Hometown: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Current City: Washington, DC
Why did you choose McCourt? I chose the MIDP program specifically because of the small cohort size, and relatively unique focus (amongst other professional programs/schools to which I applied) on the intersection of international development with rigorous development economics. Given that this is exactly my area of professional and personal interest, I was surprised that very few other programs I came across had this particular focus (many were more broad, in international affairs, [domestic] public policy, or similar). More generally, I chose McCourt because of the diverse array of student organizations focused on topics of interest to me; the prestigious/interesting speakers they attract; the scholarship opportunities; and the diverse, international composition of the student body.
What professional/ work experience did you have prior to coming to McCourt? I am an interdisciplinary data analyst, project manager, and proposal writer in the nonprofit & international development sector, particularly in environment, health, and education. With over 4 years of professional work experience – including 8 months of Global South field implementation experience – my skills span earth science research across 4 labs, quantitative and qualitative data analysis, field team survey management & training, programming (MATLAB, ArcGIS), grant writing, partnership development, and communications (14 publications). I’ve raised $550,000 USD in grant funding for 3 organizations doing rural water supply work in Myanmar, mobile health behaviour change in India, and refugee mental health in Canada.
What has been the best part of your experience so far? Meeting students, professionals, and new friends who care deeply about poverty alleviation in the Global South. Having stimulating conversations with people full of both heart and mind.
What internships have you had so far during your time at McCourt?
a) Beginning in January 2023, I’ve worked at gui2de (Georgetown University Initiative on Innovation, Development & Evaluation) under Prof. Ken Opalo (SFS), doing both quantitative and qualitative research on education policy reform in Tanzania. Over the summer, I had the privilege of continuing this work on the ground in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, while being hosted at the INGO “Twaweza,” which means something like “We can do it” in Swahili.
b) While in Tanzania, I also interned with the DIME (Development Impact Evaluation) group at the World Bank. I lead a 3-day workshop with 30 participants, focusing on statistical capacity building (in sampling methodology) and data analysis in R, for NECTA (the National Examinations Council of Tanzania) and other education sector stakeholders.
c) I am starting RA work with Prof. Jishnu Das (McCourt/SFS) on the LEAPS (Learning & Educational Achievement in Pakistan Schools) project.
Student organization involvement while at McCourt: I recently joined DIG (Development Implementer Group) as Social Media Coordinator.
Undergraduate University, degree, and major: The University of British Columbia (Vancouver), BSc 2018 (Geophysics)
Hobbies/ Interests:
Interests: Evidence-based WASH (Water, Sanitation & Hygiene)/environmental policy in Southeast Asia.
Hobbies: Jazz improvisation on piano, world literature, bar-hopping, cycling.
Reach out to me about: LGBTQ+, Moving to DC, international student stuff