Alumni Updates
David Geddes (2009-10), Jamaica. After a wonderful year I returned to Jamaica in June 2010 and was appointed Director Utility Monitoring. Three months later I was asked to Act as the Secretary to the Office (the Commissioners).Both jobs have been great, but I would not have been able to undertake them as efficiently without the training in strategic management and performance measurement that the Evans School provided along with the micro-economic policy analysis. I am also privileged to have made some life long friends through the Humphrey program. I have been working closely with the U.S. Embassy in Kingston and hope that Jamaica will soon be sending another Humphrey Fellow to Seattle. Many thanks to Alix Furness and Dean Archibald for a life changing year.
(David was recently interviewed by the Institute for Public Relations, where you can read more about his current work and thoughts on being a Humphrey fellow).
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Fazel Rabi Haqbeen (2008-09), Afghanistan. Upon my return and new leadership of the Asia Foundation (TAF) in Kabul, I have been promoted from senior program officer to program planning and development director. TAF is a non-profit, non-governmental organization committed to the development of a peaceful, prosperous, just, and open Asia-Pacific region. The Foundation supports programs in Asia that help improve governance, law, and civil society; women's empowerment; economic reform and development; and international relations. The director position is part of the new structure where various directors are in place to counsel and mentor staff, help identify potential new staff, provide outreach to the community, and further bolster TAF’s connection to and efforts within civil society. The directors will be working on more strategic efforts focused on the development of TAF in the long-term.
We just recently completed Afghanistan in 2010: A Survey of the Afghan People,which polled 6,467 Afghan citizens across all 34 provinces in the country on security, development, economy, government, corruption, and women's issues to assess the mood and direction of the country. In-person interviews were conducted from June 18 – July 5, 2010 with a multi-stage random sample of Afghan citizens 18 years of age and older, both women and men, from different social, economic, and ethnic communities in rural and urban areas.
I also provide support to the Afghan government peace efforts through convention of Consultative Peace Jirga (council) where 1,400 delegates from across the country will discuss various aspects of peace. I have been asked to facilitate committee and group discussion.
I continue to build my network as member of district council, and with Humphrey alumni, and civil society. I enjoy helping my children in their studies and future.
Svetlana Malkarova (2008-09), Russia. Coming back to Russia was very exciting and challenging. After a very short holiday I started to work as a Deputy Managing Director in International Business Development at the YA-Corporation Communication Group in moscow. It was a position I was appointed at just before coming to the USA.
Being at the Evans School as a Humphrey Fellow I tried to design my program according to the future career. Everything I gained in Evans School, also when working with American colleagues, meeting with different kind of people and organizations was beneficial.
In May I will represent the YA Corporation at the Annual Meeting of WorldCom Public Relations Group with the presentation "PR Technology for Advancing Public Needs." For my colleagues I organized the “YA Corporation PR University” – a workshop where we share ideas on implementing social media tools for our clients, and discuss case studies –of winners of the prestigious international PR Awards. I, as a representative of the YA Corporation, became a member of the American Chamber of Commerce in Moscow and British Business Club in Moscow.
I did my professional affiliation at the Office of Lieutenant Governor of the State Washington. I was involved in “Sv. Nikolay Shipwreck Historic Monument” project. Returning home I received an e-mail from the group of people who I worked with. We decided that I can continue to work on the project. Now not only me, but my agency is involved in the project. Well, my Humphrey Program didn’t end, it continues, now in Moscow.
Carol Mumba (2008-09), Zambia. After returning I collaborated with a local women's centre that is working with windows and orphaned children. The centre has a community school and income generating activities for women, such as crocheting handbags, bracelets, and other items for sale. Most of the women at this centre are HIV positive. The items they make are made of plastic shopping bags, so I have a campaign of collecting plastic shopping bags from employees and other interested people. So not only is this center helping out the underprivileged women, it is also contribution to preserving the environment by recycling the plastic bags.
I am also working working with another orphanage that is run by the sisters of Mother Theresa. It has about 160 kids and 40 of them are HIV positive. I am really enjoying my work with these two community centers.
I also got a job with another international nongovernmental organization that brings in volunteers from all over the world to come and share their skills with organizations at the grassroots level. So the HHH program has made me marketable, despite a few challenges I had upon my return.
Recently I attended an HHH alumni meeting organized by the American embassy; the alumni are in the process of identifying a project to support. It is most likely that we will pick one that will deal with taking up leadership in dealing with environmental issues.
Lastly, I joined another NGO called 'Read Zambia' to encourage the spirit of reading in Zambia among primary school children.
Jean de Dieu Rakotondramith (2008-09), Madagascar. After returning to Madagascar, I now work at the Ministry of Justice and am responsible for promoting integrity.
Chicu Lokgariwar (2007-08), India. Keith and I met in Seattle, and decided to get married last year. In January 2010, we had the Hindu wedding ceremony with my family and his best friend. In June 2010, we had another ceremony in Seattle.
I still live and work in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, leading the river conservation group of People's Science Institute (PSI), a nonprofit organization based in the central Himalayas. For more up-to-date information about my work and life in India, please feel free to visit my blog: Uttarakhandan and I
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Danijel Katicin, (2007-08), Croatia. I came back home from the Humphrey Program just when the new 2008 tourist season began. Those three short months have a great significance for the inhabitants of Tkon, a small community on the Island of Pašman, due to their efforts to earn money and save it for the upcoming long winter.
I should say that the case that my duty as a mayor of Tkon was waiting for me the whole year of my absence was quite unique. The most significant project that I would like to mention among many others that I conducted with my staff, is the construction of the new fire brigade department. We are glad to say that its opening inaugural ceremony took place in May this year.
The elections for the Municipality Council and the position of mayor, took place in May 2009. Although I was a member of the Liberal Democrats (the Croatian People`s Party) I put together an independent list for the council and I ran for mayor for the fourth time. We won seven out of eleven council places, and I was elected once more as mayor. Being a mayor of this municipality is a very demanding, eventful job and notwithstanding the fact that I have been doing it since 1997, I still find it exciting and challenging.
Lastly, I have entered a second semester of the postgraduate study in local democracy and development at the college that I graduated from – the Faculty of Political Science Zagreb.
Catherine Wang, (2007-08), China. I graduated from school recently, earning a Ph.D. from the University of Hong Kong. I returned to Beijing and my husband and son, in March. I have been working for CNIER, the China Central Institute for Education Research, a research arm of the Ministry of Education since July 2010. Until then, I was working as a consultant on a World Bank project.
Nabiel Hayaza, (2007-08), Indonesia. After I came back to Indonesia in 2008, our International Organization for Migration (IOM) office had a new project, and they asked me to become a consultant for them. After I served as consultant, they asked me to work full time with them, as a training and capacity building coordinator. Here I am now, giving training for Indonesian officers from police, navy, and government officials all around Indonesia, in a project called Reinforcing Management of Irregular Migration. And I have the chance to travel all around Indonesia. This is where I want to build my career, humanitarian law & relief with focus on refugee/asylum seekers/migrants. I learned from my year with UW how to be focused and do what you like the most, with passion.
I also recently joined an interview panel for Indonesian Fulbright Candidate selection this year. I feel happy being able to help the AMINEF/Fulbright Indonesia. In addition, I got a scholarship this year from Oxford University for International Summer School in Forced Migration, for July 2010.
The other important things I learned, I learn about being a husband/father. I learn how to serve breakfast for my family. Maybe it is small thing to some people, but not for me. I learn how to make my own coffee and tea, or even serve the milk for my little daughter. Something, I never did before I came to America. I learned that being a “masculine” father, means that you can/should share the responsibility of the household.
I just want to say thanks to everyone who made my Humphrey year and I hope that more people have the same chance that I had. Go Huskies!
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Md. Zahid Hossain, (2006-07), Bangladesh. I worked for the Department of Shipping (the maritime administration of Bangladesh) as the Chief Inspector since I returned home in 2007.
In March 2011, I made a move in my career by joining with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as an Expert (on monitoring and investigation) at the National Human Rights Capacity Building Project.
Our Human Rights Commission was established in 2009. I am excited and enthusiastic to be a part of the Human Rights protection and promotion in my country. Big task for us as it is relatively a new organization. However, I am ready.
That is the quality I got from my Humphrey year.
Karma Doma Tshering, (2006-07), Bhutan. I am right now heading the Preparedness and Mitigation Division in the Department of Disaster Management, in the Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs. Bhutan experienced an earthquake of 6.3 magnitude last year and though we had minimal casualties there was a lot of damage. We are right now busy with re-construction - on the road to recovery.
Humphrey year is a golden year - make the most of it!!
Marcia Siguenza, (2005-06), Colombia. I am still dancing and working through the arts to empower youth and women. Two months ago one of our projects was in the 26 projects selected out of 2000 for a grant by United Nations Development Fund for Women, for its Global Equity Fund. Two years to do what I have dreamed of—empower women from rural parishes in Cuenca through self knowledge, dance and tons of laughter.
Another one of our projects was chosen by the European Union for a two-year grant, to support young entrepreneurs in creating businesses through culture and arts (dance and music) through tourism in a beautiful indigenous area an hour from Cuenca. We also got a grant from United States Agency for International Development to work with young inmate girls at a special retreat house.
In February we had two seminars on the politics of hope with Donna Zajonc from Bainbridge. I met her is Seattle as well and have invited to work with us around political leadership.
Timur Baiserkeev, (2005-06), Kyrgyzstan. I am about to become a legislative fellow. The program will begin with an orientation in Washington, DC, followed by a three-week fellowship in either Cleveland or Columbus, Ohio. So, I was in the US from April 6 to May 5, 2010. Then, I hosted a U.S. Fellow for a few weeks in Kyrgyzstan.
I hope to initiate together with U.S. Fellows new projects on youth empowerment.
Tumurchudur Tsamba, (2004-05), Mongolia. I am still working at the University of Science and Technology of Mongolia as specialist for technology development policy and innovation and trying to realize the knowledge and experience received in my Humphrey year at the UW.
Andres Castro, (2003-04), Colombia. I spent my first year after returning from my exchange program putting together a small project to lead different agro-production processes in a rural area. The overarching goal was to teach selected leaders within a small town close to the capital how to recognize opportunities and lead productive processes in their communities. The production of organic humus fertilizer helped as a good exercise and example of a productive project that was applied in this area. We also provided technical and managerial training to lead different agro business initiatives such as production of diary products, cut flowers and bakery products among other productive projects. These projects were sponsored under the alumni impact award offered by IIE.
More recently, I’ve been involved in teaching at a business and accounting college in a small rural town in the northwest part of Colombia. I also keep in working with coffee business as quality consultant.
Finally, I do believe that increasing positive and authentic leaders in our countries would make a difference in our societies. We are still trying to dream to reach the progress and well being of developed nations but we will never succeed without the guidance of people with a clear vision and tangible goals in mind. Our developing model desperately need more local leaders, the HHH program was one of many opportunities that help to close this gap.
I created a picture collage/video of our exchange experience to honor our colleague Sara from Mongolia who died from cancer.
Graciela Keskiskian, (2003-04), Argentina. The Fulbright and Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship programs were created to build peace through the sharing and development of knowledge and experience of people from different cultures and latitudes. I recently helped carry out a project in January 2010 between the State University of New York (SUNY) at Geneseo and the Association of Friends of Patagonia (AAP), which exemplified the knowledge and experience gained and sustained through the Fulbright and Humphrey fellowships.
David Aagesen, a former Fulbright Scholar who is currently associate professor of geography and director of environmental studies at SUNY Geneseo, coordinated a visit to Buenos Aires with 17 university students as part of an urban environmental issues seminar. The curriculum focused on the provision of potable water; municipal solid waste; urban protected areas; and urban health care and services.
I was Dr. Aagesen’s counterpart in Buenos Aires, where I work as the coordinator of environmental education for AAP. My work with AAP involves working with staff members to develop rigorous and relevant environmental training seminars, as well as organizing field trips that provide experiential learning. The exchange project was a great success, and we look forward to more in the future!
Eva Vrbova, (2002-03), Czech Republic. I work with Association of Regions, and in June I hope to finish my MPA at Faculty of Law at Masaryk University in Brno (dissertation theme is regulation of advertising in schools - comparison also of Channel One and our SIK CZ school TV channel). It is my fourth alma mater (Economic University in Bratislava, Slovakia, Central European University Budapest, Evans School of Public Affairs in Seattle and now Brno). As far as my children are concerned (both had been with me in USA), younger Viktor is a water polo player, and older Radovan just decided which university to attend.
I have included a nostalgic photo from the Duwamish tribe’s First Nations Cultural Center. I had been in 2003 also quest speaker for convocation in Acalat Tribe Reeservation with all that drumming. Now my son had a convocation of his own exactly the very day president Obama was here in Prague.
Mahbooba Panna, (2002-03), Bangladesh. Since I got back from the Humphrey program I served with Ministry of Defense for three years and the Ministry of Industries, also for three years. My working experience with Ministry of Industries helped me to work in a Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) strengthening and developing project. So I got involved with creation of a SME foundation in Bangladesh. I was given the responsibility of arranging the first women’s SME conference in Bangladesh. That was exciting and it was introduced by the Prime Minister of Bangladesh.
Aminah Hamzah, (2000-01), Malaysia. I still remember one thing about Elaine [see staff updates below] which I always use as an example to show a person who is humble and treats everybody the same regardless of her position.
One fine morning as I was walking to the Evans School, suddenly I heard somebody calling my name from the back, “Aminah, good morning”. I was surprised and thought, “Who could that be?”, because I did not even see her and yet she could recognize me from the back. I felt so flattered at that time because it was Elaine who greeted me. She will greet people first without waiting for others to greet her even you are not facing her.
Elaine Chang came to visit me in Forest Research Institute Malaysia in January, 2010. We spent half a day forest hiking on a canopy walk. It was fun for all of us. I brought her to my workplace in forest nursery to see my research activities in plant production and composting.
Diana McCaulay, (2000-01), Jamaica. I am the founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Jamaica Environment Trust (JET), which I began in 1998. We focus on environmental education and advocacy on a range of environmental issues.
After my Humphrey Fellowship year, I stayed at the Evans School to complete a Master of Public Administration degree, concentrating on environmental policy and international development. Back in Jamaica, I then served as a member of the Board of the Natural Resources Conservation Authority, the government regulatory body for environmental issues, between 2003 and 2005 and again in 2008.
In addition to my work for the environment, I am an active writer, including children’s books, short fiction, and novels. In 2008, one of my stories won the David Hough Literary Prize, awarded by the Editorial Board of The Caribbean Writer. After two decades of writing books in secret, my novel, “Dog-heart” won an award in the National Book Development Council of Jamaica’s National Literary Awards in 2006, and a Gold Medal in the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission’s National Creative Writing Competition in 2008.
Sherif Mohamed Shawky, (2000-01), Egypt. I am currently an Associate Professor in the Environmental Health Department of Alexandria University in Egypt, and serve as Director of the Alexandria University Environmental Unit, and Director of the Solid Waste Management Project for the university. In addition, I am Acting Director of the Nile Basin Center.
Professor Khalid Alskait, (1998-99), Saudi Arabia. I have been working academically and professionally since then. I have worked very hard to establish the "The Saudi Association of Real Estate Sciences", and it is now a real association and I chair its board of directors. In addition, I served for three years as the chairman of the Urban Planning Department at King Saud University.
Fatimata Guindo Sidibé, (1997-98), Mali. Since my return back home, I have resumed my work with community development activities. I was a trainer of trainers for four national NGOs by helping community development field staff. These staff were responsible for training rural men and women and young people to learn how to settle small business in a more democratic fashion, where the decisions are no longer made by old men but democratically with the view of the majority and through sound management.
In 2003 I worked for CARE International in Mali as partnership and capacity building advisor for the civil society organizations. Then in 2004, I started at Malian Agricultural Development Program (PRODEPRAM), funded by United States Agency for International Development, as gender specialist in small business development. Since August 2009, I have been the gender and social and institutional specialist in the Millennium Challenge Account Program in Mali, funded by the US Millennium Challenge Corporation. I am in charge of making sure that gender issues are taken into account in the program activities. I like my job since it allows me to help my fellow women gain self-confidence and participate in the decision making process of their community development plan.
The other thing that changed my life is my daughter, Awa, born in July 2003. She is a lovely girl who goes to school.
Nabil Iskandar, (1997-98), Lebanon. Though my Humphrey year was over ten years ago, I will never forget Elaine Chang, Ron Woods, Denise and Jason Graham who were so friendly and helpful. My Humphrey fellowship allowed me to live in American culture and discover that even a great western country like the United States has problems in the management of their human resources.
I have returned recently to Lebanon after two years spent in Saudi Arabia as Human Resources director with a multinational company. I am presently an independent human resources consultant and trainer working in Lebanon and the Gulf countries.
Angel Maria Infante Cruz, (1995-96), Venezuela. My life after the Humphrey Fellowship has three periods. First, I spent 1997-2003 teaching courses to undergraduate and graduate students in Venezuela and abroad (El Salvador, Brazil, Ecuador, China, Sweden and Guatemala), especially in the planning field. I also wrote some books taking into account the great experience and knowledge acquired in the USA. Second, from 2004 through 2005 I took academic courses for my doctoral studies in tropical ecology, at the University of Los Andes, here in Mérida (Venezuelan Andes). Finally, I started to carry out community work and development project formulation, from 2006 to the present. During this last period, I have also taken on the task of revising abstracts from scientific articles for the magazine "Revista Forestal Venezolana" and I continue to write books on the planning field and agro-ecology for farmers.
From my HHH year I learned not only values system improvements (punctuality, discipline, to do things better, etc), but techniques and methods like planning process, leadership, reflections, and analysis skills. My English language has been a great connecting axis for me. Thanks to the HHH program, I work every day not to be better but to be the best. (Pictured far left).
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Aboubacar Fall, (1993-94), Senegal. Upon my return, I resumed my private practice as an international lawyer for some time before joining a World Bank-funded Law Reform project in Senegal (West Africa) from 1999 to 2001. In this context I advised the Government about reforms to undertake in order to improve the local business environment. With a team of lawyers, I drafted pieces of legislation to be submitted to the representatives of government, the private sector and the civil society. One of the major achievements has been, among others, the creation of the Senegal Centre for Commercial Arbitration and Mediation.
From June 2001 to February 2010, I joined the African Development Bank which is a financial development institution designed to grant loans and grants to the 53 African countries for socioeconomic development projects. For about 10 years, I served as Principal Legal Counsel with the task to participate in the preparation and evaluation of projects/programmes, negotiate loans or grants, draft the agreements and follow up on their implementation. I was also involved in policy making and advisory services to governments in matters including good governance. In the meantime I pursued my teaching activities with institutions such as the United nations Institute for Training & Research (UNITAR) on different topics including Legal Aspects of Debt Management, Negotiation of Financial Transactions, and Dispute Resolution. I also published extensively research papers and books, the last of which is a Guide to Procurement Best Practices. I also spoke in various professional settings delivering research papers on Good Governance, Law Reform, Climate change and international law.
From September to November 2009 I was awarded a scholarship by the Kingdom of Norway to participate in an 8-week course on Petroleum Policy and Management in Stavanger (Norway).It gave me more exposure to the oil and gas sector and I have developed a sound knowledge in the key issues of governance of oil and gas resources, which could be very useful for African countries. Since I left the African Development Bank I have resumed my work as International Legal Consultant. (Picture of Aboubacar with his daughter, Anta-Marcelle).
Mujwahuzi Njunwa, (1992-93), Tanzania. It is now 17 years since I completed my Hubert H. Humphrey year at the University of Washington in Seattle. Surprisingly, I still see the events that happened during my Humphrey year as events that happened only yesterday! The Humphrey principles of self-professional development as well as making a difference in the lives of fellow human beings have since and always inspired me for hard-work and pro-activeness in life. It is hard to dissociate my current accomplishments from those two Humphrey principles.
Some of these accomplishments include, firstly, my being promoted to the post of associate professor of public administration at Mzumbe University in July, 2007. Secondly, in December 2007 and 2008 I traveled to the Universities of Sydney, Australia and J. Nehru, New Delhi, India respectively to present papers on good governance and on combating corruption in Tanzania. The papers have since been published as chapters in books published by Asia Development Bank (2008) and Macmillan India Limited (2009) respectively. Finally, I have teamed up with fellow residents in Morogoro Municipality to undertake community activities such as maintenance of local feeder roads, conduct literacy classes for adults, as well as tree planting to fight soil erosion. I really enjoyed taking part in these activities.
Finally, let me inform you that on April 20, 2009 I turned 60 and, therefore, formally retired form regular public service. However, Mzumbe University offered me a 4-year teaching contract effective July, 2009. I still enjoy my teaching profession and the Humphrey spirit never dies!
Anand Chiplunkar, (1991-92), India. I am currently working with the Asian Development Bank at Manila, Philippines as a principal water supply and sanitation specialist (PPP) since 2007. Professionally I am involved in advancing the use of public private partnership approach to work with our developing member countries for enhancing investments in infrastructure and social sectors.
On my personal front, my wife Aparna is enjoying her stay in Philippines. My elder son Gaurav is doing completing his masters in economics from the London School of Economics. My younger son Ankur is a junior at Purdue University. Philippines is an amazing place for scuba diving and we all enjoy that quite a bit.
I would be happy to link up with the Fellows in my class of 91-92 and also those in Philippines. My greetings to the current Fellows. The Humphrey Program is an amazing experience and I am sure the Fellows by now have fully enjoyed their stay and the warmth of all in the Evans School.
Mohammad Ali Mubarak Kisubi, (1990-91), Uganda. I was appointed as the first ethics officer for the African Development Bank in April 2009, where I am tasked to provide advice as well as guidance to mana- gement and staff on matters of ethics and conduct of the bank’s staff in the work place. My advice is confidential, and helps to create a culture of good governance.
I have also recently co-edited a book on the Eminent Speakers Series at the African Development Bank titled: Sharing Visions of Africa’s Development Volume 1 by the African Development Institute of the African Development Bank Group.
My wife who was with me in Seattle, Madinah Nakandha Kisubi, produced a best seller book in Uganda, I Will Not Fail, which talks about empowerment of girls in line with the Millennium Development Goals. She is also a columnist in the Uganda based Development Analyst Journal which is a quarterly publication on development issues in the region.
Lastly, two of our sons Nuhu Kisubi Kisambira and Fazzy Ali Kisubi wed recently; another son, Saidi Kisubi Alikwan, has just graduated from University of Aberdeen, in Scotland, with an MBA. Two of our daughters Hawa Kisubi Kagoya and Asha Kisubi Kagoya are working as a consultant and counselor respectively, and are both involved in development work in different parts of Africa. Our last daughter, Sheena Kisubi Kagoya is in the American School in Tunis and was voted as best upcoming painter and scholarly reader.
Tariq Masud Khosa (1987-88), Pakistan. It is with great sense of pride and honour that I submit that HHH Fellowsip Year at GSPA, now Evans School, at UW was most rewarding experience in my professional career and personal networking. I came as mid level officer to the US of our Federal Police, FIA the counterpart of FBI in US, and I finally became its Director General in 2009. Currently I am serving as Federal Secretary of Narcotics Control Division in the Government of Pakistan at Islamabad.
I and my family fondly remember Dean King and Coordinator Laura Kennedy, later Laura Weese. My wife Ayesha is Vice Principal of a private pre-school in Lahore. My two daughters and a son are all married and happily working or studying in the United Kingdom and US.
I wish all my friends at UW a happy new year.
Staff Updates
Michaela Leslie-Rule, (2007-09), Graduate Assistant. After finishing up my two-year stint with the Humphreys last June 2010, I moved to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania to conduct my thesis research at Engenderhealth's CHAMPION Project. I stayed in Tanzania for six months and had an incredible experience learning Kiswahili, conducting qualitative interviews, creating a short film AND dancing! I returned to Seattle in January to write my thesis and to edit the film — both of which were accepted for oral presentation at this year's International AIDS Conference in Vienna! I am really excited about what the future holds (wherever that takes me).
I think of my two Humphrey cohorts often and am lucky enough to stay in touch with many of them. The world (as you know) is smaller than one imagines and I feel fortunate to be reminded of this on an almost daily basis. A friend from the Evans School ran into Petros at a coffee shop in Swaziland last week, Arnel was featured in an HIV prevention campaign that landed on my desk in Dar es Salaam, and Chicu returned to Seattle in June to celebrate her wedding (my second Humphrey wedding). The Humphrey program ensures that I get regular updates from around the world from incredibly diverse perspectives and have an international family who I hope to call on, as I make my way out of Seattle and into the world beyond.
I hope you are all well and I send my very best to each and every one of you!
Brian Chung, (2005-06), Graduate Assistant. I graduated from the Evans School and Jackson School programs in Spring 2007. Since then, professionally I've been working as a policy analyst with the U.S. Government Accountability Office in downtown Seattle. Personally, I've planted roots in this beautiful city with my wife, buying a home in West Seattle, and learning how to raise a baby girl, Madeline, who was born to us last September. She has been a lot of work and a lot of fun. I send my best to all in the Humphrey family, present and from years past.
Elaine Chang, (1994-97), Humphrey Program Coordinator. I am currently the strategic advisor for the World Affairs Council. My husband Jon and I recently traveled to Malaysia (where we spent a beautiful day learning about Humphrey alumna Aminah Hamzah’s research at the Forestry Research Institute of Malaysia), and Oman (where we were introduced to Omani culture by Elisabeth Mitchell, a former Humphrey program coordinator, and her husband David Fenner). I hope other Fellows will stay in touch and visit Seattle whenever possible.
Laura Weese, (1986-94), Humphrey Program Coordinator. I was thrilled to read the alumni updates from Aboubacar Fall, Mujwa Njunwa, Anand Chiplunkar, Mohammad Kisubi and Tariq Khosa! Wonderful to learn what they are doing. Thank you, Tariq, for remembering me! I am now retired and would love to hear from any of the former HHH Fellows from my years with the program, 1986 - 1994.