Humphrey Alumni & Staff Updates

Alumni Updates

Chicu Lokgariwar (2007-08), India, lives and works in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, leading the river conservation group of PSI, a nonprofit organization based in the central Himalayas. Her work involves the research and advocacy of river conservation, and developing a method for assessing in-stream requirements of Himalayan rivers. She also helps grassroots activists get access to and use available information. "This is exciting work, and much of the work on in-stream flows has not been done before. I live close to the Himalayas and can see the foothills from my house. Life might get better than this, but you will have to work hard to convince me," Lokgariwar said. Chicu invites you to visit her blog for more up-to-date information about her work and life in India.

Violeta Orlovic (2007-08), Serbia, now works as a training expert for the USAID-funded Preparedness, Planning, and Economic Security Program at Development Alternatives Inc. Her co-worker is Vesela Radovic, Ph.D., a winner of this year's Humphrey Fellowship from Serbia. Orlovic is also busy finishing her dissertation on capacity development for sustainable management of projected areas, and volunteers on the Commission of Protected Areas of the World Conservation Union's training task force. Since returning home, she has served as a panel member for interviewing Serbians interested in the Humphrey Fellows Program. "After coming home in June '08, I had the luxury not to start work immediately. It felt so good. There were also a few "minor" changes to adjust to: a new home, new marriage, and a renewed me," Orlovic said.

Mohamed Tabayoui (2007-08), Morocco, is a technical adviser to the Prime Minister of Morocco through the Department of Economic and General Affairs. "I am a member of the team in charge of coordinating our government's relationship with the World Bank and am involved in dossiers concerning agriculture, risk management, and climate change issues," Tabayoui said.

Arnel Banas (2007-08), Philippines, is working at the Senate of the Philippines focusing on the areas of Good Governance and promotion of excellence in customer service for the government. Upon returning to the Philippines last year, Banas served on the interview panel for prospective 2009-10 Humphrey Fellows. "It was quite an experience to sit on the other side of the table. It was then that I realized what I went through. At the time I applied, I was going through the steps one at a time. Now I have come full circle and understand how a Fellow is selected," Banas said.

Reem Abdullah (2001-02), Yemen, is now working in the public sector as the in-house lawyer for the Jabel Ali Free Zone Authority in Dubai, UAE. Previous to this he worked in the private sector for more than 10 years.

Valéria Esther Nigri Musafir (2002-03), Brazil, is working as a project manager for SERPO, a Brazilian Public ITC organization. In this capacity she is in charge of a new electronic application program called e-Marcas (e-Trademarks) developed for the National Institute of Industrial Property. Musafir and her family visited Seattle in 2007. "We felt like we were realizing a dream because we'd missed the city and our friends a lot. We were invited to meet the HHH Fellows of 2007-08 and share our experiences with them in their first HHH seminar. It was a very special day," Musafir said.

Antenane Korra (1999-00), Ethiopia, is working for Management Sciences for Health as a senior program associate focusing on HIV/AIDS treatment program monitoring and evaluation. She has also been involved with various research, program monitoring, and evaluation of activities in different organizations such as a national planning NGO, CARE International in Ethiopia, and Pact Ethiopia. "During my Humphrey year, I developed wonderful relationships with professionals at the UW and in the greater Seattle community. My professional affiliation with the Planned Parenthood Federation was a great asset for developing my professional career," Korra said.

Luciana Cavalcanti (1999-00), Brazil, has been very busy since returning home. After extensive travel throughout Brazil, Cavalcanti returned to her hometown of Recife in January 2007 where she currently works. "I am happy to be here. At least for a while," she said.

Sudeep Jain (2006-07), India, currently serves as joint secretary to the Indian Government's Rural Development Department, one of the largest in the country with a budget of $2 billion (U.S. dollars). Upon returning to Chennai, Jain took charge of the then incomplete Tsunami Rehabilitation Project. He also worked on two projects using the connections he'd made in the United States, including collarborating with UW Businnes School Professor John Castle in coordinating an exploration seminar to India titled "Transforming Rural India through Technology and Business Leadership." Jain has resumed his association with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), the premier industry association in India, where he is working to develop an Entrepreneurship Promotion Foundation. Jain's daughters are now in grade seven and his wife Shanan has left her 13-year position as a lecturer in the Business School to work at India's biggest software company Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) designing an online university.

Angelina Metaxatos (1995-96), Greece, is the director of marine fisheries in Greece and works with fisheries management. Her role is to ensure Greece abides by the EU Common Fisheries Policy and other regulations for sustainable development of fisheries and the protection of stocks. "It is not an easy task to manage a Mediterranean coastal fishing fleet," Metaxatos said.

Miroslav Kucerka (1993-94), Czech Republic, is approaching retirement and said, "I am still alive, but the time goes so quickly." Kucerka is still involved in radioactive waste management and works full-time as the head of the technical support department at the radioactive waste repository. He is also a member of the radioactive waste management committee of the NEA OECD. Kucerka lives in Praha but spends his weekends at his village house in Prestovice. "It is beautiful there and you can pick mushroom, or herbs for tea in the forest nearby," he said.

Imre (Szaim) Szarvas (1999-00), Hungary, still works in nature conservation as a sub-regional leader managing the Ipolytarnoc Fossils Nature Conservation Area and the World Heritage Holloko Protected Landscape Area. In October 2007, Szarvas was invited to be the keynote speaker for a fossil track congress held in New Mexico. This was the first time he visited the United States since completing his fellowship in 2000. He is currently working with other HHH Fellows from the 1999-00 cohort to organize a 10-year reunion in 2009.

Syed Nasir Ershad, Bangladesh, (2005-06) was recently appointed to the position of first secretary for the Bangladesh Embassy in Seoul, South Korea. "I think being a Humphrey Fellow helped me a lot during my interview for the position. I hope to do a good job enhancing the bilateral relations between Korea and Bangladesh, and that cooperation in trade, commerce, and manpower will be enhanced during my tenure," Ershad said.

Viet Chau To (2000-01), Vietnam, is the deputy director-general for the International Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) of Vietnam. His department handles Vietnam's collaboration with international partners on agricultural programs and oversees their integration into the World Trade Organization. "I am pleased to be part of the Ministry's agricultural sector since agriculture is still of great importance to Vietnam," To said.

Marijana Novaković (2002-03), Yugoslavia, Montenegro, has been promoted to an international position at her bank. Novakovi&cAcute; is also a proud cancer survivor being cancer-free for two years. "I am very happy and enjoy life immensely. My daughter Lena got married. My youngest is in the United States completing high school on a volleyball scholarship. My son is a doctor, and my oldest daughter is still happy and successful. My husband is great, and in his third mandate in Parliament," she said.

Zefanias Muhate (1992-93), Mozambique, has served as the permanent secretary for the Ministry of Interior (Home Affairs) since 2005. Previous to this he served as an adviser and permanent secretary for the ministry of education from 2000-05.

Ching-Chih Liao (1994-95), Taiwan, is the director of planning in Taichung, where e-government, city planning, efficiency, and quality control are managed. In 2002, Liao was invited to join the Georgetown Leadership Seminar, a program ran by the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. The National Committee on U.SChina Relations selected his office to represent best practices in municipal e-governance in Taiwan. In 2008, Liao was invited to visit three citiesWashington, D.C., Tampa, and Seattle-to have a closer look at e-governance practices in American cities. During this trip, Liao was able to reconnect with his host family the Hobsons, former HHH staff member Elaine Chang, and former HHH graduate assistant Chris Coward.

Snezana Marstijepovic (2006-07), Montenegro, returned to work at Port of Bar where she's an officer for environmental issues. She said she is doing her best to improve the situation in Montenegro, but finds it difficult because many Montenegrin people lack environmental awareness. In her free time, Marstijepovic works as a consultant for GTZ, a German organization in Montengro, coordinating the Empowerment of Women in Business project.

Graciela Keskiskian (2003-04), Argentina, had an opportunity to apply her new skills to create an environmental education area for an important consultant company in Argentina immediately upon returning from her fellowship. This first time an Argentinean consultant company has offered an environmental education area, and Keskiskian works throughout the country advocating for social and environmental responsibility of the biggest gold and copper mining companies. She is also involved with training teachers and developing community programs that encourage people to base their opinions and advocacy on scientific knowledge. Keskiskian is also training people from the Buenos Aires City Government new noise regulations.

Jorge Salvador Gonzalez (1997-98), Mexico, still works in his tax office, which was hired by the Government of Sinaloa to increase the effectiveness and collection of government audits. His office also provides other diverse tax services to private and public enterprises. Last year, Gonzalez ran for the state auditor office. "I did great! Just as our national soccer team motto says, 'We played like never but we lost as always,'" he said. Although Gonzalez does not plan to run again this year, he intends to support several candidates.

Timur Baiserkeev (2005-06), Kyrgyzstan, used the knowledge gained through working with the Giraffe Heroes Project during his fellowship year to inform the "Stick Your Neck Out" project in Kyrgyzstan. The project was initiated through Baiserkeev's NGO Atuul (Citizen) with a grant from the U.S. Embassy in Bishkek. Through the project, eight young, potential leaders from the provinces are identified and commended as "Kyrgyzstan's New Heroes" for sticking their necks out and telling their stories on radio, television, and in print. Baiserkeev believes these stories will feed young people's souls, inform their attitudes, and get them moving on public problems that matter to them. In late August of 2007, Baiserkeev hosted friends Carolyn and Tristan from FIUTS in Seattle. "It was my pleasure to show them Kyrgyzstan's capital, my hometown, and Kyrgyz rural life," he said.

Ata Mohammed Yari (2004-05), Afghanistan, is a board member of the Afghanistan Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (ATRA) at the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (MCIT) of Afghanistan. His current position deals with regulatory issues of telecommunications for both the public and private sectors. "Getting to this position was like climbing an 18-story building (the tallest in my country) by foot," he said.

Andrey Varlamov (2005-06), Russia, recently completed a masters degree in Environmental Management from the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia. Varlmov's study and degree were made possible through the Ford Foundation International Fellowship Program. "I am still recovering from my addiction to coffee and teriyaki!" he said.

Aboubacar Fall (1993-94), Tunisia, has taught at the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) since 2003. He is currently conducting research in the areas of vulture funds and the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (IETI). Fall was elected as executive secretary of the African Law Institute, the first African legal think tank of its kind. In 2001, he joined the African Development Bank Group where he serves as principal legal counsel. The bank is the first development financial institution in Africa and has the mandate to finance development projects and programmes. Since returning to Senegal in 1994, Fall has also conducted extensive research and has presented his published works at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg and at at the University of Virginia School of Law in Charlottesville.

Tariq Khosa (1987-88), Pakistan, has reached the highest rank of inspector general in the Police Service of Pakistan. His wife Ayesha has pursued her passion of teaching small children and is currently the vice principal of a private preschool. Khosa's eldest daughter Sadia went to London School of Economics and graduated in math. She is now married and settled in London. In 2004, his son Usman graduated from Connecticut College in the United States and is employed as an economist at a corporate law firm in Washington, D.C. His youngest daughter Sana is completing her masters degree at the University of Florida while her husband completes a Ph.D. program there.

Staff Updates

Ken Peavler (2007), interim HHH program manager, is back at the Evans School working with Cascade Executive Programs and a program training Afghan civil servants in policy analysis and research methodology. He taught a course last summer at Kabul University, and is now working on developing international programs for the Evans School. Ken and his fiancé Gina were married last spring and she is currently doing field work in Hyderabad, India, for her Ph.D. in Anthropology.

Elisabeth Mitchell (NEED YEAR), HHH/PLP program manager, is in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, where she onced served as a Peace Corps volunteer. "I am reminded daily of the value of international fellowship programs and long-term relationships that stretch across the sands of time and politics," she said, and encourages the HHH community to continue keeping in touch with each other.

Aishah (Valencia) Pang (2002-03), graduate assistant, is looking forward to moving home to Hawaii for good. After three years at The National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR) in Seattle, she will be returning to federal government service as a research analyst.

Laura Weese (1986-94), assistant coordinator, is now retired and recently celebrated her 75th birthday. "I still hear from some of the former fellows. My best experience this year was getting Belgium chocolates from Hareiimana Francois, an HHH fellow from Rwanda in 1988-89," she said.

Matt Curry (2004-05), graduate assistant, returned to the Seattle area after spending a year working overseas with the U.S. State Department. He is now employed with the UW School of Medicine as a research services administrator at its South Lake Union research facility using his budgeting and management skills developed at the Evans School. When he gets a little free time after work, he walks across the street to the Center for Wooden Boats and rents one of the available sailboats for a little relaxation on Lake Union. Matt is also settling down, having just bought his first house in the Seattle area.

Teresa Kuklinski (2003-04), graduate assistant, works for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, D.C., on a traditional ecological knowledge project with indigenous leaders from and the governments of Canada, Mexico, and the United States. While working in Mexico City last summer, she met with Population Leadership Program alums Maria Luisa Sanchez-Fuentes (2001-02) and Gabriela Rodriquez (2005-06). While visiting friends in Finland last May, Teresa took a quick boat ride over to Estonia and was able to visit HHH alum Aivar Rahno (2002-03) and tour the capital of Tallinn. Teresa is also the proud new aunt of twins, Annabelle and Jack.