SCHOOL of INTERNATIONAL SERVICE

American University · Washington, D.C.

SIS People

Eric Napoli

Eric Napoli is Legal Counsel, International Development at FON Technology in Madrid, Spain.

FON is an innovative technology start-up based in Madrid, Spain. It is building the world's largest WiFi community. Founded in 2006, in Madrid, FON's mission is to stimulate growth of WiFi Internet access through its sharing community of "Foneros". FON’s La Fonera WiFi routers, which are subsidized for those who join the FON Community, have been specifically designed to enable Foneros to share their home access points with the FON Community. In return for sharing, Foneros gain free WiFi access everywhere in the world. FON's investors include Google, Skype, Index Ventures and Sequoia Capital.

Eric says of his SIS experience: "I did the study abroad program in Madrid in 1993, and the vast majority of my friends at SIS were all foreign students. Working in an international setting and abroad has since come naturally."

Eric's advice for current SIS students is ". . . to take advantage of the general education requirement to benefit from learning . . . from as many different fields as possible. Take language classes, philosophy and religion, and literature. The more information you have about the world, its history, and various cultures, the more you will benefit from the tools you learn at SIS."

Back to: Top of This Page | SIS Home Page

Sarah Ahmed

Sarah Ahmed is a Senior Program Assistant for Iraq Programs at the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI), based in Washington, DC. She focuses primarily on NDI-Iraq's "Political Party" and "Women's Political Participation" programs. In addition to Iraq programs, Sarah has also assisted with the Gulf program's "Women's Political Participation in Kuwait" mission. She has traveled to Jordan, Iraq, Turkey, and Kuwait on NDI business.

Of her choice to attend SIS, Sarah says: "SIS was my first choice because the program focused more on practical learning via simulations and the integration of real-life situations for analysis, rather than a typically academic or theoretical approach. Many of the professors at SIS also have quite a bit of field experience and that was important to me as field work is a major facet of my career path."

Sarah's advice to current students is: "Take the time to actively get to know and engage with fellow students and professors alike. Students at SIS have amazing backgrounds and offer wonderful experiences to learn from. You'll find yourself making lifelong friends. Also, take advantage of the various events, workshops and institutes/centers at SIS. They are a great place to meet colleagues and receive first-hand information about many of the world’s current affairs."

Back to: Top of This Page | SIS Home Page

Doreen Mendoza

After completing her M.A. at SIS, Doreen Mendoza took a job as an International Trade Specialist at the U.S. Department of Commerce. Doreen works in the Office of Multilateral Affairs in the International Trade Administration, which represented U.S. industry in the WTO Doha Round Non-Agricultural Market Access negotiations. Doreen has also served as a U.S. Government representative at the Non-Tariff Barrier negotiations in Geneva, Switzerland.

Doreen advises SIS students to exploit the school's location in Washington and take part in a variety of internships throughout their SIS careers. She also strongly suggests spending at least one semester abroad to gain a broader international perspective.

SIS courses that had significant impact on Doreen include International Economics, International Trade and Investment, International Monetary and Financial Relations, International Law and the Legal Order, and U.S. Foreign Economic Policy. These courses, especially the International Trade and Investment course, provided her with knowledge about the global trade economy and served as a stepping-stone to her current employment.

Doreen maintains contact with the SIS community and occasionally returns to campus to speak with students on SIS Grad Days and at SIS open houses.

Back to: Top of This Page | SIS Home Page

John Prendergast

John Prendergast is a Senior Advisor at the International Crisis Group. Prendergast has focused most of his 20-year career on conflict resolution in Africa and shaping U.S. foreign policy toward the continent.

Two SIS faculty members shaped John's experience at the school -- Dr. Cheru and Dr. Hirschmann. "Fantu Cheru and David Hirschmann were indispensable to my career development," Prendergast stated. "Both were guiding lights in terms of career advice, academic challenge, and real world experience. They had an enormous amount of influence on the direction of my studies and of my career."

From 1985-1996, John worked for a variety of NGOs and think tanks in Africa and in the United States. In late 1996, he joined the White House and State Department during the Clinton administration until 2001.

John has authored or co-authored seven books on Africa and is currently co-authoring a book with actor Don Cheadle about citizen action to end mass atrocities. Prendergast has written several commentaries for major newspapers, including the Washington Post, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today.

John has appeared on the national media magazines 60 Minutes and Nightline and has a regular presence on CNN and the BBC.

John credits the irreplaceable strategic development and guidance received at SIS as key factors that focused his career path in policy advocacy. "Political and economic development challenges are at the root of so many of the world’s problems," Prendergast said. "We have to understand the issues if we are going to advocate for meaningful change."

Back to: Top of This Page | SIS Home Page

Natalie Hand

Natalie Hand is currently a PhD candidate at St. Andrews University and an Executive Director/Cofounder of the Institute for Kurds. Natalie traces the humble beginnings of her success to her undergraduate experience at American University.

"When I moved to D.C. in 2000, I had never even been out of the country. By the end of my freshman year, I had met up with a senior going to Syria for a self-study tour and was on my way to Damascus. By my senior year, I had studied in four different Middle Eastern countries, in every geographical region of the Arab world, and was the first AU student to get the chance to study at the American University of Sharjah in the UAE." Now, Natalie is continuing her academic success studying in England under the Marshall Scholarship.

When asked about her choice to pursue an undergraduate degree at AU, Natalie replied, "I chose American because of its location, reputation for excellence in international relations, and honors program. There is no doubt in my mind that I made the right choice. My friends and family have always considered me idealistic, ambitious, and motivated, but American’s faculty and students made me dream bigger and do more."

"I always got the sense that American [University] lived up to the term 'international service' rather than just 'international relations.'"

Back to: Top of This Page | SIS Home Page

Laiza Casas

Laiza Casas is currently employed at the U.S. Department of State as a Foreign Affairs Officer at the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement, Office of the Americas. Laiza is very happy with her current job as she engages with an array of different agencies and governments on a daily basis. Specifically, she has created the Peace for Acholi Children Team (PACT) which organized the "Ugandance" charity event to raise money for the children in Gulu dealing with the aftermath of the LRA civil strife. Additionally, Laiza has coordinated the "Help Us Change the Face of Homeless" charity dinner which raised over $4,500 to assist the local homeless shelters and programs in the Northwest, DC area. Relating her professional experience with SIS, Laiza said, ". . . as a foreign affairs officer working on Latin American issues in the international spectrum, my academic background at SIS is applied each and every day."

When asked what advice she would offer current and prospective students based on her experience, Laiza suggests that students take advantage of career center, development office, and faculty resources at their disposal. She says, ". . . these are the resources that will help you in finding internships, scholarships, fellowships, and contacts that will most probably lead to your future career."

Back to: Top of This Page | SIS Home Page

Lisa Jamu

Lisa Jamu is the founder and managing director of Stepping Stones International, a non-profit non-governmental organization working with teenage orphans and vulnerable children in an after school program in Botswana. At Stepping Stones, Lisa’s responsibilities include working with the government of Botswana, advocacy, systems implementation and planning activities for the center’s program.

After earning her Masters Degree in International Development, Lisa heard about Project Hope internships abroad and decided to go talk to the Country Director for Malawi and the Regional Director. Within a few days of the interview Lisa received a phone call that she was going to Malawi and working on a malaria project with insecticide treated nets. It was there that she met her future husband, Styn, working on the same project. Lisa's internship with Project Hope gave her the work experience she needed to get a job with Population Services International doing social marketing. After staying there for eight years, Lisa had gained substantial experience on how to work with a variety of donors, finance, program management, budgets, and all the skills that are necessary for running an NGO. It was these experiences that led her to start Stepping Stones.

Lisa says she uses the skills she gained at the School of International Service every day at Stepping Stones International. She advises that SIS students take full advantage of the opportunities at AU. She says, ". . . the style of teaching is interactive, thought provoking and uses case studies and simulation to allow you to understand reality. You will be able to use your education to effect change in the world at many levels. The theory learned can be applied to policy situations, statistics can help in research for projects and the elective courses can be used in program management, and designing and implementing projects in developing countries. The professors at American are excellent role models because most of them have experienced field work and have a backgrounds in international development or related fields."

Back to: Top of This Page | SIS Home Page

Zukhra Shaabdullaeva

Home Country: Uzbekistan
Research: Transition in the Former Soviet Union and its impact on gender.
Regional Concentration: Former Soviet Union (particularly Central Asia)
Internship Experience:
a) American Cancer Society, International Affairs Intern,
b) FINCA International, Social Performance Monitoring Research Fellow, and
c) HasNa Inc, Program Evaluation Intern

Zukhra’s SIS experience:
“My experience at the SIS is definitely the most remarkable in my life. I realized my major goal of getting the International Development degree at one of the best schools in the US. The university welcomes a great number of international students annually. The hospitality of the staff makes one feel at home. Another advantage of the school is its location in the US capital, which provides many professional opportunities and accesses to events of global importance.”

Back to: Top of This Page | SIS Home Page

Marko Klasnja

Home Country: Serbia
Research: Fiscal Policy in Transition Economies (Eastern Europe, Southeastern Europe and the CIS), comparative political economy (esp. the impact of institutions on economic policy making), enlargement of the European Union
Regional Concentration: Transition countries, European Union
Internship Experience: Ministry of International Economic Relations of Serbia; RA to Public Policy Scholar, Wilson Center
Thesis: Capture, Political Corruption and Electoral Fiscal Cycles in Transition Countries
Current Employment/Project: Research Assistant at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, Washington D.C.

Marko’s SIS Experience:
“SIS students are vibrant, vocal, cultured, international, and keen on getting their hands dirty internationally rather than occupying the lofty offices in DC... The very same applies to the SIS faculty, many of whom are strongly pedagogical. Lots of cutting-edge teaching and curricula…”

Back to: Top of This Page | SIS Home Page

Charles L. Bongomin

Home Country: Uganda
Research Focus: Effectiveness of center-base re-intergration of child-soldiers in Northern Uganda
Regional Concentration: Africa/Uganda
Internship Experience: My internship was at the Peace Brigades International (PBI), it was phenomenon to learn about defenders of human rights in Colombia, Nepal, El Salvador, Mexico and Guatemala
Current Employment/Project: I am currently working at the Netherlands Embassy in Kampala, Uganda as their Senior Advisor Northern Uganda.

Charles’ SIS Experience:
”My life at SIS was a life-changing phenomenon. I have never been the same again. In fact, sky is the limit for me… Alutta Continua!!” Charles

Back to: Top of This Page | SIS Home Page

Jaclyn Burger

Home Country: South Africa
Research Focus: Post-conflict peacebuiliding in sub-Saharan Africa, processes and theories of state formation and consolidation in Africa, governance and institutional development, economics of violence and peace, natural resources and conflict, instrumental violence in Africa.
Regional Concentration: Sub-Saharan Africa
Internship Experience: Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, Project on Leadership and the Building of State Capacity
Thesis: Geographies of Violence and Geographies of Hope in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: Investigating the Secessionist Deficit of the Congo War
Current Employment/Project: United Nations Volunteer, Political Affairs Officer, UNMIL (United Nations Mission in Liberia)

Back to: Top of This Page | SIS Home Page

Coimbatore Subramanian Ramanathan

Home Country: India
Research Focus: Development, Microfinance, Microinsurance, Communication
Current Employment/Project: The World Bank
Ramanathan's SIS Experience:

"SIS is a school that offers exposure to multiple cultures and religions which, when integrated with the scholarly atmosphere, leads to experiential learning of international relations…

"Traditionally considered the antithesis to international development work, my management background and corporate experience enables me to analyze development theories and practice rationally. SIS offers a mélange of practical and theoretical learning, as courses are equally accompanied by weekend programs that focus on grooming specific skill sets in different fields of international relations."

Back to: Top of This Page | SIS Home Page

Aisha Bain

In June of 2005, Aisha Bain joined Global Rights: Partners for Justice as the Asia, North Africa, and Eastern European Program Officer. She works on women’s rights in India, and the Maghreb, anti-discrimination in the Balkans, and environmental rights in Mongolia. In this capacity, she helps plan, design and support the implementation of projects that strengthen civil society’s ability to form the strategies and tactics they need to further advance the protection of human rights and greater access to justice at the local and national levels.

Before joining Global Rights, Ms. Bain co-founded a project through which she traveled independently to Eastern Chad and Darfur to document the human rights abuses in those countries and to create an awareness campaign. The documentary she created, called Darfur Diaries: Message from Home, has received awards, and wide acclaim. Ms. Bain is also co-author of Darfur Diaries: Stories of Survival, a book depicting the journey of making the film. Currently, the Darfur Diaries’ film and book donates their proceeds to build schools in North Darfur in partnership with the Darfur Peace and Development Organization.

Prior to that, Ms. Bain served as Deputy Director at the Center for the Prevention of Genocide where she worked extensively investigating and reporting the massacres in Darfur and Northern Uganda, and lobbying for international action. She was also a research analyst for Project Hope International and conducted extensive field research in South East Asia on human trafficking. She currently serves on their Board of Directors. She also volunteered in Lebanon during the war in 2006.

She is a recipient of the Peacemaker Award from American University. Ms. Bain obtained her bachelor’s degree from Boston College. She speaks English, French, and Malagasy, and has a working knowledge of Spanish and Arabic.

Back to: Top of This Page | SIS Home Page

Akinori Yoshida

Since he earned a dual master’s in International Development and Business Administration, Akinori finds himself not in his home country of Japan, but in Brazil working with a new company that imports and exports foods and agricultural products, including wagyu, Japanese Kobe beef.

Akinori’s path from Japan to Brazil took him to both coasts of the U.S. and through Central and South America. Between his undergraduate studies in Oregon, graduate studies at AU, and work after graduation, he spent close to eight years in the United States. In 2003, he decided he was ready for something new, and he embarked on a year-long trip through Mexico, Central America, and South America. Along the way he learned Spanish and Portuguese, and developed a fondness for Latin American culture.

In March 2004, Akinori took a job with a newly established company, Andes Foods Emportação e Importação de Alimentos Ltda, and found that his knowledge of the Japanese market made him an ideal fit for the company whose services include Japanese exports to the Brazilian market. His main responsibilities involve negotiating with Brazilian plant managers, export managers, and Japanese buyers; looking at products, prices, and production processes; and working on the development of new products. Much of his time is spent visiting production plants, where he monitors quality control, teaches production processes, and serves as a cultural interpreter teaching the Brazilians about Japanese food culture.

Akinori hopes to someday spearhead an exchange program that helps Japanese students experience Latin America. He volunteered with international student orientation each semester at AU and is still in touch with friends he met there from all over the world, exchanging e-mails with people in Costa Rica, Russia, Thailand, and Taiwan

Back to: Top of This Page | SIS Home Page

Carl Christian Hildebrand

Carl Hildebrand, the son of two Naval officers, was born in Honolulu, Hawaii and raised in San Diego, Washington, DC, and Orlando. He developed his interest in Latin American Political Science, International Studies, and Geography at the University of Miami. After educational excursions to Costa Rica Cloud Forests and Yucatan, Mexico Mayan ruins he graduated in 1996.

In 2002, Carl completed his graduate work from American University’s School of International Service studying the dynamics of European Union integration and expansion. During his time at American University he studied abroad at Oxford University, Trinity College focusing on International Management and Caux, Switzerland developing conflict transformation skills with Initiatives of Change as a Caux Scholar.

In 2006, Carl joined the US Green Building Council South Florida Chapter as Program Chair and developed an interest in energy, environmental design and real estate. A year later he has started his own Green culture consulting business as The Green Broker. His commitment for smarter choices for better living in South Florida led to projects like Green Flamingos (Green business forum), South Florida Green Business Guide, the Green Office at CASADECOR, EarthDance Film Festival, and EcoDesign Fair.

Carl Hildebrand is also the President of the South Florida American University Alumni Association.

Back to: Top of This Page | SIS Home Page

Eve Bratman

Eve Bratman, born in Chicago, IL, will receive her Ph.D., from the School of International Service, in 2008 in International Politics and Global Environmental Policy. She is a 2001 graduate of Oberlin College, with highest honors in politics and environmental studies. Eve’s experiences abroad started early in her academic career as an intern at the U.S. State Department’s Mission to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.

Eve is currently a Fulbright Scholar, 06-07, in Brazil where she is working on her doctoral field research in a frontier region of the Brazilian Amazon. At American University she was Coordinator of the Seminar Series in 2004, and Founding member of the Coalition of Young Social Innovators (CYSI) in 2003. Prior to beginning her doctoral studies at SIS, she was a community organizer at the Center for Neighborhood Technology in Chicago.

Her current research interests include how civil society groups negotiate with each other and with the government in conservation and development projects in the Brazilian Amazon. She is also currently a visiting researcher at the Pastoral Land Commission (CPT) and the Foundation for Life, Production, and Preservation (FVPP) in Altamira, Pará, Brazil. Eve is also an affiliated researcher with the Instituto de Pesquisas Ambientais da Amazônia (IPAM) (Belem, Brazil), and Uni Euro (Brasília, Brazil).

Back to: Top of This Page | SIS Home Page

Mark Overmann

Although Mark Overmann spends his days as the Director of College Communications at Georgetown University, one of his most exciting undertakings as of late is a side project that lies outside of his official job responsibilities. Along with 2007 AU Alumnae of the Year Sherry Mueller, Mark has co-authored a book titled Working World: Careers in International Education, Exchange, and Development. The book, which will be published in the fall of 2008 by Georgetown University Press, is a guide for those looking to chart a career in these fields of international relations and will be of great interest to current and former School of International Service (SIS) students.

In his day job, Mark directs all communications activities for Georgetown College, the undergraduate liberal arts school at Georgetown University. His responsibilities include mapping and managing the College’s online and print presence, as well as all communications for the Dean of the College. Mark is also heavily involved with the College’s study abroad programs, namely its expanding presence in China. This combination of communications activities and international engagement allows him to use all of the skills he developed while obtaining his M.A. in International Communication at AU, which he completed in 2005.

Prior to his position at Georgetown and directly following his graduation from AU, Mark worked as the Program Associate for Communications at the National Council for International Visitors (NCIV), a nonprofit working to promote excellence in citizen diplomacy and bridge cultures through professional exchange programs. His responsibilities at NCIV included acting as publications manager, coordinating all NCIV advocacy activities, supervising the internship program, assisting with fundraising outreach and corporate partnership development, and serving as a member of the National Steering Committee for the Coalition for Citizen Diplomacy, a partner organization for which NCIV was a founding member.

While completing his International Communication degree, Mark served as a co-chair of the International Communication Student Forum (ICSF). He was a School of International Service Dean’s Award Scholarship recipient from 2003 to 2005.

Following his graduation from the University of Notre Dame in 2002 and prior to matriculation at AU, Mark spent a year in the Korean minority region of Yanbian in Northeast China, where he worked as an English teacher. While at Notre Dame, he studied abroad in Angers, France, during his junior year.

Back to: Top of This Page | SIS Home Page

Teymour Kooros

Teymour Kooros works as First Vice President and Senior Relationship Manager, Government & Institutional Banking at HSBC Bank USA. Kooros is responsible for managing HSBC’s Government & Institutional Banking (GIB) relationships with foreign governments in Africa, the Middle East and Turkey and their representative missions in Washington, D.C., New York and California, while overseeing the expansion of GIB in North America.

Kooros has twenty years of experience in the US banking industry. His roles have covered personal banking, commercial banking, international institutional relationship management and risk management. His previous role was Relationship Manager for Wachovia Bank’s Global Government Banking, focused on the Middle East and Africa.

Teymour holds a B.A. from the School of International Service, where in 1986 he served on the Dean Search Committee representing the SIS undergraduate student body. This committee selected the current Dean of SIS, Louis Goodman. Teymour is an active member of the SIS Alumni Association. He has continued his involvement with the SIS community by donating his time mentoring students and contributing to the school.

Back to: Top of This Page | SIS Home Page

Theresa Morrison

Theresa Morrison works as Director of the International Trade Center at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The Center offers a wide range of resources to help companies evaluate export markets and identify opportunities. Functioning in cooperation with five sister centers in Illinois, the center's mission is to promote exports by providing advice on finance, marketing, and logistics.. The Center is funded jointly by the College of Business, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and the US SBA (Small Business Administration).

Theresa’s work history includes a small Japanese trading company, banking, financing international trade for Bank of America and Norwest Bank (now Wells Fargo,) and Vice President for Small Business in domestic lending. For three years, Tess and two partners ran their own import/export businesses. She taught international business classes for several technical colleges and prior to moving to Illinois, she worked for the state of Minnesota helping Minnesota businesses to export.

The ITC allows Theresa to share her past experiences with Illinois companies and to expand new ventures based on their needs. Under Theresa’s leadership, the center has built a client list totaling more than 250 companies and is reported to have had an economic impact, to date, of over $50 million in sales.

Back to: Top of This Page | SIS Home Page

Timothy Burroughs

After having lived and worked internationally for three years following college, Timothy was interested in pursuing a graduate education with a few essential characteristics; coursework in international environmental policy-making and the opportunity to learn experientially through internships at institutions that affect federal policy. The Global Environmental Policy (GEP) program in the School of International Service was exactly what he was looking for.

At SIS Timothy was able to participate in internships at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Climate Change Division, and at the House Resource Committee on Capitol Hill. Finally, the GEP program allowed for flexibility in pursuing coursework that included environmental science, quantitative analysis, and environmental policy and law.

Timothy now lives in Berkeley, California, and works for ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability, an international nonprofit that assists municipal governments in their efforts to reduce the emissions that cause global warming. In the U.S., it is action to protect climate at the local government level that is leading the way. Timothy provides technical assistance to city government officials as they embark on the process of measuring their climate impact and implementing policies to reduce that impact.

Back to: Top of This Page | SIS Home Page