video interview
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Stephanie Woodard
MIA 2010
Economic and Political Development
 Stephanie holds a BA in Political Science and French from Dillard University in New Orleans, Louisiana. Prior to graduating from Dillard, Ms. Woodard served as the president of her senior class and as an officer and founding member of Mentorship to Internship; a program, which helps university students find internships in a variety of industries. Stephanie is also a recipient of the Charles B. Rangel Fellowship. Read more |
Zaiyang Zhu
MIA 2010
International Economic Policy
Zaiyang Zhu from China began his own company after college. After selling his company, he opted to join SIPA for professional policy training. He addresses working in groups. "Group work seems to be one of SIPA’s core learning principles. I had one work group pretty much for every class." Read more |
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Olutayo Akingbe
MIA 2005: Economic and Political Development
 Olutayo Akingbe now lives in the Washington DC area and works as an associate business manager for the Nature Sector at DAI in Bethesda where she is responsible for the successful contractual, financial, and personnel management of five USAID-funded programs worth a total of $71 million. Read more
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Austin Amalu
MIA 1981: Economic and Political Development
 Austin Amalu discusses his 25-year career with the United Nations Development Programme after graduating from SIPA. "For most of my career, I worked in two French-speaking African countries, so if you have language skills, it helps." Watch the video interview |
Sherif Ayoub
MIA 2006: Economic and Political Development/International Business and Finance
 Sherif Ayoub discusses the advantages of SIPA's location in New York. "I wanted to be near the center of world politics (New York) and development (United Nations). The prospect of attending classes and using the entire resources of Columbia University was a huge plus.” Read more
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Bill de Blasio
MIA 1987: Latin America
 In 2009, Bill de Blasio was elected Public Advocate for the City of New York. “I found that my years at SIPA helped me advance as a human, advance intellectually, and prepare me for public service.”
Watch the video interview |
Laurence "Brock" Boddie
MIA 2009: Economic and Political Development
 Brock Boddie graduated in 2009 and during the time of the interview was working with the Open Society Institute as their Senior Web Advocacy Advisor. Read more
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Mary Beth Corazzini
MPA 2000: Non-Profit Management
Mary Beth Corazzini discusses the marketability of a SIPA degree. "SIPA offered me the opportunity to explore the different career paths available after graduation. While at SIPA, I did an internship with the City of New York and another one in Corporate Philanthropy." Read more |
Anna Crankshaw
MPA 1994
 Anna Crankshaw talks about how her SIPA experience prepared her for a career in the financial industry and starting her own consulting firm.
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Philippe Dauba-Pantanacce
MIA 2007: International Finance and Business
 Philippe Dauba-Pantanacce talks about his background, SIPA’s reputation in professional settings and his current job in Dubai, UAE. Read more
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Monica Ealey
MPA 2009: A mid-year MPA graduate with a concentration in Urban Policy/Management
 Monica Ealey was a “J-termer,” and graduated in December of 2009. She received her undergraduate degree from SUNY Stony Brook where she graduated cum laude with a major in Political Science and a minor International Studies. After graduating from college, she worked for the City of New York in two different agencies in various capacities for 5 years. Read more
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Robert Freudenberg
MPA ’04
Senior Planner, Regional Plan Association
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Richard Greenberg
MPA 2004: Social Policy/Nonprofit Management
 Richard Greenberg talks about his job advancing policy reform and how SIPA prepared him for his career. "The experience fundamentally strengthened both my perspective on public service as well as my capacity to be a public servant." Read more
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Shruthi Jayaram
MPA 2008: Dual Degree
 Shruthi Jayaram graduated in May 2008 with a dual degree from SIPA and LKYSPP, offered through the Global Public Policy Network program. She currently works as a consultant for the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy in New Delhi. Read more |
Shannon Lightner-Gometz
MPA ’01, MS ’01
Deputy Director, Illinois Dept of Public Health, Office of Women's Health
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Stephanie Kahn
MIA 2009: International Economic Policy
 Stephanie graduated in 2009 with an MIA degree and in an interview for the Career Services Newsletter shared about the importance of utilizing the resources provided by the Office of Career Services. She states, “My advice is to reach out to alumni and use OCS. Even though informational interviews and OCS job postings can seem futile, with patience and determination it can lead to something really big.” Read more |
Christina Lopes
MIA 2006: International Finance and Policy
 Christina Lopes discusses the types of classes she took at SIPA. “SIPA really helped me by the depth of the classes – the knowledge base – taught by progressive thought-leaders, opinion-makers and shapers.” Watch the video interview |
Dan McSweeney
MIA 2007: International Security Policy
 Dan McSweeney talks about how his SIPA education and Columbia connections helped him develop his career in counter-terrorism strategy.
Watch the video interview| Read more |
Sidney Nakao Nakahodo
MIA 2005: International Economic Policy
 Sidney Nakao Nakahodo, a native of Brazil, works for the World Bank as a Caron Finance Analyst. He talks about why he chose SIPA and elaborates on his experience as a student. Read more
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Neal Parry
MPA 2006: Environmental Science and Policy
 Neal Parry is a graduate of the one year Environmental Science and Policy program, serves on SIPA’s Alumni Council, and works for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “The word that comes to mind when I think about SIPA is global. It’s international in its thinking, it’s international in its curriculum, and as an alumni, it’s certainly international in its network.” Watch the video interview |
Ferry Pausch
MIA 2001: Humanitarian Affairs
 Ferry Pausch is the Director of Sustainability Works for the Association of German Magazine Publishers in Berlin. Read more |
Bill Rigler
MIA 2004: International Security Policy
 Bill Rigler is a founding member of the SIPA Alumni Council. He calls his SIPA education "the single best investment that I have ever made." Read more
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Prathima Rodrigues
MIA 2006: Economic and Political Development
 Prathima Rodrigues graduated in 2006. In addition to her position as a Policy Specialist at the World Bank, she has founded a special program that teaches entrepreneurial skills to middle school students. Read more |
Charles Santangelo
MPA 1983
 Charles Santangelo discusses the wide range of resources available at Columbia and how his SIPA experience put him on the fast-track to a career in public administration.
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Tokumbo Shobowale
MIA ’99
Chief Operating Officer, NYC Economic Development Corporation
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Gabriel Sticker
MIA 2001: International Finance and Business
 When interviewed, Gabriel Stricker held the position of Director, Global Communications & Public Affairs for Google, Inc. in Mountain View, California. Read more |
Cihan Sultanoglu
MIA 1981: Economic and Political Development
 Cihan Sultanoglu is director of Human Resources for the United Nations Development Programme. She discusses her multi-faceted career and how she became interested in working for the United Nations. “If you come to SIPA, I think you come with the idea that you want to do some good." Watch the video interview |
Jian Ni "Nina" Sun
MIA: 2001
 Jian Ni "Nina" Sun graduated from SIPA with a Master of International Affairs focusing on international business. She is co-founder of Sunnybund Consulting, Inc., a public relations agency in Shanghai, China. She serves as co-president of the Columbia Alumni Association of Shanghai and is the international advisory board member for Columbia's Global Center in Beijing. Watch the video interview |
Lakshmi Sundaram
Dual Degree MIA/MPH 2003: Economic and Political Development
 Lakshmi Sundaram discusses her dual degree experience. “I really wanted to do something in the international sphere. And I started thinking about public health as well. I didn’t want to do a straight public health degree. And SIPA offered a great combination of the two. … The dual degree … really gave me the foundation for all that I’ve done since SIPA.” Watch the video interview |
Sebastian von Einsiedel
MIA 2002: International Security Policy
 Sebastian worked for the International Peace Institute after leaving SIPA and has held multiple positions with the UN including work with the UN Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel on Threats, Challenges, and Change, the UN Mission in Nepal, the Secretary-General’s Counter Terrorism Implementation Task Force, and the Policy Planning Unit of the UN Department of Political Affairs. This interview was featured in the UN Studies Newsletter in December of 2010. Read more |
Esther Waters
MIA 2007: Human Rights/Humanitarian Affairs
Esther Waters discusses her career development at SIPA and gives advice to students currently enrolled in the program.
“There is no way I could do my job or would have been able to get my job without my SIPA degree." Read more |
What is your number one tip for incoming students?
