Julien J. Studley Graduate Programs in International Affairs

Alumni & Careers

As of Spring 2022, the Graduate Programs in International Affairs have produced over 1,600 graduates who have pursued a wide variety of careers–in government, inter-governmental organizations (such as the United Nations), non-governmental organizations and civil society sector, the media, and a host of other professional paths.

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• Africa
• Asia and Asia Pacific
• Europe and Eurasia
• Latin America
• Middle East/North Africa
• North America

Select Alumni Profiles by Graduation Year

Sector and Region: Human Rights
Name: Tzlil Rubinstein
Degree: MA International Affairs 2023
Title: Social Compliance Associate, Fair Labor Association

Tzlil Rubinstein is a Social Compliance Associate at the Fair Labor Association. Originally from Israel, Tzlil has worked as a spokesperson and organizer for human rights and climate justice NGOs and social movements in the region. Prior to attending GPIA, Tzlil served as the interim director of democracy and human rights at Shatil – New Israel Fund and was a member of the leadership team at the Israeli Sustainable Fashion Forum.

Sector and Region: Public Sector, Civil Service, North America
Name: Emely Salazar Perez
Degree: MA International Affairs 2023
Title: Immigrant Affairs Coordinator, DANY

Emely Salazar Perez is an Immigrant Affairs Coordinator for the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office in the Financial Frauds Bureau. She is working specifically for the immigrant affairs unit, which is in charge of tackling fraud cases relating to our immigrant community. Common scams that are tackled by our unit are individuals who pretend to be ICE agents, individuals who provide immigration services pretending to be attorneys and many more.

Sector and Region:  Security, Humanitarianism, Non-Governmental Organizations, Europe and Eurasia
Name: Emily Wright
Degree: MA International Affairs 2023
Title:  Research Officer, Global Interagency Security Forum

Emily Wright is a Research Officer at the Global Interagency Security Forum. Her work focuses on security risk management practices for the humanitarian sector and the security of aid workers and operations. Previously, Emily was a Fulbright Fellow in Belgrade, Serbia with Partners for Democratic Change Serbia. In this role, she researched the implementation of the EU’s new digital policies and their impacts on civil society and democratic development in the Western Balkans. 

Sector and Region: Gender, Latin America
Name: Sofia Zur
Degree: MA International Affairs 2022
Title: Fulbright COMEXUS Research Scholar at CIESAS (Center for Research and Higher Studies in Social Anthropology)

Sofia Navarrete Zur is currently a COMEXUS Fulbright Research Scholar at CIESAS making a multi-media documentary about women’s resilience in Mexico amidst gender-based violence. She has previously worked on research projects for The International Rescue Committee, National Geographic, and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Sector: UN, Development
Name: Bart VosWinkel
Degree: MA International Affairs 2022
Title: General Contractor, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Financing for Sustainable Development Office

Bart is a contractor for the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Financing for Sustainable Development Office, International Tax and Development Cooperation Branch. He previously interned in the same office. This role supports the FSDO in capacity development, supports the UN Committee of Experts on International Cooperation in Tax Matters, and the UN Second committee in intergovernmental negotiations on tax matters.

Sector and Region: UN, Latin America
Name: Ximena Lucia Gonzalez Fernandez
Degree: MS International Affairs 2022
Title: Innovation and Entrepreneurship Specialist – UNDP Peru

Ximena Lucia Gonzalez Fernandez is currently an Innovation and Entrepreneurship Specialist for the United National Development Program (UNDP) in Peru. She has previously had seven years of experience in the development sector, leading programs and projects with the corporate sector, civil society, and the government.

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Sector: Arts, Culture, and Sports, Media/Communications
Name: Marine Le Canne
Degree: MA International Affairs 2022
Title: Publishing Operations Associate, APM Music

Marine is currently working at a production music company based in Los Angeles (APM Music), in the Publishing Operations department. She wants to ensure that artists and composers are paid fairly for their work. Prior to that, she was at Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in New York, working in logistics and sending American field workers on projects in all mission countries.

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Sector: Non-Governmental Organizations, Media/Communications, Humanitarianism
Name: Michael De Vulpillieres
Degree: MS International Affairs 2021
Title: Director, Media and Communications, CARE USA

Prior to joining CARE USA as Director, Media and Communications in March of 2023, Michael served as Communications Officer at the American Red Cross in Greater NY.

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Sector and Region: Gender, UN, Latin America
Name: Natalia Vega Varela
Degree: MA International Affairs 2020
Title: Director of Policy, The Gender Equity Policy Institute

Natalia Vega Varela is currently the director of policy for the Gender Equity Policy Institute, where she carries analyses from a gender lens perspective. Her experience includes development policy, macroeconomics, and feminist economics analysis. Previously, she has collaborated with international institutions such as UNDESA, non-profits, and think tanks in the U.S. and Mexico.

Sector: Security, Policy Analysis
Name: Natalie Briggs
Degree: MA International Affairs 2020
Title: Special Assistant and Program Officer, Promoting and Defending Multilateralism at the Center for International Cooperation

Before joining CIC, Natalie served as a Policy Adviser at the Norwegian Mission to the United Nations in New York, covering disarmament and non-proliferation issues during Norway’s Security Council term. Prior to joining the Norwegian Mission, she worked with organizations such as the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research, Pathfinders for Peaceful, Just & Inclusive Societies and the International Action Network on Small Arms on projects focused on disarmament and small arms control. Natalie is also a member of the Forum on the Arms Trade’s 2022-2023 Emerging Experts cohort.

Sector: Non-Governmental Organizations, Private Sector/ESG
Name: Angélica Rengifo Gómez
Degree: MA International Affairs 2020
Title: Consultant, Social Contract

Angélica Rengifo Gómez is a Consultant at Social Contract, a social and collective impact consulting firm with offices in Philadelphia and Wilmington, DE. She manages a portfolio of consulting projects and provides strategic, tactical, and operational support to specific external and internal initiatives. Prior to this role, Angélica worked as a management, innovation, and governance consultant for civil society organizations, foundations, companies and government agencies across the Americas; and, in capacity-building programs for nonprofit organizations, focused on strategy, governance, innovation, and institutional strengthening. 

Sector: Private Sector,
Name: Shay Bialik
Degree: MA International Affairs 2020
Title: Director of Global Sustainability and Ethics at Strauss Group LTD

Shay Bialik is the Director of Global Sustainability and Ethics at Strauss Group LTD, an international global Food and Beverage company. She co-founded and leads the Israel forum for ESG leaders. Shay served in the Diplomatic Service and the United Nations in New York as the delegate to the Economic and Financial Committee and the UN General Assembly.

Sector: Security, UN, Africa
Name: Cullen Barrie
Degree: MA International Affairs 2019
Title: Political Affairs Officer & Special Assistant to the Head of Field Office, Malakal – UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS)

Cullen Barrie began his career working for elected officials in municipal government before transitioning into political organizing and campaign management. From there, he decided to switch tracks and pursue a degree in International Affairs at The New School. Cullen is now a special assistant and political affairs officer, serving the head of office in Malakal. He works on various issues that touch all aspects of the field office’s work in Upper Nile State, South Sudan.

Sector: Non-Governmental Organizations, UN, Monitoring and Evaluation
Name: Stephanie Principal
Degree: MA International Affairs 2019
Title: Manager, Foundation Partnerships at UNICEF USA

Stephanie Principal is a project management professional with international and domestic experience in program development and management, partnership development, monitoring and evaluation (M&E), grant writing and grants management.

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Sector: Non-Governmental Organizations, Gender
Name: Molly Koh
Degree: MA International Affairs 2019
Title: Global Organizer & Membership Coordinator at Huairou Commission

Molly has over five years experience working with grassroots and community integrated organizations internationally in the areas of community resilience, leadership development, peer learning, global organizing, and youth and women’s empowerment. At the Huairou Commission Molly contributes to the governance processes of HC’s member elected Governing Council & committees, coordinates 100 members across 42 countries, and supports the implementation of member led initiatives which elevate and scale grassroots women’s good practices.

Sector and Region: Private Sector/ESG, Latin America
Name: Clara Marina von Loebenstein Saldarriaga
Degree: MA International Affairs 2019
Title: Sr. Marketing & Industry Team Specialist-LATAM at Winston & Strawn LLP

Clara Marina von Loebenstein Saldarriaga supports business development and marketing initiatives for Winston’s Latin America and Caribbean Practice. Clara is a native Spanish speaker also fluent in Portuguese. Clara creates pitch materials, responses to requests for proposals, and marketing materials for existing and potential clients; prepares submissions for legal rankings, directories, and league table providers; researches political and business opportunities in the region; organizes practice events; and represents the practice at industry conferences across the Americas. Prior to joining Winston, she worked with the Ambassador at the Permanent Mission of Guatemala to the United Nations in New York.

Sector: International Law, Human Rights
Name: Mia Marzotto
Degree: MA International Affairs 2018
Title: LLM candidate and legal researcher (Arbitrary Detention Redress Unit) at the University of Essex

Mia Marzotto is an LLM candidate in international human rights law and legal researcher at the University of Essex, with seven years of experience as an advocacy and communications professional in the humanitarian sector. Originally from Italy, Mia has worked in over ten countries and is passionate about advancing the rights of marginalized people and making their voices heard.

Sector and Region: Security, UN, Africa
Name: Cristina Petcu
Degree: MA International Affairs 2018
Title: Civil Affairs Officer in the Civil Affairs Division of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA)

Cristina Petcu is a Political Affairs Officer with the Political Affairs Division of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). Previously Cristina worked with the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) as a Civil Affairs Officer, leading the Mission’s work on strengthening civil society’s capacities, and before that was a Research Analyst with the Global Governance, Justice & Security Program at the Stimson Center reaching UN reform. She is a member of the Steering Committee of the Coalition for the UN We Need. Cristina is a native of Romania and holds a MA in International Affairs from The New School and a BA in Philosophy and European Studies from the University of Bucharest.

Sector: Government/Diplomacy, Private Sector/ESG, Human Rights
Name: Daniel Ibarra
Degree: MA International Affairs 2018
Title: Sustainability Coordinator at the Bogota Chamber of Commerce

Daniel’s work focuses on promoting sustainable practices, especially among SMEs, to face climate change challenges. He also plays a key role in international cooperation efforts, working with different public and private organizations to seek collaboration opportunities and achieve common sustainability goals. Additionally, Daniel works on sustainable finance opportunities and seeks to support local businesses in accessing funding and resources to implement green initiatives. Through these and other activities as an LGBTQ activist he is committed to creating a more sustainable and equitable future for his community and beyond.

Sector: Government/Diplomacy, Urban
Name: Oscar Romero
Degree: MA International Affairs 2017
Title: Chief Information Officer of the NYC Civic Engagement Commission

Oscar’s work focuses on building innovation-driven entrepreneurial ecosystems to address urban inequality across NYC by leveraging civic engagement, emerging technology, and global partnerships. He oversees the design, management, and evaluation of global multi-stakeholder partnerships to address diverse urban development challenges in the US’ largest urban economy. Ranging from issues on displacement, safety, access to social services, workforce development, access to STEAM education, access to representation, housing rights, accessible mental health services, and access to critical infrastructure.

Sector: UN, Gender, Non-Governmental Organizations
Name: Lina Castellanos
Degree: MA International Affairs 2017
Title: Programme and Coordination Specialist, UN Women

Lina’s work focuses on programme development and stakeholder engagement to foster intergenerational and multi-stakeholder allyships with civil society organizations (CSOs) and grassroots organizations, as well as strengthening civil society contribution, participation, and influence in intergovernmental fora, policy discussions, and decision processes. Originally from Colombia, Lina has also worked on peace and security, particularly on policy and advocacy to advance the Women, Peace and Security Agenda. Prior to that work, Lina worked for the Colombian government on security and protection for populations at risk.

Sector and Region: Non-Governmental Organizations, Arts, Culture, and Sports, Africa
Name: Christina Mallie
Degree: MS International Affairs 2017
Title: Executive Director & Co-Founder of Colors of Connection

Christina is an artist and humanitarian with experience in non-profit management, gender programming, and project management in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia, and Burkina Faso. She currently leads Colors of Connection’s creative work with young people in communities impacted by violence.

Sector and Region: Government, Urban Development, Asia
Name: Melissa De la Cruz
Degree: MA International Affairs 2017
Title: Special Projects Manager, Cebu City Government;
Interim Head Secretariat, Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council

Melissa R. De la Cruz is a civic researcher and designer crafting better experiences for the residents of her hometown, Cebu City. Since returning to the Philippines in 2020, she established CoLab, the country’s first Strategic Design Unit, and launched education pilots in the city. In her current role as Special Projects Manager and Head Secretariat for the City’s Disaster Council manages the interests of the City’s ₱2 billion peso Local Disaster Fund.

Sector: Human Rights, Non-Governmental Organizations
Name: Georgina Vázquez De Los Reyes
Degree: MA International Affairs 2017
Title: Senior Program Manager and Project Director at Verité

Georgina works for Verité, a nonprofit organization that builds human and labor rights in the production of consumer goods and sourcing of raw materials within global supply chains. Through her work, Georgina assists companies, multinational brands, suppliers, unions, and governments across multiple industries to improve overall working conditions. She is currently leading initiatives oriented at addressing US agriculture supply chains, including debt-bondage and modern-day slavery that accompanies labor migration. Georgina’s career spans over ten years of experience working for different United Nations agencies, including the International Labor Organization (ILO) and UN Migration (IOM).

Sector: Government/Diplomacy
Name: Mahmoud Ameen
Degree: MA International Affairs 2016
Title: Second Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Mahmoud Ameen started his career as an adviser at the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the United Nations in New York. After completing his graduate studies at the New School, he was promoted to Second Secretary and worked at the Executive Office of the Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia in Riyadh. He then joined the United Nation Office on Drugs and Crime in Nairobi as an Associate Project Officer.

Sector: Environment, Media and Communications, and Non-Governmental Organizations
Name: Ella Colley
Degree: MA International Affairs 2016
Title: Impact Lead, Gum Tree Foundation

Ella is a creative producer and impact strategist. Her work has involved media production, campaigning, project management, team leadership, facilitation and research for a range of environment and education organisations. She was previously the Head of Creative for Greenpeace Australia Pacific, leading the creation of content and storytelling for campaigns. Ella now works in environmental philanthropy, as the Impact Lead for the Gum Tree Foundation.

Sector and Area: Non-Governmental Organizations, Monitoring & Evaluation, Latin America
Name: Mónica Llaguno
Degree: MA International Affairs 2016
Title: Associate Vice-President of Research, Evaluation, and Learning, Covenant House International

Mónica Llaguno is the Associate Vice-president of Research, Evaluation, and Learning of Covenant House International (CHI), the headquarters office of a non-governmental organization that supports children and youth in North and Central America, including internally displaced children, unaccompanied migrant youth, and survivors of human trafficking. She has been part of CHI for over 6 years and leads the monitoring & evaluation efforts across Latin America.

Sector: Migration and Refugees, Non-Governmental Organizations
Name: Muhammed Korany
Degree: MA International Affairs 2016
Title: Protection Assistant, Danish Refugee Council, Larissa, Greece

Korany’s work aims to provide a safe environment for those seeking refuge from war and violence in Syria and elsewhere. He is involved in emergency relief, protection monitoring, data collection, and providing information to refugees and migrants regarding their rights and the services available to them. He also provides translation from Arabic, and leads youth activities.

Sector: Urban, Non-Governmental Organizations
Name: Maria Carrizosa
Degree: MS International Affairs 2016
Title: Associate Director for Global Housing Policy, Habitat for Humanity International

Maria is an urban informality researcher. Her work is published as a book titled Homes at Work (Routledge, 2023). Prior to joining Habitat for Humanity International, she was Assistant Director of the Observatory on Latin America at The New School. She is also part-time faculty at The New School and at the School of Architecture at CUNY’s City College of New York.

Sector: Media and Communications
Name: Matt Amaral
Degree: MA in International Affairs 2016
Title: Senior Communications Officer, Research & Innovation, International Rescue Committee

Matthew is currently the Senior Communications Officer, Research & Innovation at the International Rescue Committee (IRC), working with media and storytelling to bring visibility to the IRC’s breakthrough innovations in the humanitarian sector. Prior to the IRC, Matthew has worked in various communications roles at Bloomberg Philanthropies, Watchlist on Children and Armed Conflict, and the Council on Foreign Relations.

Sector: Development, Government
Name: Eddy Pierre
Degree: MA in International Affairs 2016
Title: Senior Communications Officer, Research & Innovation, International Rescue Committee

Eddy has over six years of experience in the public health space. He has worked for Partners in Health in Haiti and is currently working in the Emergency Management and Planning division of NYCDOHMH.

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Sector: Non-Governmental Organizations, Humanitarianism
Name: Rose Worden
Degree: MA International Affairs 2015
Title: Program Manager, Humanitarian Policy at InterAction

Rose Worden manages the forced displacement portfolio at InterAction, the largest network of US-based international NGOs with more than 170 members, headquartered in Washington DC. There she promotes collective NGO positioning on policies that affect forcibly displaced people and advocates with stakeholders including the US State Department, UNHCR, and others. She is also InterAction’s focal point for the Inter-Agency Standing Committee, the longest-standing and highest-level humanitarian coordination forum of the United Nations System. Prior to joining InterAction, Rose was a research associate at the Center for Global Development, a DC-based policy think tank, where she analyzed how humanitarian donor governments make funding choices among other projects.

Sector: Development, Humanitarianism
Name: Nathaniel Glidden
Degree: MA International Affairs 2015
Title: Multi-Year and Development Funding Lead- School-based Programmes, World Food Programme

Nathaniel is currently the Multi-Year and Development Funding Lead for the World Food Programme’s School-based Programmes division. In his current role, he has been tasked with leading a dynamic portfolio, including multi-year partnerships with the United States Department of Agriculture, the Government of Canada, the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation, and other strategic partners.

Sector: Non-Governmental Organizations
Name: Vida Tehrani
Degree: MA International Affairs 2015
Title: Senior Grants Manager, Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC)

Vida Tehrani is Senior Grants Manager at the Public Policy Institute of California where she identifies and secures grant funding that supports the institute’s mission and strategic agenda. Vida previously worked for the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Chad, and has worked with several New York-based nonprofits and United Nations programs. Vida served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Niger and Burkina Faso, and also currently serves on the Board of the Northern California Peace Corps Association.

Sector: Academia, Urban
Name: Laura S Wainer
Degree: MA International Affairs 2015
Title: Assistant Professor of Architecture and Urbanism, The Bernard & Anne Spitzer School of Architecture and The City College of New York, CUNY

Laura Wainer is an urbanist focused on the intersection between housing and urban policy, design politics, and governance. Her work and projects aim at building bridges between academia, activism, and professional practice in design.​

Sector: Non-Governmental Organizations, Development
Name: Dan Waldron
Degree: MA International Affairs 2015
Title: Head of Insights, Acumen

After 6 years working for the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor, a think tank housed within the World Bank, Dan moved to Acumen, a nonprofit venture fund, to help start a new team focused on insights, impact, and strategy. He is responsible for coordinating Acumen’s learning and knowledge work across its 6 geographies, sharing lessons learned with Acumen’s partners and the broader impact investing sector.

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Sector: Government/Diplomacy
Name: Kenya James
Degree: MA International Affairs 2015
Title: Political Officer, U.S. Embassy Bangkok 

Kenya is now a public diplomacy coned Foreign Service Officer, who joined the U.S. Department of State in 2015.  Before joining the Department, Kenya worked as a press assistant with the U.S. Senate Democratic Policy and Communication Center, an office under the leadership of the late Senator Harry Reid and current Senate Majority Leader Senator Charles Schumer.  In 2013, Kenya was awarded the Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Graduate Fellowship. Kenya served her first tour at the U.S. Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; as a Consular Officer, where she adjudicated non-immigrant and immigrant visas.  Most recently, Kenya served as the Assistant Public Affairs Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Conakry, Guinea. She specialized in cultural outreach and promoting cultural exchanges between the United States and Guinea through U.S. Embassy programming and initiatives. In addition to being selected as a 2022 Aspen Strategy Group Rising Leader, Kenya serves as secretary on the 2022 Pickering-Rangel Fellowship Association Board and a member of the Gathering Spot.

Sector and Region: Government/Diplomacy, Arts, Culture, and Sports, Middle East/North Africa
Name: Fatema Hayat
Degree: MS International Affairs 2015
Title: Executive Board Member, Kuwait Olympic Committee

Hayat organized Kuwait’s first women’s soccer tournament. She develops the women’s national teams in different age groups, creates and establishes leagues, trains and recruits women referees and coaches. Hayat works closely with the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) and hopes to launch Kuwait’s first national women’s soccer team.

Sector: Private Sector/ESG, Non-Governmental Organizations
Name: Tulsi Byrne
Degree: MA International Affairs 2015
Title: Responsible Investment Team at Nuveen, New York

After several years at the UN Global Compact where she led the team on gender empowerment, Byrne transitioned to the private sector and joined Nuveen, an asset management company. She combines her previous experience in financial services and corporate social responsibility as she helps the firm integrate environment, social, and governance issues into investment decisions.

Sector: UN, Humanitarian, Arts, Culture, and Sports
Name:  Natasha V Broodie
Degree: MA International Affairs 2015
Title: Strategic Communications Advisor | Interdisciplinary Artist

Spanning across 10 years of Humanitarian and Human Rights work within the United Nations Systems as a Programme Manager and Communications Advisor, Natasha is currently exploring new avenues in the Arts, Media, and Entertainment sectors in various countries. As an interdisciplinary artist, Natasha works on publishing and producing creative content that highlights the Black experience by authoring informative books on career development, producing operatic discographies, and submitting to international fellowships and art residencies.

Sector and Region: Urban, Europe
Name: Anamaria Vrabie
Degree: MA International Affairs 2014
Title: Founder of Urban Insights Center

Anamaria Vrabie is a leading practitioner in the field of urban innovation in Romania and internationally. She is Founder of Urban Insights Center and has a track record of engaging with urban innovation and cultural development in Cluj, Bucharest, Barcelona, Copenhagen, Genoa and other cities in Europe. She currently supports European cities in developing strategic action plans and transferring good practices related to integrated urban development, acting as lead expert for two core programmes of the European Commission: URBACT and the European Urban Initiative.

Sector: Academia
Name: Brittany Meche
Degree: MA International Affairs 2014
Title: Ph.D. Candidate in Geography, University California, Berkeley, CA

Meche’s research interests were shaped by the courses she took at The New School such as politics of expertise, non-Western approaches to the world and South African history. She is now a Ph.D. Candidate in Geography at the University of California, Berkeley researching geographies of empire. Her study focuses on the Sahelian region of West Africa and is informed by critical security studies, postcolonial theory, literature of race and U.S. liberalism.

Sector: Technology and Data, Monitoring and Evaluation
Name: Marie Bakke
Degree: MA International Affairs 2014
Title: Software Product Owner, Mercy Corps

Marie is currently a Software Product Owner and UI/UX Designer with Mercy Corps, an international development and humanitarian aid non-governmental organization operating in more than 40 countries. Marie has been with Mercy Corps since 2015 in various Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) related roles; in her current role, Marie is managing the design and development of an internal M&E software application for Mercy Corps’ programming portfolio.

Sector and Region: Media and Communications, Middle East/North Africa
Name: Sarah El-Shaarawi
Degree: MA International Affairs 2014
Title: Managing Editor, Arab Media & Society; Head of Research and Publications Division, Kamal Adham Center for Television and Digital Journalism at the American University in Cairo; Adjunct Professor of Journalism and Mass Communication, School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, the American University in Cairo

Sarah El-Shaarawi is a writer, editor, researcher, and educator whose current work focuses on climate change, energy, communication and the Arab region. Her writing has appeared in numerous publications including Foreign Policy, Nature, Newsweek Middle East, the National, the Tyee and the Cairo Review of Global Affairs, among others. She is also a frequent contributor to Africa is a Country. El-Shaarawi was the recipient of the 2022 Dalton Camp Award for her essay “The Similarities between Red and Yellow”. 

Sector: UN, Development
Name: Anna Whitson-Diaz
Degree: MA International Affairs 2014
Title: Outreach and Partnerships Specialist, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

Anna is currently an Outreach and Partnerships Specialist for the International Aid Transparency Initiative at UNDP. In this role, she identifies and pursues opportunities for mobilization of key stakeholders from government, multilaterals, civil society, the private sector, IFIs, philanthropy, and others; and supports priority needs from UNDP program countries and Country Offices in the implementation of projects relevant to development cooperation. She has more than ten years of experience within the United Nations system, including providing partnership-building and advisory services on development cooperation, financing, and data.

Sector: Government
Name: Brian Longin
Degree: MA International Affairs 2014
Title: Senior Analyst, U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General

Brian currently works in the Office of Surface Transportation Audits which is responsible for audits, evaluations, and economic analyses of highway, transit, rail, maritime, pipeline and hazardous material programs, and projects as well as transportation financing issues. Some of his most recent work focuses on identifying challenges the USDOT faces as it begins to implement the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Before his government work and attending The New School, Brian was a Peace Corps Volunteer (Dominica, Eastern Caribbean 2010-2012).

Sector and Region: Non-Governmental Organizations, Eurasia, and Asia Pacific
Name: Amanda Ghanooni
Degree: MA International Affairs 2013
Title: Program Manager, National Committee on American Foreign Policy

Amanda Ghanooni is a Program Manager at the National Committee on American Foreign Policy supporting public programs, Track II dialogues, and grant initiatives. Previously she was an associate at Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs where she oversaw and managed the outreach programs, operations, and international conferences for the Asia department. She currently serves as a committee member for the Young Patrons Council for Off-The-Record foreign policy forum.

Sector and Region: Urban, Non-Governmental Organizations, Africa
Name: Skye Dobson
Degree: MA International Affairs 2011
Title: Director, Slum Dwellers International, Cape Town, South Africa

Dobson, originally from Australia, works with Slum Dwellers International (SDI), a network that brings together slum dweller social movements in more than 30 countries. She specializes in M&E for social movements and the use of community-gathered data for inclusive and collaborative urban planning. Dobson has applied these concepts to the field of climate change adaptation and resilience planning and has published a number of articles on these topics.

Sector and Region: Humanitarianism, Non-Governmental Organizations, Africa
Name: Sarah Gilbert
Degree: MS International Affairs 2011
Title: Head of Programs for Catholic Relief Services in Turkey.

Based in Spain, Gilbert implements programs that deliver assistance in immediate live-saving support as well as paving the way for transitional development initiatives to meet long-term need of vulnerable families inside Syria. She also provides leadership, management support, coaching and guidance to staff working on emergency response programs for refugees in Northern Syria and Turkey.

Sector: Security, Technology and Data
Name: Laith Alkhouri
Degree: MA International Affairs 2010
Title: Founder and CEO, Intelonyx Intelligence Advisory

Latih Alkhouri is an internationally recognized intelligence and counterterrorism specialist with 17 years of experience, regularly featured in the media including on-air analysis for MSNBC. He is the the founder and CEO of Intelonyx Intelligence Advisory, a boutique intelligence consulting and distribution company in Dubai.

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Sector: Government/Diplomacy, Environment
Name: Nicholas Barber
Degree: MA International Affairs 2009
Title: Deputy Director, Multilateral Affairs Division in the International Affairs Branch at Environment and Climate Change Canada

Dr. Nicholas Barber is the Deputy Director of the Multilateral Affairs Division in the International Affairs Branch at Environment and Climate Change Canada, where he leads a team responsible for Canada’s policy and negotiations on climate and environment in multilateral fora including the G7, G20, APEC, OECD, and Arctic Council. Before taking on this role, Nick worked on the team leading the climate and environment track for Canada’s 2018 G7 Presidency. Before joining the Government of Canada, Nick worked as a Lecturer in International Development, Anthropology, and African Studies at McGill University. He has also worked for the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, and on development projects in Cameroon, Kenya, Brazil, Lesotho, and Ghana, with a focus on community and participatory media. He holds a PhD in Cultural Anthropology from McGill University, a Master’s in International Affairs from The New School, and an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Development Studies and Political Studies from Queen’s University.

Sector: Academia
Name: Christina Kiel
Degree: MS International Affairs 2006
Title: Senior Professor of Practice, Political Science, Tulane University in New Orleans

Dr. Kiel teaches courses in international relations, with a focus on conflict studies. Her research interests include the role of nonstate actors in conflict resolution, transnational advocacy and cultural diplomacy. Kiel served in the German Diplomatic Corps, including in Israel, Belarus, and at the United Nations in New York and was Independent Diplomat’s (ID) first UN Representative.

Sector: Government/Diplomacy, Security
Name: Alexandra Bell
Degree: MA International Affairs 2006
Title: Senior Policy Director at Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, US Department of State, Washington D.C.

Bell’s areas of focus include arms control and non-proliferation, Euro-Atlantic security, diplomacy, and Congressional affairs. Previously, Bell served as a Senior Advisor in the Office of the Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security. She has been quoted and published in the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, the Guardian, Politico, Vox, and more.

Sector and Region: United Nations, Environment, Development
Name: Viktor Chistyakov
Degree: MA International Affairs 2005
Title:  Policy Specialist, Small Island Developing States and Landlocked Developing Countries, United Nations Development Program

Viktor provides organizational and logistical support to UNDP’s Bureau for Policy and Program Support as it prepares to contribute to agenda formation for Small Island Developing States and Landlocked Developing Countries. Previously he qualified to practice law in Russia and worked in legal and advocacy roles for the Russian Red Cross and the Bellona Foundation, an environmental NGO based in Oslo.

Sector: UN, Gender
Name: Leyla Sharafi
Degree: MA International Affairs 2004
Title: Gender and Youth Specialist, UNFPA, New York

Sharafi’s work is centered on global initiatives that support women and girls’ empowerment, specifically in the context of sexual and reproductive health, as well as the engagement of men and boys for the promotion of gender equality. Prior to joining UNFPA, she worked at the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UN Women).