A passion for poverty alleviation and immigrant rights led Michelle Harati to join the International Rescue Committee (IRC) after graduating from UCLA. At the IRC, Harati delivered and oversaw economic empowerment programming for recently arrived refugees. Harati later joined the City of San Diego’s Economic Development Department to provide expertise on nonprofits providing direct services, community development, and utilize her quantitative skills to make informed data-based funding decisions. Harati finds policymaking to be transformational work. At the McCourt School, Harati intends to expand her quantitative skills and aims to continue developing innovative public-private programs that advance socioeconomic equity.
