GPIA Alumni by Region: Africa
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: 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 leads MINUSMA’s work on strengthening civil society’s capacities to support the implementation of Mali’s 2015 peace agreement and the country’s return to constitutional order. A native of Romania, Cristina has previously worked with other offices of the UN system, think tanks and civil society coalitions on topics related to global governance reform, the management of armed groups, and the youth, peace and security agenda, among other global policy issues.
Sector: NGO, Arts and Culture, 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: Urban Development, 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: 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.