Class Notes

2000

After graduating from SIPA, SHOMWA SHAMAPANDE became a marketing and communications professional. He served as the chief spokesperson, speechwriter, and communications adviser to former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright's UNDP Commission on the Legal Empowerment of the Poor. Shamapande also worked as a producer on projects that earned seven Emmy nominations and four Emmy wins.

2001

LAURANCE PASCAL writes: “I recently completed a novel under the pen name Owen Greer called The Hunter. It is available for purchase on Amazon in print or Kindle format. The story follows a man’s journey as he risks it all for a sacred friendship between a soldier and a translator. It begins at the end of the war in Afghanistan and spans across different continents, interfacing with Mexican drug cartels.”

Twenty-four years after graduating, NARRIC ROME continues to work in government affairs, first in the creative sector and now in K–12 education policy, working with a group of state education agencies on strengthening their high-dosage tutoring programs. Rome found time to meet up with fellow SIPA MPA alums PATTY HSIEH (left) and KARYN RICHMAN (center), who are also in the DC area.

2002

FRANCESCO PAGANO has 25 years of experience in large international corporate and startup settings, with a focus on sales and marketing and leading large direct and indirect teams across the globe. He wrote seven books (about tech and leadership), invested in five profitable and growing startups, successfully exited one, and produced three videocast series with the business publisher Il Sole 24 Ore (Italy, 5 million unique visitors per day). Pagano is a speaker and moderator, and he loves theater and good Italian food.

HEIDI ELIZABETH PHILIPSEN-MEISSNER writes: “While at SIPA, I was interning for director Wim Wenders’s film company Road Movies GmbH in Berlin, which influenced my passion for social impact filmmaking. Since then, I’ve made several of my own movies, including my most recent film, Love & Vodka (Horilka), a romantic comedy with a Ukrainian-American transatlantic twist. It won the Women Film Critics Circle Award for Best Film at this year’s Socially Relevant Film Festival in NYC in March and is supporting Razom, a 501(c)(3) organization supporting Ukraine.”

2003

CLAIRE ADIDA has been a professor of political science at University of California San Diego for 15 years. Adida researches immigrant integration and exclusion, from West Africa to France and the US. She tries to understand what exacerbates and reduces outgroup prejudice. She teaches on the politics of multiculturalism and immigration. In July Adida moved to Stanford University as a senior fellow in the Center for Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law and a professor of political science. She writes: “My wife and I have two kids, entering 10th and 8th grades. We love to travel, hike, run, explore, and be with family and friends.”

DARA ERCK is the founder of SAM+LEO, a teen wellness brand focused on mental health. This September, SAM+LEO launched in regional Whole Foods Market stores as part of the retailer’s Local and Emerging Accelerator Program (LEAP), which selected just 10 brands out of more than 1,600 applicants.

DAE LEVINE writes: “After visiting India in October 2024 to see fellow SIPA alum Eric Garcetti ’95, I returned to the LA airport department—only to be activated by Mayor Bass as a disaster service worker during the wildfires, serving as a communications liaison at the Emergency Operations Center. After three months there, I transitioned back to City Hall, where I now serve as senior communications adviser to Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky, chair of the Budget Committee, during one of LA’s most consequential budget years.”

2004

DIANA YOUSEF is founder and CEO of change: WATER Labs, a mission-driven cleantech venture to extend safe water and sanitation access to poor and vulnerable communities around the world. Yousef’s career spans the arenas of academic life sciences research, international economic development, strategy consulting, finance, and private equity investing. Her work has been recognized globally and covered in publications such as Forbes and Bloomberg, and she has spoken at events, including at the 2019 UN Climate Action Summit. Watch the TEDx Talk Video

2006

LUDOVIC HOOD has over two decades of experience in the US and multilateral foreign policy spheres and was recently promoted to chief of staff and counselor to the presidential envoy for Russia and Ukraine, General Keith Kellogg.

AMIT SARAOGI coleads Oorja, a social enterprise that provides solar irrigation services and climate-smart agricultural advisory to smallholder farmers in India. Oorja secured $1.5 million in the pre-series A funding round, which attracted $1.2 million in equity finance from impact investors Acumen, elea (a family trust advised by Artha Impact), Echoing Green Signal Fund, Partners Group (via its employee-run impact investment association PG Impact), and 1to4 Foundation, as well as $300,000 in non-dilutive funding from the Swiss Re Foundation.

2008

LEIF HOLMBERG writes: “As of January 1, I am serving as board cochair of the Green Climate Fund, the world’s largest public fund dedicated to climate action. The GCF operates under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and allocates billions of dollars to support global climate mitigation and adaptation efforts.”

AIGERIM KASSYMBEKOVA writes: “At SIPA, I walked into a classroom full of strangers from five continents—and left with a global family. From late-night policy debates to spontaneous dance lessons in the student lounge, every moment reminded me that solving the world’s toughest problems starts with connection, courage, and coffee.”

DAN SHEPHERD authored the article “Why Urban Trees Matter—Visualizing the Impact of Tree Equity on Los Angeles Children,” which was featured in the recent nature-focused fifth issue of the Data Visualization Society’s Nightingale Magazine. His article delves into the important insights in one of his highly regarded data storytelling projects.

2009

ANNE YTRELAND writes: “At the end of 2024, after almost a quarter century studying and working in the USA, I left my position at USAID and moved back to my home country, Norway. Here, I am working to expand NORAD’s strategic partnerships with the private sector, bringing lessons from USAID’s many innovative approaches that make foreign aid more sustainable and inclusive. It has been an odd and difficult period witnessing the dismantling of the world’s largest and most influential aid agency. My heart goes out to my many friends, colleagues, and partners affected by this destruction. At the same time, it is heartening to see that those of us who are working on international solidarity are staying positive and finding new ways to make the world better.”

2010

ALEJANDRO ROSALES MAYR joined Miami-based Frontera Capital Advisors as a senior director, advising companies, private equity firms, and financial institutions investing and operating in Latin America and the Caribbean. He focuses on M&A, capital raising, and turnaround/restructuring services, helping clients navigate the region's complex markets and achieve their objectives in the region.

CONNIE TOOKER NUÑEZ was named New Mexico’s 2025 Remarkable Women winner. For nearly two decades, she has been working in the nonprofit sector as an advocate, positively impacting the lives of at-risk youth and families.

GORDON ZHAO writes: “I am the executive chairman, Huntington Education at Charterhouse Lagos, the most prestigious British private school in Africa.”

2012

EDWARD REYNOLDS writes: “In May 2024, I graduated from Georgetown University Law Center as a Business Law Scholar and with exceptional pro bono pledge recognition. I was sworn in to the Massachusetts Bar in November 2024 and the New York Bar in June 2025, and am an associate at Latham & Watkins.”

RICHARD C. REYNOLDS writes: “I graduated from Georgetown University Law Center in May 2024 and received exceptional pro bono pledge recognition for completing over 200 hours of service. I joined Latham & Watkins in September 2024 and was sworn in to the Massachusetts Bar in November 2024 and the New York Bar in June 2025.”

2014

DARIELA SOSA was part of the team behind Operación Retuit, winner of the 2025 King of Spain International Journalism Award for International Cooperation and Humanitarian Action. Amid rising persecution in Venezuela, the project used AI-generated avatars to publish sensitive news while protecting journalists’ identities. Produced by the investigative platform Connectas and over a dozen newsrooms, it reached 41 million users through 30 episodes in Spanish and English, countering censorship with bold, collaborative storytelling.

LAURA SUNDBLAD was named deputy head of mission at the Embassy of Finland in Dakar, Senegal.

2015

AL-DAANA AL-MULLA is a senior diplomat and attorney with over 14 years of experience in international law, international relations, and conflict resolution. She represented Qatar at the United Nations, leading negotiations on human rights and the Sustainable Development Goals. In 2024 Al-Mulla delivered the keynote speech at the Georgetown University Model UN Conference to a record 863 students. The Middle East Policy Council recognized her twice, in 2023 and 2025, as an influential diplomat shaping US–Middle East relations.

FILIP J. SCHERF writes: “After 10 years of field research, my first book, The Lost Land: A Story of Modern Russia (Host, 2024), was published, becoming a bestseller longlisted for Magnesia Litera, an annual book award presented in the Czech Republic since 2002. This journey began at SIPA, where I graduated thanks to the generosity of Marc St. John ’85, donor of the Robert Legvold Fellowship, and the International Fellows Program. At Columbia’s Harriman Institute, I was inspired by Alan Timberlake, Peter Clement, Stephen Sestanovich, and a remarkable team I’ll always cherish.”

2016

JULIANA A. CARDOSO has over 10 years of government experience across environmental, agricultural, and economic sectors. She is the deputy secretary of economic development for the State of São Paulo, leading key structural programs such as Facilita SP (economic freedom), Trampolim (inclusive employment), and SP Produz (regional industrial policy). An environmental engineer with an MBA from FGV and a specialization in entrepreneurship from Babson College, she is also a Lemann Foundation Fellow and a RenovaBR Leader committed to inclusive, high-impact public policy.

JENNIFER KANYAMIBWA-BIGGS writes: “I am the COO of Plant Lady Juice Co., an urban farmer-founded wellness brand deeply connected to nature. In addition to our wellness services, we provide handcrafted juices, teas, elixirs, cleanse kits, and a new apothecary line. Our mission is to offer natural, sustainable, and effective plant-based wellness products that heal and elevate the mind, body, and spirit. We grow our own herbs and source seasonal produce from fellow farmers, ensuring that everything we make is fresh, nutrient-dense, and crafted with care.”

SAMUEL PIERRE is managing partner and senior executive at SMP Global Consultants, a business management consulting firm specializing in helping minority- and women-owned enterprises develop business and secure government contracts. The firm also partners with urban cities to boost economic development and help local communities thrive. With over 10 years of experience across local, state, and national government, Pierre has built relationships that support projects and programs for religious, nonprofit, and private organizations. He is also an adjunct faculty professor at St. Francis College, teaching Introduction to Entrepreneurship to first- and second-year students.

MICHAEL SEDILLO was appointed by Mayor Eric Adams to lead the NYC Mayor’s Office of Nonprofit Services. In this role, Sedillo serves as the chief liaison between the city and nonprofit partners who deliver essential services to New Yorkers.

After graduating from SIPA, Fulbright Scholar and Maguire Fellow MARIA UL MULK cofounded Villa Ayun, Pakistan’s first woman-led ecotourism resort, pioneering sustainable hospitality in the region. As a model for climate-conscious tourism, it integrates renewable energy, organic farming, and community development. Recognized by Forbes this year and awarded the Tourism Excellence Award by the government of Pakistan, Villa Ayun set a national benchmark. Ul Mulk credits SIPA’s interdisciplinary training for enabling her to drive social innovation and impact in Pakistan’s evolving tourism landscape.

2017

MONICA JOHNSON writes: “I started playing tackle football at the highest level women are able to play in 2022 with the San Diego Rebellion in the Women’s National Football Conference. I never played a team sport in my life due to depression, until I was 36 years old when the owners of the San Diego Rebellion invited me to try out after a team workout. After my second season, my teammates voted me Most Improved Player in 2023.”

OLA MOHAJER is the Founder and CEO of Transcend, an AI-powered platform purpose-built for peace, security, and strategic risk. A former refugee, war survivor, and senior expert at the United States Institute of Peace, Ola brings a personal commitment to solving the world’s hardest problems through technology, inclusion, and principled leadership. At Transcend, she leads a team building the first agentic AI platform for non-kinetic strategy—accelerating analysis and surfacing strategic options to help governments, organizations, and companies act faster and more wisely in the face of crisis. She is married to the love of her life, whom she met at SIPA, and has two daughters.

DHRUV PANDEY writes: “My journey isn’t about scale—it’s about the spark in a child’s eyes when they see change is possible. From Teach For India to Dalberg and Enabling Leadership, I’ve seen education and policy transform lives. Columbia SIPA armed me with tools to turn idealism into action. Now, as CEO of Make-A-Wish India, I believe a wish is more than joy—it’s hope, strength, and a reimagined future. Let’s create transformative moments, one wish at a time. Join me.”

2018

MARIO PONSELL  completed the Plant-Based Culinary Arts career program at the Institute of Culinary Education in Manhattan in 2025, aiming to launch a culinary arts–focused career transition program for veterans. In Fall 2025, Ponsell transitioned to NYC civil service, becoming the first Employment Specialist with the NYC Department of Veterans’ Services, where he assists veterans and military-affiliated persons with career development opportunities and holistic personal and professional branding.

LOBSANG SALAKA, a US Army veteran, is a foreign affairs specialist with the Department of the Air Force. An expert in public policy and law with a focus on political-military and economic issues, he supports US government international engagement activities. His military experience and graduate studies in international economic policy prepared him for federal service and doctoral-level research, culminating in a doctorate in law and policy from Northeastern University.

JAYANT SHARMA writes: “On May 28, I launched a new publication, Generations Hence. It is a systematic and longitudinal effort to map AI prophecies and AI’s actual impact, real and foreseen, that might shape our foreseeable and distant future. It’s an exercise in collective sense-making. What if the key to understanding AI’s impact isn’t found in any single prediction or piece of emerging evidence, but in the constellation of prophecies and evaluations from economists, technologists, historians, biologists, sociologists, entrepreneurs—those on the receiving end of transformations, among others?”

2019

JASNEET HORA concluded his government service as deputy director of speechwriting for Vice President Kamala Harris and as speechwriter and special adviser to Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken. He now works as a policy and communications advisor to select businesses and nonprofits, and teaches a class on public policy at the University of California Washington Center.

KATRINA NIEHAUS joined Evercore as senior managing director to lead the structured capital solutions group.

2020

SOPHIE CAPSHAW-MACK was selected to exhibit her new media installation at the Chen Zekun Long River International Art Gallery in Jingzhou, China, where her work is now part of the permanent collection. She had the honor of giving a speech at the opening gala, representing the international artists in attendance. Capshaw-Mack continues to explore global impact through technology, environmental ethics, and artistic experimentation.

PETE ZHENG was named among the 2024 Gaingels 100, a collection of amazing, accomplished, and inspiring LGBTQIA+ venture-backed entrepreneurs.

2021

MIKE BENEVENTANO writes: “Since graduating from Columbia SIPA, I have been building my career as a bank supervisor at the New York Fed, focusing on consumer protection risk and financial innovation. I am now married to a wonderful wife with two beautiful children.”

DRASHTI BRAHMBHATT is the inaugural director of equity planning and technical assistance and training for the New York City Mayor’s Office of Equity and Racial Justice. He is at the forefront of combating income and racial inequities.

JUNTAO LIU previously worked at the Bank of China’s New York branch and now works on the country risk team of a top Chinese investment bank, CITIC Securities, in the embassy district of Beijing. His research group won the Outstanding Paper Award from the Securities Association of China.

2022

MADDIE BAKER serves as operations manager for two of New York City’s largest business improvement districts, Bryant Park Corporation and the 34th Street Partnership. In 2022 she was tasked with eliminating rats from New York’s renowned Bryant Park, and over two years, she was able to reduce measurable rodent activity in the park by over 75 percent and has been consulted as a resource by various city agencies and other BIDs. At the first National Rat Summit held in September 2024 at New York City’s Pier 57, Baker was invited to present on the challenges to successful rat mitigation, specifically how these challenges manifest in public parks.

MARCOS PAYA is a partner and director of the Mexico City office of Dalberg, where he leads teams and clients in solving some of the world’s most pressing development challenges. He coleads the company’s global finance and investment practice, working extensively on addressing the financing gap for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals through sustainable capital allocation. Paya is also a leader in Dalberg’s Latin America practice. Previously, he worked for the Eurasia Group, led projects for the Inter-American Development Bank, and was a senior consultant for the Monitor Group.

2023

RWODAH ALNAIMI was appointed director of investment at Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD), bringing over seven years of experience in sustainable development, innovation, and strategic finance. She leads the integration of financial sustainability with high-impact development, deploying innovative instruments and aligning investments with Qatar’s national and global development goals. Her background includes leadership roles in strategic partnerships and digital innovation.

ANNE IFEOMA CLARKE writes: “In many parts of Nigeria, emergency services are delayed, inaccessible, or entirely unavailable, costing lives simply because bystanders lack the skills or confidence to help. To change this, I founded Empowered Futures Africa, a nonprofit dedicated to integrating CPR and emergency response education into Nigerian schools. Our goal is to equip students with life-saving skills and the confidence to act. We’re not just teaching procedures, we’re raising a generation of lifesavers.”

CHRISTIAN KÖNIG  In 2025, Christian ran as the Green Party candidate for the German national parliament in his home constituency in February 2025. Challenging a long-standing incumbent, he achieved the best first vote result for the local Greens in a federal election to date.

YANG NI writes: “Since graduating, I have founded Symbiotic Future, an AI-driven education and mental health startup committed to advancing social equity by democratizing human-centric data. Fueled by my passion for equal access, we transform research and design into accessible AI products. In recognition of our impact, I received the 2025 Forbes China Innovative Impact Award in International Education and was invited to present at the Third International Digital Mental Health and Wellbeing Conference in Spain.”

YELIM SHIN writes: “I am pursuing a PhD in political science at Ohio State University. My research interests center on international relations, particularly nuclear security and regional security dynamics in East Asia and the Korean Peninsula.”

2024

ALI YAWAR ADILI coedited the book Afghanistan and International Relations (Routledge, 2025) with William Maley (of the Australian National University) and Paul Lushenko (of the US Army War College).

RALPH EL JALBOUT writes: “I launched GéoPoly Global as a research and advisory platform where recent graduates can develop their portfolios and transition into the professional world. It served as my professional anchor when I presented my paper on AI governance at the UN in Geneva in March, an experience that inspired me to extend the platform to my peers. I envision GéoPoly becoming a trusted bridge for future graduates moving from academic work to policy consulting and strategy.”

LAURA SETRAKIAN-ADANALIAN writes: “My latest personal update is that I had my first child on April 9. Sebastian Chahé Adanalian is a healthy little boy, and we are incredibly excited to welcome him into our family.”

DOMINIC MISIOLO JR. SOFE writes: “I began my Executive MPA at Columbia SIPA in 2022, inspired by my wife and driven by being the first Samoan at SIPA. Balancing new fatherhood, career changes, and my mother’s passing during global crises tested me deeply. Yet SIPA offered growth, connection, and purpose. I carry forward knowledge and determination to amplify the voices of small island nations like mine on the world stage.”

1992

SONIA DACCARETT published The Roots of the Guava Tree: Growing Up Jewish and Arab in Colombia (Simon & Schuster, 2025), a debut contemporary memoir about a young woman struggling to understand her identity as the daughter of a Jewish mother and Christian Palestinian father while coming of age in Colombia as increasing violence and the instability of the 1980s engulf her country.

1993

BRENT DUCKOR is a professor at San José State University’s College of Education, and executive director of its Center for Innovation in Applied Education Policy. A national leader in K–12 assessment for learning, he specializes in educational measurement, psychometrics, and formative assessment practices. His scholarship appears in leading journals, and he coauthored Mastering Formative Assessment Moves (ASCD, 2017) and Feedback for Continuous Improvement in the Classroom (Corwin, 2023). His forthcoming book, AI for Deeper Learning, will be published by Harvard Education Press in 2026. Duckor also focuses on international business, and consults globally through his firm, Validity Partners.

RICHARD GREENWALD writes: “I have cofounded NosTerra Venture Capital, a firm investing at the intersection of data centers and energy. This venture builds on my experience as both a student and adjunct at SIPA and my work in public-private partnerships addressing national challenges. It also connects to my time at NosTerra Ventures, a Menlo Park–based nonprofit focused on energy, education, and democracy.”

1995

After graduating from SIPA, KLAUS FAMIRA continued his studies at Oxford in England and joined the Austrian Foreign Service. He holds a PhD in European Union law. His career has included postings in Rome, Brussels (NATO), and Berlin. He is now the ambassador in charge of host country affairs for some 50 international organizations based in Vienna. Famira is married and has a son (14) and a daughter (9).

ERIC GARCETTI writes: “While serving as US ambassador to the Republic of India, I was visited in 2024 in New Delhi by my old classmate and fellow ambassador Jonathan Henick ’93, who has had an outstanding career as a diplomat with the US State Department, most recently as US ambassador to Uzbekistan. After completing my service, I was able to visit Jonathan and his wife, Dominique, in Tashkent and stay with them for several days.

I think if you told 21-year-old Eric and 21-year-old Jonathan that we would be serving together in a couple of countries halfway around the world from New York, we would have laughed—but as fate would have it, life brought us alongside one another three decades later. We both have SIPA grads in our missions and have a sense that SIPA really prepared its grads for the work of the world, which has never been more complex or more critical.

I returned home to Los Angeles this summer to work as a subnational ambassador for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change through the Brazil COP30, representing 13,000 cities and regions across the world taking bold climate action. Jonathan continues his service as ambassador in Tashkent and is doing an amazing job.”

1997

LAWRENCE LEWITINN is managing editor for North America at The Block, where he leads coverage of crypto, financial markets, and regulation. In addition, Lewitinn has been organizing and digitizing the artwork and archives of his great-granduncle, Landès Lewitin—a mid-century abstract artist whose work was exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art and who was part of the vibrant postwar New York art scene. This past year, Lewitinn was also elected to the board of education in Tenafly, NJ. He is a proud dad of two young children and completed the TCS New York City Marathon.

1999

MICHELLE “MIMI” MURPHY Michelle “Mimi” Murphy, JD, obtained certification in Creating Brand Value for Harvard Business School (HBS). She is currently enrolled in HBS’ Driving Sales and Strategy as she works to obtain her MBA. Ms. Murphy owns a small business on Beacon Hill, Boston.

1981

GARY PICKHOLZ writes: “This is my fifth administration, both Dem and GOP, starting with the Columbia brain trust going to DC for Jimmy Carter as an MIA student. An important point is that I returned after 20 years as an expat, precisely to lend the perspective of ‘those who drive on the left’ and prevent an ‘everyone is from Washington/Wall Street’ common concept bubble risk.”

1982

REED D. AUERBACH writes: “As part of this year’s University Commencement ceremonies, I was honored to be 1 of 10 alumni to receive the Alumni Medal, the highest honor bestowed by the Columbia Alumni Association for distinguished service to the University.”

LYNN ELLSWORTH, founder of Friends of Duane Park, the Empire Station Coalition, and Humanscale NYC, wrote Wonder City: How to Reclaim a Human-Scale Urban Life (Fordham University Press, 2025). The book examines themes including architecture, historic preservation, urban planning, and the political economy of housing in NYC. She obtained a PhD in economics from the University of Wisconsin back in 1988 and worked in foreign aid most of her career.  She even taught African economic development at SIPA for a time. 

GORDON GRAY writes: “I teach courses on diplomacy, North Africa, and US foreign policy in the Middle East at George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs. Last Spring, I had the very good fortune to reconnect at an Elliott School event with FERIAL SAEED, a friend from International House, SIPA, and the Foreign Service.”

1983

GLENN KESSLER, fact checker for The Washington Post, was awarded the 2025 Nellie Bly Award for investigative reporting by the Museum of Political Corruption.

CHARLES A. SANTANGELO writes: “I am honored to receive the Federal 100 award for my role as the DHS representative to the Federal Acquisition Security Council (FASC), an OMB-led interagency council that combats significant supply chain risk in the acquisition and use of federal information technology, including IT products provided by adversarial nations.”

1984

KATE GRIFFITH writes: “We’re celebrating the 25th anniversary of our winery, Flying Goat Cellars. My husband/partner was named 2025 Vintner of the Year by the Sta. Rita Hills Wine Alliance. Flying Goat was also honored with a Spirit of Small Business Award by Pacific Coast Business Times.”

1989

LENA PAPALEXOPOULOU received the Columbia Alumni Association (CAA) Alumni Medal at this year's University Commencement, the highest honor given by the CAA for distinguished service to the University.

1971

What does a SIPA alum do after a 40-year career as dean and professor at three business schools in the US and abroad? From his perch in Carmel, CA, BILL PENDERGAST developed and maintains a website, www.mychansonfrancaise.com, devoted to the study and practice of classic French chansons.

1972

J. BOYD H. BLACK was reelected as the Northern Ireland representative on the UK Labour Party’s National Policy Forum.

1973

RICHARD BOUDREAUX writes: "I am a prize-winning journalist who retired from The Wall Street Journal in 2024, concluding a 54-year career covering major stories across Latin America, the former Soviet Union, the Middle East, and Southern Europe. My wife and I have settled in London, where we launched a company that provides editing and mentoring to young independent journalists aiming to get their work published."

GUY GUGLIOTTA completed his fourth book, Grant's Enforcer: Taking Down the Klan (University of Georgia Press, 2025), which recounts the brief but eventful career of Reconstruction-era Attorney General Amos T. Akerman, the first lawman to prosecute hate crimes and civil rights violations in federal court. His legal team sent the first iteration of the Ku Klux Klan into oblivion in 1871–72 in a six-month campaign by focusing federal law enforcement on a single county in South Carolina.

1975

DEAN HARRIS writes: “I am the CEO of a plant-based wellness business and have just launched a CBD coffee that addresses pain and anxiety. It tastes great and has no hemp taste or aroma. Our Sigh brand CBD coffee delivers a promised dose of CBD in the brewed cup as measured by an independent testing lab. This is an excellent application for CBD as 73 percent of Americans drink coffee every day, and there is a fair degree of anxiety and pain in the world.”

HARUT SASSOUNIAN writes: “I am the founding president of the Armenia Artsakh Fund since 1989, which has donated to the Republic of Armenia $1.06 billion of humanitarian aid. I am also the publisher of The California Courier, founded in 1958, and I was awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.”

1979

SUSAN ZELONY BREEN writes: “My new novel, Merry, was published by Alcove Press on September 23.”

1965

ROGER BUNKER writes: “Now retired and living in Bloomfield, CT, with my wife of 60 years, Judi. I remain active in the community and continue to demonstrate in support of our vision for the United States, one not reflected by the current administration. I worked in international and commercial banking until 1991, when I entered law school and later practiced children’s law, focusing primarily on special education.”

MEL GURTOV will be publishing his 33rd book, China Inside and Out: International Relations in a Changing World Order (Bloomsbury Academic), in early 2026.

1966

MICHAEL M. GUNTER writes: “My coauthored book Abdullah Ocalan and the Kurdish Issue: A Political Biography has been accepted for publication by Routledge Press. I recently published or copublished Forgotten Exile: The Deportations of Azerbaijanis by Armenians (Brill, 2025); Heydar Aliyev and the Foundations of Modern Azerbaijan (Palgrave Macmillan, 2024); Erdogan’s Path to Authoritarianism (Lexington Books, 2024); The Karabakh Conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan (Palgrave Macmillan, 2022); and The Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict (Routledge, 2022). I also delivered the keynote speech at the international conference on Kurdish identity at Sulaymaniyah University in April, among others.”

2000

ANGELA CHITKARA moderated a panel on the India-China relationship and its global implications at the 2024 Milken Conference alongside notable speakers including Eric Garcetti ’95, US ambassador to India.

2001

DAPHNE EWING-CHOW joined the Food Culture Alliance as part of its lead group in May.

2002

CAROLINA GUTIÉRREZ relocated from Santa Cruz, Bolivia, to Washington, DC, to join the World Bank as a consultant for the Independent Evaluation Group.

JOANNA GREENBERG HILL writes: “In the 20 years since SIPA, I studied national outcomes from resilience and well-being programs and worked at mental health nonprofits and in personal counseling. I wrote a book to share personal and professional stories and the transformational information I had learned in order to reverse epidemics and raise families and communities with high levels of well-being—one person, one moment at a time.”

HELENA LIAPKOVA-POZSAR writes: “After leaving my successful career at Julius Baer Investment Management, I pursued my passion for creating value and found my calling in coaching. Following training in the UK, I established ELP Coaching, an executive coaching business.” 

BREMLEY LYNGDOH, CEO and founder of Ecofriend World, writes: “Ecofriend World has a mission to plant one billion mangrove trees before 2030. One hundred million mangrove trees have been planted in collaboration with Worldview International Foundation, Worldview Impact Foundation, Worldview The Gambia, and other partners in Myanmar, India, Togo, Benin, and The Gambia that will draw down 100 million tons of CO2 within 40 years.”

SIUSUE MARK authored Forging the Nation: Land Struggles in Myanmar's Transition (University of Hawai‘i Press, 2023), which discusses Myanmar’s democratization from 2010 to 2020 through the lens of land politics.

2003

LAUREN HADI joined the Decolonizing Wealth Project as vice president of resource mobilization. She works toward healing the generational harms of colonization through reparative giving.

IORI KATO writes: “Realizing a world where every pregnancy is a wanted one, every childbirth is safe, and there is no gender-based violence—that’s the mission of the United Nations Population Fund. I moved to Fiji in August 2022 as UNFPA director for the Pacific and am overseeing assistance to 14 small island developing states (SIDS). We are also assisting member states in addressing the negative effects of climate change and pandemics on women’s and young people’s health, and analyzing demographic dynamics.”

2004

FRANCISCO X. PINEDA writes: “After returning from a Title 10 military deployment to Djibouti as a naval reserve officer, I resumed my roles as a Columbia School of Professional Studies faculty member and at the New York City Economic Development Corporation as its executive vice president. I lead one of the largest and most ambitious economic development and decarbonization initiatives in New York City.”

2005

SIDNEY NAKAHODO is founder and general partner of Seldor Capital, a venture capital firm that invests in space technologies, and an adjunct faculty member at SIPA. In 2023 he received the University of São Paulo Alumni Award from his alma mater for his positive impact on society through innovation and entrepreneurship.

2006

AMY BOLDOSSER-BOESCH was appointed chair-elect of the board of directors of the Global Health Council (GHC), the leading membership organization devoted to advancing global health priorities. With a career spanning over two decades in health policy and advocacy, she is now a senior director at Management Sciences for Health, a global nonprofit dedicated to building resilient health systems, and serves as chair of the GHC board’s nominating committee and a member of UNFPA’s Global Advisory Council.

CHRISTINA KELLY LOPES cofounded FidoCure, the first AI-driven precision medicine platform that matches pet dogs with cancer to targeted therapies, in 2018. She coauthored research published in Nature, Scientific Reports, and other leading science journals showing how FidoCure can dramatically extend the life of canine cancer patients and accelerate the discovery of new drugs for humans. FidoCure, which is now available in thousands of veterinary clinics across the globe, has created the world’s largest database of canine cancer genomic data, and its work has been featured in Wired, The Washington Post, and elsewhere.

JONATHAN JACOBY was appointed in September as CEO of GoodWeave International, where he leads efforts to end child, forced, and bonded labor in global supply chains.
 

2008

ENGIN YAŞAR writes: “After five years at Microsoft, I am now working as vice president, Eastern Europe, at Mastercard, where I’m responsible for 12 countries, including Turkey, Ukraine, and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Even after 16 years, my SIPA education still helps me immensely. Feel free to connect at [email protected].”

2009

GORAN FILIC writes: “I completed my PhD at the University of Milan and my postdoctoral studies at the University of Bologna. I am now teaching international relations and political science courses at Franklin University Switzerland in Lugano and business A level at Swiss Academy Zurich. I am an avid cyclist, even better triathlete, and one superb soccer, basketball, and table tennis player. When I am not taking prisoners on the court, you can find me somewhere in the Adriatic Sea in Dalmatia or perhaps hiking in the Swiss Alps.”

CEO of HelloBetter HANNES KLÖPPER writes: “HelloBetter, a leading company in the digital mental health field, was selected by the World Economic Forum as one of 100 companies to be part of the 2024 ‘Technology Pioneers.’ This recognition highlights the company’s leadership in using digital technology to deliver effective, accessible, and scalable mental health solutions. The company’s evidence-based digital programs are designed to empower individuals to proactively manage their mental health, addressing a critical need by providing cost-effective care anytime, anywhere, with no waiting times.”

PAOLA ROLDÁN passed away in March after a heroic battle with ALS. She was a global champion of human and environmental rights, and her public advocacy gained momentum as she engaged in a national conversation about euthanasia in Ecuador. To honor Roldán’s work and dedication, her SIPA classmates established a fellowship fund in her memory. The Changemaker Fellowship provides support to SIPA students who have lived, worked, or studied in developing nations and who have demonstrably contributed to building a more supportive, compassionate, loving, and collaborative world to protect the most vulnerable. Please consider making a gift in honor of Roldán and to provide fellowship support to a SIPA student.

2010

SHEIKH WAQAR AHMAD leads institutional networking through active public policy advocacy and driving the sustainability agenda through partnerships and alliances with Nestlé Pakistan, which is committed to achieving net zero in alignment with the UN’s SDGs. Also, as a pro bono CEO and founding director at the Collect and Recycle (CoRe) Alliance, the first multi-stakeholder packaging alliance in Pakistan, he is actively driving the circular economy agenda.

NICHOLAS CHANG graduated summa cum laude from the Doctoral School of Linguistic and Literary Studies at Babes-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca in 2023. He studied on a scholarship from the Romanian Ministry of Education, and his research centered on anglicisms in advertising discourse in Romanian, French, and Spanish.

ISRAR MOHAMMAD KHAN is head of Pakistan’s Akhtar Hameed Khan National Centre for Rural Development (AHKNCRD) and addresses issues including food security, climate change, poverty alleviation, community-driven disaster management, and rural development. He has worked extensively on the capacity building of service providers in these fields.

MIKE LAWN was named head of North American power research at Energy Aspects in March.

ALEJANDRO ROSALES MAYR joined the Latin America Real Assets Opportunities Fund (LARA) as an investment director in March. He focuses on sourcing real asset investments in Latin America and the Caribbean.

2011

MIGNA TAVERAS is executive director of Schools That Can, an organization that promotes an education-to-employment pathway through career readiness programming that is culturally relevant, youth-centered, and prioritizes real-world experiences and connections.

2012

KHULAN DAVAADORJ writes: “I am the founder of Lhamour, Mongolia’s first organic skin care brand with a purpose to nurture and encourage the power of love through our handmade, natural, eco-friendly skincare products. Lhamour produces more than 70 products, from body care to hair care to face care, and combines traditional Mongolian nomadic remedies with modern innovation. People with dry skin who are health conscious and care about the environment are the ones that love us the most.”

MARIO NASCIMENTO has supported conflict-resolution and peacebuilding activities since 2006 with organizations like the Organization of American States, the World Bank, and the United Nations. He has worked in various posts in Colombia, Afghanistan, Washington, DC, and New York.

JOYCE TANGPANJAPON is in an external relations role with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) covering 38 countries in the Asia-Pacific region. Her portfolio includes strategic partnerships and resource mobilization from various donors.

2013

CHRISTIAN LOUBEAU became the first chief strategy officer at Grand Street Settlement in New York City in January. He leads a team focusing on advocacy, government relations, and community affairs for the nonprofit, which is over 100 years old.

ALEXANDRE VINEL is a policy officer at the European Commission working with the Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union as of May.

2014

DAVID EISLER received the 2024 Senators Bob and Elizabeth Dole Biennial Award for Distinguished Book in Veterans Studies for Writing Wars: Authorship and American War Fiction, WWI to Present (University of Iowa Press, 2022). The book explores the role of war fiction in shaping public perceptions of American conflicts.

CHRIS ESHLEMAN writes: “I’ve been working as a specialist (data scientist) for three years at Deloitte Consulting and in May was promoted to specialist master. I work almost exclusively with state government clients, most recently with California’s health insurance marketplace, Covered California.”

CARLA PELLEGRINI participated in a TEDx talk about food waste and climate change, discussing actionable steps individuals can take to tackle food waste.

In 2017 DARIELA SOSA founded Arepita, a Venezuelan daily newsletter that won the award for excellence in newsletters, single newsletter, at the 2023 Online Journalism Awards. Arepita allows Venezuelans to bypass government censorship and access crucial information.

2015

SISSI GOH is a distinguished legacy planner based in Singapore, known for her extensive expertise in wealth management and her dedication to family inheritance and succession planning. As an award-winning author and TEDx speaker, she has made significant contributions to the financial services industry, helping clients preserve and grow their wealth across generations. 

2016

RICHARD BROOKSHIRE, CEO of Black Veterans Project, writes: “On June 12 I provided congressional testimony on the VA Housing Loan Forever Act—a bill that, if passed, would contend with the legacy of discrimination faced by Black World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam-era veterans largely denied access to VA home loans between 1945 and 1977. In April the reparations work of Black Veterans Project received national attention for a lawsuit conceptualized alongside Yale Law School Veterans Legal Services Clinic, Monk v. United States, which became one of the first reparations cases to survive a motion to dismiss in American history.”

2017

CLIFFORD DUONG founded Anjiro Initiative, a 501(c)(3) organization. The initiative has provided scholarships to over a thousand students in Madagascar at the primary, middle, secondary, and university levels since 2014. In May Anjiro Initiative participated at the 2024 UN Civil Society Conference in Nairobi supporting intergovernmental efforts in the lead-up to the Summit of the Future in New York.

2018

LUIGI BUTRON grew up in Peru during a time of economic turmoil, which sparked his interest in economic policy and development. He has over 11 years of experience in macroeconomics and now works as the country economist for Brazil at the World Bank.

2019

RAUL ALCAIDE ALONSO, a vice president in Goldman Sachs’ sovereign and economic risk group, began a new position as an adjunct professor at Sciences Po in January.

CORI FAIN-FORREST was featured in This Is Alabama for founding Moxi, which aims to provide day care on demand, offering a flexible solution that benefits both families and childcare centers.

FELICIA HORWITZ, a compliance officer at the USDA, was selected for a detail with the White House Council on Environmental Quality starting this summer.

2020

CATHERINA GIOINO, court reporter for Rolling Stone magazine, writes: “I covered the Trump hush money trial in New York Criminal Court since jury selection began on April 15. In addition to analyzing why a prosecutor or defense lawyer’s line of questioning was important, I was occasionally tasked with being the ‘hallway pool’ reporter, questioning Trump after the day’s proceedings.”

VIRPRATAP VIKRAM SINGH joined the International Institute of Strategic Studies as a research fellow, based in Singapore, for the Cyber Power and Future Conflict Programme, focusing on disruptive and emerging technology.

2021

SOUVIK CHATTERJEE is a senior analyst at the New York City Mayor’s Office, where he helps NYC agencies use PASSPort, a cloud software modernizing the city’s finances. He assists with budgeting, invoicing, and payment approvals through the system.

NUSRAT FAROOQ accepted an offer of a fully funded PhD in international relations, American politics, and AI from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. She is developing a philanthropic fund focused on AI and digital safety.

XIN TONG, who started as an intern, now manages a $2 million project at the UNDP. 

2022

SEAN KEELEY joined the US Foreign Service in July 2023 and, after a year of training, was posted at the US Embassy in Beijing.

2023

NUTJAREE CHAMAPLIN writes: “SIPA was like a book that I began reading, uncertain of where its words would lead, yet equally intrigued by the journey. I never thought I’d accept a role—let alone receive recognition for my work—in business development or in geothermal heating and cooling, but that’s part of my curious and ever-changing adventure. I may have finished the book, but I now write my own chapters.”

ARANZAZÚ JORQUIERA JOHNSON writes: “I was hired by Mindr, founded by Sarah Lux-Le ’16. We now work together with a team based in NYC to cultivate leaders at every level.”

1990

SUSAN PRATT ARNDT writes: “I am a senior operating leader at FareShare and the Food, Farming and Countryside Commission working to transform the UK food system to create a more sustainable and equitable food industry.”

1991

MICHAEL PELLETIER retired from the US Foreign Service in 2021 and is now executive director of the Institute for Global Engagement at the University of Houston, where he leads the university’s efforts to educate, engage, and lead from a global perspective.

1992

DEBORAH LEIPZIGER launched the Lexicon of Change, a guide to vocabulary around the UN global goals, which aims to promote sustainable development through new paradigms and ways of thinking.

1993

MARY SWEERE, CEO of Fluid Ice Family Office, received planning permission in the UK to build a tire-recycling plant designed to recover 25,000 metric tonnes of end-of-life tires. More than 99 percent of the materials from these tires will be reintroduced into the circular economy as renewable products. The company plans to expand its capacity to 150,000 metric tons once the initial plant is operational. 

1994

JEFF VASSER writes: ”After SIPA I joined the public sector practice of Deloitte Consulting, where I focused on public facility projects such as stadiums, arenas, and convention centers. For the past 18 years, I have been with the New Jersey state government, first as president of the Atlantic City Convention Center Authority and now as executive director of the Division of Travel and Tourism. It’s rewarding to be able to use my MPA degree along with my undergraduate degree in hospitality management.”

1995

LISA BALTER SAACKS was appointed president of Trillium Surveyor, a leading provider of post-trade surveillance and best execution software. 

1997

JESSAMYN REICH ABEL writes: “My second book, Dream Super-Express: A Cultural History of the World's First Bullet Train (Stanford University Press, 2022), was awarded the inaugural Modern Japan History Association Book Prize.”

JEREMY CRAIG is involved in test preparation at Test Takers in Singapore.

AARON FRANK retired in June from a career in the private and public sectors in Europe and Canada and now lives in Ponta Delgada on São Miguel Island in the Azores. 

1998

WESLEY JORDAN writes: “Thirty years after starting one project in Ukraine, I have returned to Kyiv to launch another one. I relocated here at the end of 2023 for a greenfield investment with VisionFund, a microfinance network, to offer financing to small entrepreneurs in support of economic recovery.” 

JANE LEU writes: “I’m loving my work as a board member for Five One Labs, a nonprofit organization founded by Alice Bosley ’17 and Patricia Letayf ’17 with programs for local, displaced, and migrant entrepreneurs. Last year I got to spend some time with their Fundadoras Exponenciales Mastermind (FEM) group of impressive Colombian and Venezuelan female entrepreneurs. From a SIPA startup to a global organization, Five One is breaking down walls, building up entrepreneurial ecosystems, and highlighting the power of women on the move.”

1999

LAURA DEDOMINICIS writes: “SIPA gave me the leadership skills needed for my role as executive director of Nurturing Minds, an NGO providing quality education, life skills, entrepreneurship, and career development to help bright, at-risk girls in Tanzania become leaders in their communities. With our Tanzanian partner, SEGA, we reach over 2,500 adolescent girls annually through four programs. We are always looking for volunteers and interns and would welcome members of the Columbia community to join us!”

1980

CHRISTOPHER ZAVELO volunteers with the New York City Audubon Society, participating in trips and outings. 

1984

CLAIRE LABRUNERIE raised four daughters and now works in international development, focusing on mobilizing capital for small businesses in Africa and Asia with an emphasis on gender and climate.

BRIAN P. LANCASTER writes: “Since graduating from SIPA, I’ve held a variety of public and private positions in capital markets, finance, and real estate, including senior economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and the Bank of England in London, managing director principal at Bear Stearns, chief investment officer, real estate, at Wachovia and Wells Fargo, and head of structured products research and analytics at Royal Bank of Scotland. I am now a full-time professor at Columbia Business School, teaching finance, real estate, and capital markets courses in the MBA program. I am also a faculty adviser for the business school’s international study tours and have led trips to Thailand, Rwanda, Tanzania, Argentina, Australia, and India to study inflation and real estate. In January 2025 I am leading a trip to Saudi Arabia and the UAE to study the hospitality industry.” 

1987

LISA BENNETT is an author, speaker, and coach who focuses on helping leaders and teams develop a success mindset for a changing world. She aims to connect with others interested in addressing today’s challenges through creative problem-solving and positive future visions.

ADRIENNE EDGAR authored Intermarriage and the Friendship of Peoples: Ethnic Mixing in Soviet Central Asia (Cornell University Press, 2022). Her book won the 2023 Heldt Prize from the Association for Women in Slavic Studies, was cowinner of the 2023 Joseph Rothschild Prize in Ethnicity and Nationalism Studies, awarded by the Association for the Study of Nationalities, and was named one of the Best Books of 2023 by Foreign Affairs.

1988

RAFE EDWARD TRICKEY JR. writes: “I’m excited, humbled, honored, and very pleased to share that I was selected to serve as superintendent and president of the West Kern Community College District (Taft College). Thank you, Columbia SIPA and all of my wonderful SIPA MIA ’88 colleagues!”

1972 

BOYD BLACK writes, “We are campaigning to have the UK Labour Party fight elections in Northern Ireland and give us our democratic rights.”

1973

JOHN KUHN BLEIMAIER, known as a farmer, essayist, poet, rally driver, and lawyer, celebrated 53 years since his graduation from Columbia College and his enrollment in SIPA. Over the years, he acquired Falkenhorst, an 18th-century New Jersey farm; published over 100 articles on subjects including theoretical jurisprudence, diplomatic history, classic cars, and sporting shotguns; won rallies held by the Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, and Sports Car clubs of America; and was designated poet laureate of the L. C. Smith Collectors Association. He has been practicing immigration law and private international law in Princeton, NJ, since 1976 and is a member of the board of directors of the Princeton Bar Association.

MARY ANN P. GROSSMAN writes: “Following my graduation from SIPA, I have enjoyed careers in international finance/consulting and nonprofit development. I am now a graduate student/trainee in counseling psychology. In my next career phase, I plan to specialize in treating trauma and providing psychotherapy to immigrant families, adults, and older adults.”

1974

PETER PODBIELSKI delivered the Fiedorczyk-Wodarski Lecture in Polish American Studies at Central Connecticut State University in April, marking the 50th anniversary of the Polish Studies Program.

TOM SLAYTON was inducted this spring into the University of Idaho Alumni Hall of Fame for his work in the global rice market, including his role in stabilizing rice prices during the 2008 world food crisis.

1976

JEFFREY KASHIDA wrote the fantasy novel Jupiter and Friends (Mermaid, 2023), which imagines Shakyamuni Buddha, Jesus, and Muḥammad living during the same period and interacting. The story follows characters Eugene and Mohamed in their respective journeys of discovery and enlightenmen

1957

DON BRONKEMA retired from the US Environmental Protection Agency in 2012 and resides in Washington, DC. Bronkema is dedicating his retirement to preparing a comprehensive, 158,240-page file for the Columbia University Butler Library archives.

1964

MARK JUERGENSMEYER retired from UC Santa Barbara as the founding head of the global studies program and now teaches global conflict at Claremont McKenna College. Juergensmeyer’s book God at War was updated by Oxford University Press with the title Why War Needs God and God Needs War, with references to Ukraine and Gaza. The International Studies Association honored him with the creation of the Mark Juergensmeyer Best Dissertation 

JOSEPH RAMOS’s book Belief or Unbelief: The Mystery of God in the Light of Reason was published by Wipf & Stock in December.

1966

SUSAN AURELIA GITELSON is the author of Giving Is Not Just for the Very Rich: A How-To Guide for Giving and Philanthropy. Gitelson’s book was showcased by ReadersMagnet at the Guadalajara International Book Fair from November 25 to December 3. This reference book explores the motivations behind philanthropy and offers guidance on making informed charitable choices.

1967

WILLIAM PENDERGAST created a website, Classic Chansons Françaises, featuring links and translations of 60 songs by 35 artists, along with bios and song histories. An International Fellow and a Herbert H. Lehman Fellow at SIPA, Pendergast had a distinguished career as a professor and dean of business schools in Brussels, Prague, Sarajevo, and California and now resides with his wife, Carol, in Carmel, CA.

2000

CLARK D. GRIFFITH launched a new lending business, Legacy Corporate Lending, with Bain Capital, an investment he sees as “a significant opportunity to leverage our combined credit investment and industry expertise to provide borrowers with flexible, solutions-oriented capital.”

2002

CAROLINA GUTIERREZ writes: “Excited to share that my son Luke Taliercio graduated from Virginia Tech Engineering in Computer Science and my other son, Noah Taliercio, is going to Columbia’s School of Engineering this fall and I am moving back to the US after 18 years overseas. I am looking for my dream job in NY or DC!”

2003

AARON MYERS and JON SOUZA ’20 teamed up to co-deliver a Hip Hop diplomacy program called Projeto Hip Hop BR-US in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, working with local artists for a collaborative series of workshops exploring the history and practice of dance. The project was sponsored by the US State Department’s Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund. 

SONAL PATNEY is a banker and a new author of How Should We Think About Debt Capital Markets Today? ESG’s Effect on DCM which explores sustainable finance lending, ESG debt, regulatory landscapes, and case studies of companies like Enel, Novartis, and Hewlett-Packard to showcase the impact of sustainability-linked financings in Europe and the US. The book is published internationally by Europe Books and can be found in Columbia and NYU bookstores, as well as online platforms like Waterstones.com, Amazon.com, and BN.com.

CHING-YU YAO represented Yu-Ih Hou, mayor of New Taipei City and candidate in Taiwan’s 2024 presidential election, on a visit to the New York City Mayor’s Office on March 6. The two cities jointly signed the NYC Voluntary Local Review (VLR)  Declaration in 2020, and the two mayors share a background of law enforcement and an agenda of urban resilience and post-pandemic recovery. Since Mayor Hou’s nomination, Ching-yu’s role as the director general of secretariat has been furthering dialogues with key US officials and scholars on promoting regional peace and strengthening US-Taiwan alliance, including arranging meetings with Laura Rosenberger—chair of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), the top US official in charge of Taiwanese affairs—and conducting talks with Professor Andrew Nathan of Columbia.

2006

SHIRLEY BINDER, SHIRA YASHPHE, and ARNAUD GOESSENS attended the World Wildlife Conference in Panama. Shirley represented Panama’s Ministry of Environment while Shira works for the Cheetah Conservation Fund and Arnaud works for the Wildlife Conservation Society. 

2008

BEATRIZ FRITSCHLER is serving as deputy commissioner of the Office of Strategic Partnerships for the NYC Department of Social Services. In this role, she is responsible for the development of synergistic partnerships between the public, private, philanthropic, and academic sectors, with the goal of enhancing resources and support for NYC’s most vulnerable residents.

After graduation, MARC LIU joined BDA Partners as an M&A advisor specializing in cross-border transactions between Asia and North America. He then launched and led ELMNTL, a digital marketing agency focused on travel, hospitality, spirits, and lifestyle. He is currently the chief revenue officer for Civilized Cycle, an American electric bicycle brand, spearheading brand marketing, growth, and fundraising. Marc resides in Dallas, TX, and is a passionate martial artist, holding a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

JUNG SOOK PARK is the secretary-general of WeGO (World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization) and has dedicated her career to international cooperation, including serving as the Korean representative of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations (GAVI). She has also worked in education as a professor at Kyung Hee University and an adjunct professor of cultural diplomacy at the Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea. She is the honorary ambassador for the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and founder and executive director of the Multicultural Network & Hope Kinds Korea, an NGO that provides education and mentoring for underprivileged children in Korea.

SIVAN YA’ARI, founder and CEO of Innovation: Africa, was chosen to light a ceremonial torch in honor of Israel’s 75th Independence Day. Since its establishment 15 years ago, Innovation: Africa has installed solar systems in over 900 villages that, for the first time, have light and electricity in their schools and medical centers and, crucially, have access to clean water in villages with over 3,000 people. To date, Innovation: Africa has changed the lives of over 4.2 million people across 10 African countries.

2009

SACHIN GATHANI has cofounded Laterite, a research firm specializing in data-driven insights. It has been ranked number 54 on the list of Africa’s Fastest Growing Companies 2023 by Statista and the Financial Times. With organic growth and a commitment to rigorous research, Laterite has expanded its operations across East Africa, West Africa, and the Netherlands, serving clients with high-quality research and data collection projects.

ALEJANDRO ROSALES MAYR joined investment firm Cambridge Associates in September 2022 as an investment director in the firm’s New York office, serving endowments and foundations through custom portfolio management and asset allocation.
MARK ANTHONY THOMAS has been selected by the Greater Baltimore Committee (GBC) as its new president and chief executive officer (CEO).    

2010

AHMED SALIM partnered with Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), the leading medical and teaching hospital in Tanzania, to launch the Amne Salim Fund to promote scientific research on COVID-19 and its impact on vulnerable people. The fund has supported research projects on vaccine hesitancy amongst women in Zanzibar, myths and perceptions on vaccines, mental health challenges among frontline healthcare workers, and the use of traditional remedies for COVID-19.

2011

THOMAS RAINS is the founding executive director of the Judge Frank M. Johnson, Jr. Institute, a nonpartisan nonprofit in Montgomery, AL that creates programs and events to foster an understanding of the US Constitution and the Judiciary. The Institute also hosts visitors at the Frank Johnson Courthouse, a site in the US Civil Rights Trail.

2012

HOMA HASSAN works at the White House on policy and resources for the Middle East and North Africa. In 2022, she served as a director at the White House National Security Council. She teaches a graduate course on Analyzing US Foreign Assistance at the George Washington University in Washington, DC. Homa and her husband Naser welcomed their second child in April 2023.

JONATHAN MALAGÓN served as Colombia’s minister of housing and sanitation from 2018–22. At the time, he was the country’s youngest cabinet member. Malagón has also served as vice president of the Colombian Banking Association and director of economic analysis of Fedesarrollo. He was cited among the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders and by Apolitical as one of the World’s 100 Most Influential Young People in Government.

2013

CHRISTIAN LOUBEAU recently completed two years at the Ford Foundation and has transitioned to serve as an associate commissioner in New York City’s Department of Design and Construction where he oversees several divisions including programming to increase economic opportunities for women and people of color-owned businesses. He continues to be on leave from the US State Department.

REBECCA SAXTON-FOX moved within USAID to the Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance where she manages a team of 40 information officers who support the collection, dissemination, and communication of humanitarian information. The team includes several SIPA graduates and spans the globe and deploys to all humanitarian emergencies that USAID responds to. Rebecca lives in Washington, DC with her husband Muhammad and kids Ziad (12) and Sally (7). Please reach out to connect at [email protected].

2014

SRIDHAR ESWARAN writes: “I have been promoted and posted as commissioner for income taxes in the Ministry of Finance in Hyderabad (India), in charge of conducting search and seizure actions on tax evaders in India. I also received the Finance Minister’s Gold Medal for exemplary performance in widening the tax base in India.” 

EDER GAONA-MACEDO, the first senior officer of community-engaged research at UCLA’s Chicano Studies Research Center, has extensive experience in advancing racial justice, immigrant rights, health equity, and education justice for marginalized populations. As a former executive director of Future Leaders of America and cofounder of 805 UndocuFund, he significantly increased budgets, led grassroots organizing efforts, and provided disaster relief to marginalized communities in California.

WARDAH KHALID has joined the US State Department as a foreign affairs officer in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs in the Office of Regional Multilateral Affairs.

JASON STOUT writes: “In February 2022, my family and I were forced to leave our home in Kyiv behind because of Putin’s invasion. Since that time, my team and I have worked to provide medical equipment, emergency food supplies, protective gear, and other necessary items to vulnerable populations and volunteers on the front lines. We have returned to Ukraine ourselves whenever possible over the last 15 months, coordinating logistics with trusted local partners. We’ve seen firsthand the horrific and widespread destruction caused by Russian aggression, including two close friends and colleagues who nearly died from them. Yet thanks to the donations of people around the world, including many donors in Ukraine, we have been able to save many lives. We will be returning to Ukraine again in June to deliver more equipment that isn’t available locally. Please help us at responsibilityfoundation.org.”

2015

AL-DAANA AL-MULLA is a senior diplomat of the State of Qatar. From 2012–15, Al-Daana was posted as a diplomat to the United Nations in New York as Qatar’s lead negotiator on human rights, sustainable development, the advancement of women, and humanitarian, peace and security affairs. A number of governments have recognized her work in international affairs and her ability to mobilize and manage complex networks of stakeholders in achieving intergovernmental consensus in UN decision-making, notably, in leading high-level multilateral negotiations, bridging gaps between conflicting national positions, enhancing political cooperation, and, advancing policy objectives on behalf diverse political coalitions like the Group of 77 and China. In 2017, Al-Daana was posted to the Embassy of Qatar in Washington, DC, where she served as Director of Political Affairs of the Office of the Ambassador for five years. Al-Daana is a strong advocate for advancing US-Middle East relations and common goals and the Middle East Policy Council recently named her to their 40 under 40 list of experts shaping the present and future of US-Middle East relations.

Lieutenant Colonel ERIC MEDINA recently took command of the 489th Civil Affairs Battalion, where he will be assigned for the next two years. His most recent assignment was as the deputy division chief of strategy, plans, and policy for a Department of Defense agency in Washington, DC.

As the communications manager at the Open Society University Network (OSUN), TERRY ROETHLEIN coordinates digital communications for a global network of higher education institutions, facilitating connected learning and research. He works with students worldwide, sharing their accomplishments and stories, and promotes civic engagement to address global challenges and inequalities. Additionally, he has experience in communications management within various organizations, including activism and social rights.

2016

After her graduation from SIPA, ZHAZIRA KUL-MUKHAMMED embarked on a career in international relations. She served at the Mission of Kazakhstan to the United Nations Organization in Geneva, representing her country to the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) during its most challenging sessions conducted at the height of the COVID-19 global pandemic in 2019–21. As the human rights officer of the Mission of Kazakhstan, she was part of the official delegation presenting the Universal Periodic Report of the country to the HRC and the presentation of the national report of Kazakhstan to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in 2019. Currently, she serves as the personal adviser to the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities.

2017

Since graduation from SIPA, PAUL DELLA GUARDIA has worked as an economist in Washington, DC, focusing on macroeconomics, sovereign debt, and capital markets. In January 2023, he founded Sovereign Vibe, a data-focused blog exploring global macroeconomics and the sovereign debt landscape, and is also engaged in consulting projects, including one with NatureFinance to integrate sovereign debt market considerations for financial institutions into the recommendations for the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures.

TARA HEUZÉ-SARMINI recently launched Commune, the world’s first coliving space exclusively for single-parent families, providing them with a supportive community and turnkey housing solutions to address their needs and break the cycle of hardships. Before Commune, she founded successful initiatives like Règles Élémentaires, a leading charity fighting period poverty, and glouglou, the first universal holder for reusable bottles. Her work has received international media coverage, and she received various awards: 30 Under 30 (Vanity Fair), Top 35 of impactful young leaders (Les Échos Start x Positive Planet), and Goalkeeper (Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation) amongst others.

2018

CAMILA JORDAN writes: “Millions of people in Latin America and other countries lack affordable and safe housing, especially those living in informal settlements who face increased risks due to the climate crisis. As the executive director of TETO Brazil, a grassroots nonprofit working for housing justice and community development, I had the privilege of representing our organization at the Smart City Expo Latam Congress and witnessing the impact of our Seed House project, bringing strength and peace to families in need. While winning the prize was a great achievement, our true hope lies in raising awareness and taking action to secure housing as a fundamental human right worldwide.”

Economist ANDRÉS OSORIO served as director of the Office of Productivity and National Entrepreneurship (OPEN) in Chile’s Ministry of Economy and is currently head of microeconomic analysis at Econsult and a part-time lecturer of economics at Universidad Catolica de Chile. Andrés has been recently recognized among Who’s Who Legal’s Future Leaders—Economists 2022.

HAI PENG originally from Beijing, China served in the US Army for seven years before attending SIPA. He is currently deputy chief for China Division at Joint Staff J-5 DD Asia at the Department of Defense. In this role, he supports the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) by providing expert advice, information, analysis, briefings, studies, and reports on China and the Indo-Pacific region, both within the country and in a geopolitical context. He is responsible for preparing, evaluating, reviewing, and coordinating formal correspondence for the CJCS and senior members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff with the National Security Council.   

2019

CJ DIXON recently joined the Biden-Harris Administration as a cyber policy advisor at the Office of Cyber, Infrastructure, Risk, and Resilience in the US Department of Homeland Security. Most recently, CJ was a cyber risk specialist master at Deloitte where he provided cyber strategy, detection, and response professional services to Federal clients. CJ is also a former Google Public Policy Fellow, NYC Cyber Command alumni, and Army Veteran with eight years of active service as a medical services and psychological operations officer.

CARLOS MATIENZO and ESTEBAN ANGEL cofounded DataInt, a company that helps organizations make better, data-driven, physical security decisions with software that prevents, detects, and responds to physical security threats. The company recently achieved a significant milestone as part of the portfolio of 500, one of the top VC firms globally. 

GIOVANNI PAGÁN VÉLEZ has started a new role as an international economist at the United States Department of the Treasury. He will work at the Office of Europe and Eurasia helping craft US economic policy and building stronger transatlantic ties with America’s allies.

2020

OSITA ABANA writes: “I’m happy to share that I have been promoted to senior manager, global brand communications & responsible marketing governance at The Coca-Cola Company. I look forward to helping The Coca-Cola Company’s portfolio of loved brands reach more consumers and make a difference in the communities around the world.”

MICHELLE ANN MEZA writes: “Graduating during the pandemic, I embarked on an unexpected journey, working with the Democratic Party of Wisconsin to secure a victory for President Biden. Since then, I have served in government roles, including as a political appointee at the EPA, contributing to the administration’s historic climate goals, and now, as a National Urban Fellow committed to equity-centered policy making on the ground. Grateful for my SIPA community’s support, I look forward to the future as a proud public servant.”

PATRICK DOUGHERTY recently joined the prestigious World Bank Group Young Professionals Program (WBG YPP). He was selected as one of 44 YPs this year. The YPP program is a two-year rotational leadership program as part of a five-year contract at the World Bank Group.

REBEKAH MILLS won the Fulbright Study/Research Award In Archeology/History for Bulgaria. She started her ten-month grant in September 2023 to study the best practices in authenticity and sustainability in cultural heritage conservation. She will collaborate with the Balkan Heritage Foundation on her project Digging into History: Cultural Heritage Conservation Efforts in Bulgaria.

JON SOUZA and AARON MYERS ’03 teamed up to co-deliver a hip hop diplomacy program called Projeto Hip Hop BR-US in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, working with local artists for a collaborative series of workshops exploring the history and practice of dance. The project was sponsored by the US State Department’s Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund. 

2021

SOUVIK CHATTERJEE is involved in a significant project training New York City agencies on PASSPort, a new financial management system, to streamline invoice submissions and payments, promoting efficiency, transparency, and accountability across 40+ city agencies. This initiative involves creating training videos and conducting weekly calls to guide agency users in preparing contracts and troubleshooting issues, with the goal of implementing the mandatory new invoice submission process starting July 1, 2023.

ZISHEN (NORMAN) YE is a management consultant with McKinsey & Company in Shanghai. During his time as a student leader at SIPA, he advocated for STEM designations for SIPA degrees.

CELESTE ZUMWALT recently joined the Biden-Harris Administration at the Department of the Interior as a briefing book coordinator in the Office of the Secretary. She most recently was a policy analyst at the Office of the NOAA Administrator and an intern last summer at the White House Council on Environmental Quality.

2022

ELENA LIAPKOVA-POZSAR transitioned from a successful finance career to establishing her own executive coaching practice, driven by her passion for facilitating transformative change in leaders. With specialized training in the UK, she partners with clients worldwide, tailoring her approach to their individual needs and helping them develop new strategies to unlock their potential and thrive in today’s dynamic world.

FRANCESCO PAGANO has joined Jakala, one of the world’s largest MarTech companies in the world. He is also a shareholder at Tokenance, a Web3 studio, and at Una Terra, a venture studio, and is also a contributor to Il Sole 24 Ore, Italy’s #1 business publication.

1990

ROY C. JACKSON writes: “SIPA was instrumental in honing my critical thinking and leadership skills as I embarked on numerous general management and leadership roles in the private and public sectors to support the foodservice industry. I have had the privilege of working with YUM! Brands and the Coca-Cola Company (for the bulk of my career) and retired from Coca-Cola in 2018 after 22 years with the company. I also held non-profit board positions in the industry including chair of the Multicultural Foodservice Hospitality Association, board member for the National Restaurant Educational Foundation, and board member and International Franchise Association.”

1991

EMILY SALTZMAN is deputy director of operations managing all Westchester County governmental departments and initiatives. She and the director managed Westchester’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, developed initiatives to assist County residents with ARPA federal funding, and recruited and hired senior staff.

1993

As a chief marketing officer, MARYAM BANIKARIM led five major businesses through sweeping transformations and top line growth. Her viral New York Times essay in 2018 on taking a “pause” at the height of her career captured national attention. In 2022, Maryam once again pivoted, joining forces with the Partnership for New York City to lead an effort to revitalize New York via her purpose-driven consultancy, MaryamB. In March of 2023, she led the launch of the WE❤️NYC campaign which became the most viral campaign in the city’s history. At the height of the pandemic, Maryam cofounded NYCNext, a grassroots volunteer movement aimed at supporting New York’s artist community and revitalizing the city. The nonprofit produced 14 live pop-ups including A Moment for Broadway. To drive civic participation and build community, the team convened world-renowned artists for a star-studded video rendition of Billy Joel’s “New York State of Mind,” which received over 2.5 billion impressions, won the One Show Award, and was nominated for an Emmy.

GINA (GALLI) BEHNFELDT has been recognized for her work to rebrand invasive Asian carp and promote their consumption. The new name “Copi” and the rebranding campaign won a Silver Anvil Award for marketing excellence from the Public Relations Society of America and an Anthem Award from the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences. Recognized by Forbes and listed in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the campaign has led to significant market presence and the removal of over 15,000,000 pounds of fish from Midwestern waterways since its launch in June 2022.

URI MONSON was appointed secretary of the budget for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania by Governor Josh Shapiro.

1994

JAY CHAUDHURI is serving his third term as senate democratic whip in the North Carolina State Senate representing the capital city of Raleigh. He was recently awarded a Rodel Institute Fellowship, the nation’s premier leadership program for elected leaders; and a UNUM Fellowship that focuses on racial equity issues in the South. 

1997

MARK HUANG, cofounder and managing director of SeaAhead, celebrates the company’s 5th birthday and looks forward to setting up shop in NYC soon. They are out raising an early-stage bluetech VC fund that is fully integrated into the platform to uphold their mission which is to catalyze more STEM-based venture innovation to “go-out-sea.” 

1980

DAVID COOPER is spending his retirement improving his Hebrew and reading for pleasure. Previously he was a poet, literary translator, and book critic.

CHRISTOPHER ZAVELO volunteers with the Audubon Society in New York.

1981

PAUL BERNSTEIN recently retired after 40 years as a national security professional and is now an independent consultant in strategic security issues with affiliations at National Defense University, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and the US Air Force Academy. From 2011 to 2023 he was a distinguished fellow at the Institute for National Strategic Studies at National Defense University. Before that, he was vice president at Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), a Fortune 500 professional services firm, where he led strategic research programs.

1982

REX NISWANDER received a Cornerstone Award from the Lawyers Alliance for New York for outstanding pro bono service to nonprofits. 

BARNET SHERMAN, a member of the Screen Actors Guild, recently signed with Model Club, Inc. for representation in films, commercials, industrials, and print.

1983

PAUL CHRISTENSEN writes: “I am enjoying trips to Minnesota’s unique Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness every year. If any of my fellow 1983 graduates & friends see this please reach out to say ’hi.’ I hope you are all in good health.”

1984

MARK SPITZ writes: “We have been in Denver for the past 13 years, where I practice business law in my own firm. Mainly domestic clients but a bit international! Two grown children both here in Denver, and a four-year-old granddaughter.”

1972

BOYD BLACK is the elected representative for Northern Ireland on the UK Labour Party’s National Policy Forum (NPF). 

1975

CLIFFORD D. MAY, founder and president of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, writes: “The think tank I founded is now over 20 years old and still doing significant research on national security and foreign affairs. I also write the weekly ’Foreign Desk’ column for The Washington Times.”

1977

ALLAN GRAFMAN, CEO of All Media Ventures, was recently selected to join the board of the Phi Beta Kappa Association of New York.

1978

SUSAN ARIEL AARONSON conceived of, created, and directs the Digital Trade and Data Governance Hub at George Washington University, which educates policymakers and the public on data-driven change and data governance. The Hub is also the only organization in the world that makes the governance of personal, proprietary, and public data for 68 countries and the EU at the national and international level and analyzes how this affects innovation, human rights, and governance. Aaronson continues to take ballet and participate in triathlons.

1955 

F. LINCOLN GRAHLFS taught at several colleges, the final being the University of Wisconsin System where he taught for sixteen years and was department chair before retiring in 1988. In December 2022, he celebrated his 100th birthday.