2017

Austen Stranahan

I was born and raised in the Bay Area. I graduated with degrees in Music Performance and Education from Chapman University in Orange County. After a couple of years working in an accounting office in Los Angeles, I needed a change and joined the Peace Corps, becoming a community health volunteer in rural Rwanda. That experience has led me to pursue my MBA/International Policy and Development Master’s degrees here at MIIS.

During my time in Peace Corps, I had the opportunity to work with local partners on a number of different projects. I worked with high school students implementing life skills and health education camps, taught English to Judges and Court Staff and worked in a community health center to help provide outreach services to the most affected communities. While in Rwanda I first saw the value of bringing strong business acumen to the world of development. It is within this context that I bring my perspective to this project.

Megan Garland

My name is Megan Garland and I’m an MPA/PCMI candidate. I am currently in consideration for serving in South Africa as a primary school teacher starting July 2017. I grew up in Portland, Oregon, and Bangkok, Thailand. My undergraduate years were at the University of Oregon where I double majored in Chinese and International Studies focusing on diplomacy in East Asia and received the Chinese Language Flagship certificate. I studied abroad 5 times during my time at UO, my favorite experience being Semester at Sea. After graduation, I spent the summer in the hill tribe areas of Northern Thailand teaching and providing ASEAN curriculum support. Followed by that, I spent a year in China studying at Nanjing University and working at a resort on Hainan Island before coming to MIIS. I’m so excited for DPMI Rwanda to learn about a new culture and to learn firsthand about program design and evaluation methods!

Derek Ferree

My name is Derek Ferree. I am from a small town called Havana in central Illinois. I did my undergraduate studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign studying Community Health with a concentration in Health Education and Promotion. I studied abroad twice while at the university, going to Costa Rica to learn Spanish, and later to the Dominican Republic to study Dominican agriculture, health, and culture. I later went to Nicaragua to get my TEFL certification. Before coming to MIIS I did an AmeriCorps term working with the American Red Cross. When I’m not studying I enjoy playing the guitar and going for walks.

 

Mario Teron Lamar

Mario Teron Lamar is a first semester Masters in Public Administration, concentration Human Security candidate. Prior to relocating to Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, he graduated from Morehouse College with an International Studies degree. He is a Navy Veteran, Rotary Associate Member, and passionate about philanthropic endeavors.

 

 

Lindsey Cambridge

Lindsey Cambridge is a first-year student in the French Translation and Localization Management program. She most recently hails from Arlington, Texas, but has lived in Michigan, Arizona, Massachusetts, Maryland, France, and Italy. After earning her undergraduate degree in psychology from Boston University, she had a range of professional and educational experiences, including teaching English as a foreign language, working in a forensics laboratory and pursuing post-baccalaureate premedical studies. Her hobbies include traveling, reading and going out to eat.

 

Giulia Roldo

Born and raised in Gorizia, I had the chance of growing up in a multicultural atmosphere. My small Northeastern Italian hometown is set on the border with Slovenia and back to the Nineties it served as a bridge for the former-Yugoslavia citizens fleeing from the war.

Probably influenced by that, I pursued my studies in International Relations and Diplomacy at the University of Trieste and I then moved to France to get a further Master Degree at Sciences Po Bordeaux. During my academic career, I had the chance of taking part in the Erasmus project and spending a semester at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey.

My main interests are International Migration, African Politics, National Identity and Multiculturalism. I adore sport, notably soccer: I played it for several years, I coached kids and I volunteered for the UEFA Euro Cup 2016. I am also fond of History, and Classics, I like reading ancient Greek and Latin authors and I love studying foreign languages, I speak Italian, English, French, some Spanish and I recently started to learn Hangul.

 

Meg Sayre

My name is Meg Sayre and I am currently a junior at Middlebury College, but have spent this semester studying at MIIS as part of a ‘study away’ program. I’m from a tiny Hippie island called Vashon, which (thankfully) is just a short ferry boat ride away from Seattle. Back in Vermont, I am a Latin American Studies major but here at MIIS I have been in the International Policy and Development program. I am a dancer, baker, and travel enthusiast. I am so looking forward to learning and laughing with you all in January!

 

Yvonne Tangang

Hello, my name is Yvonne Tangang, I had completed an undergraduate degree in International Studies (with an emphasis on Global Health) as well as a Nursing degree prior to coming to MIIS, where I am currently pursuing my Masters in International Policy & Development. I worked briefly as a Nurse and I also was trying to develop a clean water project for my hometown.  I have always been interested in health and health care my whole life, so I plan on furthering my knowledge about development here at MIIS and how it can help foster my future endeavors. I came to graduate school because I want to learn whatever I need to learn in order to help combat the HIV epidemic in the poorest of places. I would really be interested in writing and advocating for health care policies that can help make a positive and lasting impact on the lives of people.

Though I only worked briefly as a Nurse, it was really rewarding because I was making a difference in the lives of others. I have also done some research about the HIV prevalence in Sub-Saharan Africa and even though I have no professional experience in working particularly with this group, the research that I’ve done has inspired me to continue my fight as a health care advocate. Some of my strongest skills include flexibility, a passion for learning and overcoming obstacles.

 

 

Dan Goldman

 

 

 

 

Madeline Wise

Hello! My name is Madeline and I am a senior at Simmons College in Boston, MA studying nursing and public health. I will graduate in May and soon after take the board exam to become a registered nurse. As the city with the best hospitals in the country, Boston is the perfect place for me to be studying nursing. I currently work as a part time nursing assistant on a pediatric floor. I love partnering with other health care workers to give patients the best care possible while they are in the hospital. I’m extremely excited to travel to Rwanda with you all for this amazing opportunity to learn more about working internationally and to collaborate with Partners in Health. I look forward to meeting all of you!

 

Laura Stipic

Laura Stipic is a first-semester student in the MA program for International Education Management. She graduated from the University of California, Irvine with a BA in Sociology. She spent a year working as an au pair in Australia followed by teaching kids cooking classes, and working at Pixar Animation Studios before coming to MIIS. She enjoys playing sports, cooking and trying new foods, and learning about other cultures!

 

 

Francine Nihozeko

My name is Francine Nihozeko, I am a combined Biology and Physics major at St. Lawrence University. For those who don’t know, St. Lawrence University is a small liberal arts college in Canton, upstate New York. I am originally from Burundi and look forward to spending a week learning about Rwanda and meeting you all.

 

 

Alexia Muhire Nshuti

When someone asks me where I am from I always feel the need to tell my whole story as it pertains a lot to my identity. I was born in Belgium, moved to Rwanda and lived there for 7 years, then relocated to Madagascar where I lived for most of my life. I was then fortunate enough to attend the United World College-Atlantic in Wales, which provided an opportunity to interact with students from many cultures. As a 3rd culture kid, I have learned to see things from different perspectives and even question my own beliefs. My interest in social development stems from the occurrence of the Rwandan genocide that inspired me to learn how an economy can recover after hardship. Another event that sparked my passion for social development was my extended essay research where I examined the deforestation of rosewood in Madagascar and the correlation with socioeconomic impact. I’ve continued this work at Skidmore College, where I have selected to study economics, specifically systems that impact developing countries.

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