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Training Seminar

STUDENT BIOGRAPHIES

Esther Aguilera

Citizenship: Mexico
E-mail: thinkofme73@hotmail.com
Home Institution: University of California Santa Barbara

 

Esther Aguilera obtained a double BA in Latin America and Iberian Studies and Spanish from the University of California Santa Barbara. She also obtained an Associates Degree in Ethnic Studies from Santa Barbara City College. The past nine years she has worked in the non-profit sector supporting adults with psychiatric disabilities as a Counselor and Case Manager.  She is also a Political Consultant and Community Organizer. Her organizing efforts range from creating a living wage ordinance and getting it passed in the City of Santa Barbara to developing a Mental Health Moment to improve services provided for consumers in the County of Santa Barbara. Currently she serves as a board of directors for PUEBLO (People Untied for Economic Justice and Building Leadership through Organizing), Santa Barbara Women's Political Committee and serves as a delegate for California Latinas for Reproductive Justice. 

Samar Ahmad

Samar picCitizenship: Jordan/USA
E-mail: ahmadsamar@gmail.com
Home Institution: Institute of Conflict Analysis and Resolution

My name is Samar Ahmad and I am a senior at George Mason University studying International Conflict Analysis and Resolution. I am interested in studying different conflicts taking place in the world, especially the Palestinian- Israeli conflict. I love to raise awareness about the suffering and the injustice taking place in the world and hence I am constantly learning new things. I believe in what Mahatma Gandhi said "You must be the change you wish to see in the world".  As I think of my future, I would like to think of graduate school, writing a book and working with refugees. I consider myself to be a social person, love to travel, read, negotiate, meet new people from different countries and most importantly I am always smiling and laughing as I believe it spreads kindness in the world.


Mo'min Alzyoud

Citizenship: Palestine
E-mail: cstl_falcon@yahoo.com
Home Institution: Arab American University

Mo’min has been the leader of Wifaq youth association in Jenin governorate, coordinator of Palestinian youth for democracy & peace organization, and director of Jenin women center for democracy & freedom. He holds a degree in management information systems and is currently studying for a master’s degree in conflict resolution and leadership at the Arab American University. He is also a teacher for the Ministry of Education.

Kaia Benson

Citizenship: USA
E-mail: kaia.benson@gmail.com
Home Institution: SIPA, Columbia

Kaia Benson is currently working on her Master's degree in International Affairs at Columbia University in New York City, focusing on international security policy and Middle East studies. Ms. Benson has over eight years of international development experience. Prior to beginning her studies, Ms. Benson was the regional director for education programs in Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan for IREX, a US non-profit organization. In this capacity, she oversaw multiple US government funded exchange programs for citizens of Eurasia. Ms. Benson has also managed education programs for IREX in Turkmenistan and Washington, DC. She taught English and education methodology as a US Peace Corps volunteer in Uzbekistan and has a BA in both English Writing and Religions from Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington. She is a US citizen and native English speaker; she also speaks Uzbek, Russian, and French.

Nicole Cira

C:\Users\Owner\Pictures\2008-06-19\084.JPGCitizenship: USA
E-mail: nicole.cira@miis.edu
 Home Institution: Monterey Institute of International Studies

My name is Nicole Cira. In the fall, I will be entering my third semester at the Monterey Institute of International Studies earning my master’s degree in International Policy Studies. I specialize in Conflict Resolution and International Negotiations and I am the President of the Conflict Resolution Association. For the past year I have worked as a graduate research assistant. I am originally from Washington D.C. I attended Boston University as an undergraduate where I majored in History and International Relations. 

 

Kim Crawford

Citizenship: USA
E-mail: kmcrawfo@nps.edu
Home Institution: Naval Post Graduate School

I am an Air Force officer currently training for a new career in the international arena. I am studying the Middle East at the Naval Postgraduate School and will attend the Defense Language Institute in October 2008 to study Arabic. I have gained much experience in my 17 years of active duty service, traveling around the globe and living in Asia, Europe, and Africa. My previous international focus was on Africa while assigned to the Defense Attaché Office in Bamako, Mali working with senior military and civilian leaders from across the US, Africa, Europe and non-governmental organizations on issues of security, terrorism, democratic governance, civil-military relations, and the humanitarian assistance program. Although these opportunities have allowed me to work with a variety of entities from different areas of the world, attending the Middle East Seminar will be beneficial to my future positions within the military as I expect to be stationed primarily in the Middle East/North Africa countries. Based on my previous experiences in Africa, Europe, and Asia, this would be an excellent opportunity to see what issues are specific to the Middle East and perhaps allow me to better understand the important role that civilian organizations play in this area. Conflict resolution in particular is increasingly important in international relations; I believe any opportunity not taken to better understand how to be more effective in this arena is an opportunity lost.

Richard Cullivan

Citizenship: USA
E-mail: reculliv@nps.edu
Home Institution: Naval Post Graduate School

Major Richard E. Cullivan has been competitively selected for the Air Force’s Regional Affairs Specialist (RAS) Program, specializing in the Middle East/North Africa. He is currently attending training at the United States Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California to receive his Master’s degree in Regional Area Studies. Upon graduation he will attend Arabic language training at the Defense Language Institute located at the Presidio in Monterey, California. Major Cullivan was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Air Force through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps in May 1998. After Communications Officer School, he was assigned as Officer in Charge, Air Expeditionary Communications, Spangdahlem AB, Germany. In May 2001, he was reassigned to the Space Warfare Center as a Test Analyst for the 17th Test Squadron located at Schriever AFB, Colorado. In May 2004 he was assigned to the Executive Officer for the 35th Maintenance Group located at Misawa AB, Japan. Maj. Cullivan is married to the former Beth Campbell of Germantown, Maryland. They have two daughters, Miranda and Kayleigh and a son, Christian.

 

Shawn Durkin

Citizenship: USA
E-mail: durkin_shawn@yahoo.com
Home Institution: Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Boston

Shawn Durkin works for Catholic Charities in Boston, coordinating a pool of interpreters to serve non-English speakers state wide. Currently, he is preparing himself for graduate school by filling entrance requirements and traveling. Most recently, this has seen him studying Economics at Harvard University’s extension school, and volunteering at a refugee camp in the West Bank. In addition, he will spend 2009 in Kenya, working at a center for disabled children with the Sisters of Notre Dame.
 
Alyssa Galloway

Citizenship: USA
E-mail: alyssa.galloway@gmail.com
Home Institution: Monterey Institute of International Studies

After graduating from UCLA, where I studied comparative European politics, French and Russian, I went to law school for a year before realizing my real passion was in alternative dispute resolution on an international scale.  That led me to MIIS, where I am currently studying conflict resolution with the hopes of joining the US Foreign Service in the future.  My professional experience ranges from teaching high school special education to working for the Department of Defense at the US Embassy in Paris.  I have never been to the Middle East, and am very much looking forward to all that I am going to learn from this experience.

Lindsay Gardner

Citizenship: USA
E-mail: Lindsay.Gardner@miis.edu
Home Institution: Monterey Institute of International Studies

My name is Lindsay Gardner I am getting my Masters Degree from the Monterey Institute and specializing in terrorism.  I graduated from college in New York with a degree in Government and spent a year living in Europe.  I enjoy exploring new countries and trying new food.  This is my first time traveling in the Middle East and I'm really excited to experience it.

 

 

Michelle Glasser

Citizenship: Mexico/ USA
E-mail: glasser.michelle@gmail.com
Home Institution: Monterey Institute of International Studies

I am currently enrolled in the International Policy Studies Master of Arts at MIIS. I am specializing on Conflict Resolution. By attending the Middle East Seminar, I seek to broaden my knowledge of international negotiations and mediation. In order to prepare myself for a career in diplomacy, an international experience would be essential in achieving my academic goals. I have structured my major focusing on conflict resolution and international negotiations, therefore this seminar would be an excellent opportunity to acquire more in depth knowledge of the current conflict between Israel and Palestine. I hope one day to be able to contribute to the peace process in some of the countries that are suffering the struggles of war. I want to be able to understand more in depth top level negotiations, intercultural differences and gender issues. Many of the conflicts around the world have some similarities and differences, however, we are all human beings and the suffering of war is not contained within borders. I want to listen to people’s stories and try to build an understanding of the roots of each conflict. After this seminar, I am going to do a six month internship in Bogota, Colombia.  I am grateful to be able to live in a peaceful place and to be able to pursue an MA. I hope one day to be able to make a difference somewhere else and apply all these skills to improve the lives of other people.

 

Nour Halawani

Citizenship: Jordan
E-mail: nour_halawani@yahoo.com
 Home Institution:  JUST University

I am Nour Halawani.  I will start with my nationality which is Jordanian, and my origin is from Palestine.  I'm a Muslim; I am optimistic and like to see the positive side of everything, if it exists of course.  I have so many dreams and so many projects in mind and I hope I will accomplish them.  I'm currently studying dentistry in Jordan University for Science and Technology (JUST) University and working voluntarily with Taking It Global (TIG) as a community connector.

 

 

Damon Jalili

Citizenship: Australia
E-mail: damonjalili@hotmail.com
Home Institution: University of Sydney

I grew up in Sydney, Australia and continue to live and work there. I graduated from Macquarie University in 2007 with a Bachelor of Science – Psychology and am currently studying a Masters of Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Sydney. For the past year, I have been working in the research division of Gavin Anderson and Company, a leading issues management and communications strategy firm. My role is primarily to design, implement, analyze and report on qualitative and quantitative social research projects. Recent projects have been as wide-ranging as evaluating the efficacy of pharmacies as a medium for awareness raising and promotion activities for Hepatitis C on behalf of the Federal Government Department of Health and Ageing through to designing and implementing a popular and appropriate student representation model at the University of Western Sydney, including the establishment of a new Student Organization.

 

Gadi Kenny

Citizenship: Israel
E-mail: gadi.kenny@gmail.com
Home Institution: IPCRI

Gadi has his BA in Communication and Management from the College of Management in Tel Aviv, Israel and his MA in International Communication with an emphasis on culture and development from the School of International Service, American University, Washington DC, USA.  He is a member of Combatants for Peace; he is Director of the Israel Palestine Center for Research and Information (IPCRI); and initiator of the June 5 Initiative (project).  Gadi is currently leading a new project of dialog meetings between Palestinian and Israeli casualties of war; co-producing a joint documentary; and working on various other joint Palestinian-Israeli projects.

 

 

 

 

Mafwa Kuvibidila

004_4.JPGCitizenship: USA
E-mail: mmkuvibi@nps.edu
Home Institution: Naval Post Graduate School

Mafwa Kuvibidila is a master’s student at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA pursuing a National Security Affairs degree specializing in the Middle East. A member of the United States Air Force for over 11 years, she has served in various jobs related to space operations. She has also had the opportunity to work with the Africa Center for Strategic Studies and the Joint Forces Staff College focusing on security, military leadership, civil-military relations, and budgeting in Africa. Her current research interests include international development, peacekeeping and humanitarian operations. She is fluent in French and will attend the Defense Language Institute to study Arabic in the fall of 2008.

 

Irene Lagan

Citizenship: USA/ Ireland
E-mail: imlagan@gmail.com
Home Institution: Gregorian University

Throughout the course of my educational and professional career, I have had the privilege of working with people from a variety cultures and backgrounds. As an undergraduate student, I worked with underprivileged children, many of whom were from foreign lands. As a student of psychology and biology, I learned much more from their experience than classroom learning could afford. Later, I traveled to Bosnia-Hercegovenia and worked in a volunteer capacity serving youth and the needs of a local Catholic parish. Upon returning home, I studied theology and then obtained a graduate degree in philosophy. Subsequently, I worked in the field of bioethics and then as directed a nonprofit organization aimed at setting up economic development initiatives in areas where people were vulnerable to exploitation. My work took me to India, France, and Mexico. I have come to understand that projects aimed at building local cultures, as well as projects that cross international boundaries necessarily involve conflict mediation. This, in turn, is necessarily intercultural and interreligious. At present, my goal is to bring my background and skills to bear more directly in this field. As a student of theology in Rome and as a print and broadcast journalist, my work very directly involves issues that call for conflict resolution. In my current position, I am working closely with government leaders, religious leaders, local nongovernmental leaders, theologians, and individuals on the ground to build networks that support victims of conflict. I am eager to be involved as well in a process that builds bridges among peoples, particularly in the Middle East where I intend to focus and where I will be traveling professionally again in the fall.

Alison Lamont

Citizenship: Canadian
E-mail: alamont2@connect.carleton.ca
Home Institution: Carleton University

Originally from the Toronto area, Alison now lives in Ottawa and studies at the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University. There she is working on her M.A. in International Affairs, with a specialization in conflict analysis and resolution. Before moving to Ottawa, Alison attended the University of Western Ontario, where she received a B.A. Honours in International Relations and French. Alison loves to travel, and especially enjoyed living in Lyon, France, and studying at the Institut d’études politiques for her third year of university.

David Lettis

Citizenship: USA
E-mail: david.lettis@gmail.com
Home Institution: Monterey Institute of International Studies

I am currently a Masters Candidate at the Monterey Institute of International Studies, where I am studying International Policy Studies specializing in Terrorism Studies with an emphasis on the Middle East.  I received my Bachelors Degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder, majoring in Journalism and Mass Communication while minoring in Political Science.  Before coming to MIIS, I was a reporter for the Orange County Register where I was the community reporter for Huntington Beach.

Maja Løvslett

Citizenship: Norwegian
E-mail: maja.loevslett@miis.edu
Home Institution: Monterey Institute of International Studies

My name is Maja Palm Løvslett from Norway.  I have a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Oslo, and I am now starting the second year of my Master’s degree in International Policy Studies at the Monterey Institute in the U.S.  This will be my first visit to a Middle Eastern country, and I am looking forward to gaining a more thorough insight into the entangled history of this region of the world.  Through travelling and exchanges, meetings between cultures and interaction across these more or less visible traits have grown to become a great interest of mine; hence I am looking forward to sharing a diverse classroom setting with all of you in Amman.

 

Mais Masadeh

Citizenship: Jordan
E-mail: maistmasadeh@yahoo.com
 Home Institution:

Mais obtained her Bachelor of Arts in English for Specific Purposes (ESP) at Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST). She also studied at D.E.L.F. – Diplome d’Etudes en Langue Francais for her Diploma of FrenchLanguage Studies. She has been an Arabic tutor for American Peace Corps Volunteers and is currently an English Teacher at Terra Sancta College.During her graduate study, she volunteered with a nonprofit German organization called Konrad Adenauer Foundation; this chance enabled her to serve in Marka- an UNRWA Palestinian refugee camp.  When two opposed parties realize and understand the problem, solutions may seem to emerge. For those refugees waiting in Jordan, it’s vital for us as Jordanians to welcome them and be part of the solution and not ignorant to its implications, that’s why I deem that debating and communication encounters between people from the host country and the refugees are important to enhance the understanding of the crisis. This is exactly what I would like to work on in camps, when we can put ourselves in other's people shoes, it will be easier to understand the other part, and when Jordanians can put themselves in refugee's position I think this will lead to more welcoming and respect to those people of different ethnics and culture, therefore they can easily bend in their new society without the fear of rejection.  I hope after I finish building a solid experience in conflict solving, I can work for the UNHCR or UNRWA; it is my wish to continue learning and giving to maintain a peaceful healthy society.

Lesedi Mbatha

Citizenship: USA/ South Africa
E-mail: lmbatha@gmail.com
Home Institution: Barnard

Lesedi was born in New York City on April 7th 1990. She moved to South Africa when she was three and a half years old. In South Africa she was a student at Mulbarton Primary School, and Bishop Bavin School—an Anglican school in Johannesburg, South Africa. She moved back to New York City in 2000 when her mother began working for the South African government as a diplomat. In New York she attended the United Nations International School. In 2004 Lesedi moved to Beverly Hills California, when her mother was appointed Consul General of South Africa to Los Angeles. She will be attending Barnard College as a freshman in the fall of 2008, majoring in International Relations with the hopes of working with International Human Rights or becoming a Diplomat. 

 

Wael Al-Haj

Citizenship: Palestine
E-mail: waelni@gmail.com
Home Institution: Peace Works Foundation - One Voice

My name is Wael Al- Haj, I am a Palestinian male at the age of 35, I work at a conflict resolution organization called “OneVoice”, that seeks ending the Palestinian- Israeli conflict through mobilizing the grassroots to put pressure on their elected representative, to start an uninterrupted negotiation process to achieve an agreement to end the conflict and its effect on both sides.  After my graduation, I got married and joined the OneVoice movement; because I believed in their message and I was convinced that the only way to draw a better life for my children is through solving the conflict in a non-violence way, recently am working with the grassroots as an outreach coordinator, and through my work I learned more about what the grassroots want and how they never heard of the conflict resolution concept. Dealing with the grassroots made me consider the need to work on improving myself to represent a model for my people and to have the required skills to help them. 

Darrick Mosley

Citizenship: USA
E-mail: darmos17@yahoo.com
Home Institution: Naval Post Graduate School

Originally from Southern California, I’ve always had an interest and appreciation for foreign cultures and languages.  I earned my undergraduate degree at the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado in Regional Area Studies with a concentration in Western Europe and a minor in French. Prior to starting my graduate studies I was an instructor pilot in Texas where I flew the T-38C.   Currently, I am a student at the Naval Postgraduate School studying National Security Affairs with a concentration on the Middle East region. Among the issues I’ve focused on are the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the Palestinian elections. Accordingly, I am looking forward to learning about the details of these issues up close along with the intricacies of conflict resolution. I see these as important subjects deserving of more attention. In the future I hope to serve as a Regional Affairs Specialist for the Air Force helping to advise decision makers and fine-tune policy for a Middle East context.   This will be my first trip to Jordan and I appreciate the opportunity to learn and meet people concerned with international relations and conflict resolution.

 

 

Toni Mundy

Citizenship: USA
E-mail:
Home Institution: Carnegie Mellon Heinz School of Public Policy

Toni Mundy graduated from Yale University with a BA in History.  During her undergraduate studies she traveled to West Africa as part of an anthropology program to study the societal and cultural norms of several ethnic groups living in the same community and assess how their communities had evolved.  After receiving her undergraduate degree, Toni participated in the Coro Fellows Program, a year-long public policy fellowship that provides participants with experiential learning opportunities and leadership training.  During the fellowship, Toni learned about the complex dynamics of the public affairs arena by working on field assignments in the public, non-profit and private sectors, conducting interviews with local and regional political and community leaders and spearheading individual and group community projects.  Toni later attended Carnegie Mellon's Heinz School of Public Policy where she earned her MS in Public Policy.

Yasmin Nabulsi

Citizenship: Palestine
E-mail: viva.p9@gmail.com
Home Institution: University of Bologna - Forlì

I was born in Nablus, Palestine. I finished my high school studies in UWC, Italy. I graduated in 2007 in International Relations, university of Bologna, Italy. At the moment I'm following a two years specialization program in Diplomatic studies at the University of Roberto Ruffilli. I don't have clear plans yet for the future, but I definitely would like to attend a master course in the future. I love reading books especially political ones, the only physical work I do is riding my bicycle, and traveling is my passion in life.  

Jamie Peden

Citizenship: USA
E-mail:
Home Institution: Baylor University

I received a BA degree in Sociology from Midwestern State University. During this time I also worked at a local juvenile detention facility where I began learning about and seeing firsthand some of the environmental causes for and effects of the behaviors of a forensic population. I later received an MA degree in Clinical Psychology from the same university, working both simultaneously and post-degree at various inpatient and outpatient mental health institutions where I continued learning about the causes for and effects of behaviors of various psychological populations. Finally, I completed my studies at Baylor University, earning a second MA degree in Sociology. Much of what I have been exposed to in school and in my career has led me to seek out an even greater understanding of the intra- and interpersonal conflicts that people have and why it is that they do.  

Myshel Prasad

Citizenship: USA
E-mail: myshelprasad@hotmail.com
Home Institution: Monterey Institute of International Studies

Myshel Prasad is a writer, musician, painter, community organizer and mediator. She earned a BA from New York University’s Gallatin Division, and an MFA from Naropa University’s Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics. In the summer of 2007, Myshel was a recipient of the Kathryn Wasserman Davis Scholarship for Peace award and began studying Arabic at Middlebury College in Vermont.  She is currently an MA candidate at The Monterey Institute of International Studies, with a specialization in International Negotiation and Conflict Resolution. She lives in Big Sur, CA.

Evan Qursha

Citizenship: Jordan
E-mail: E.Qursha@liverpool.ac.uk
Home Institution: Liverpool Hope University

I first started my education at the Jordan University in the law school where I proceeded to my law practice after graduating in 2003. During my practicing year I was offered a place at Salford University in Manchester to study HRD which led my career to be conducted in private business as an HR director in one of the leading groups in Jordan. Moreover, I was certified by the EU youth commission as human rights education trainer. As a PhD student my research conducted on investigating the conceptual development of Diversity within United Nations System. The research will aim to explore diversity from the conceptual aspect, how it evolved and the identification and recognition of diversity from a Human Resource development perspective within the scope of the UN procedures and system. Gender will be the main focus concept within diversity in my research. The main focus areas of my research on the UN diversity are feminism/gender aspects and how such theories implicated on the conceptual development of diversity. Furthermore, the research will aim to fill in a gap of knowledge related to how UN policies are applied within different geographical regions considering the different perceptions of the concept diversity. As diversity was founded in equal opportunities which is based on feminist theories such foundations are still implicating on applying diversity in different cultural and geographical regions within an international organization such as the UN.

 

 

Kristen Ragusin

Citizenship: USA
E-mail: kristen_ragusin@ml.com
Home Institution: Boston University

I live in Boston, Massachusetts where I have been a wealth management advisor with Merrill Lynch for 15 years.  I recently graduated from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University with a Masters Degree.  Currently, I am pursuing a part-time dual Masters degree in International Relations and Religion at Boston University.  Though I love my home, I consider myself a world citizen and look forward to being an active participant in creating a world that works for everyone; helping to design and implement new paradigms and frameworks for our social, political and economic institutions.  I enjoy traveling, reading, people, animals, eating and just living the adventure of life!

 

 

Sarah Anne Rennick

Citizenship: France/ USA
E-mail: sarahanne.rennick@rccp-jid.org
Home Institution: Regional Centre on Conflict Prevention, Jordan

Sarah Anne Rennick is a researcher at the Regional Centre on Conflict Prevention in Amman, Jordan.  Her work involves comparing European Union peacebuilding strategies in the Western Balkans and the Middle East and evaluating the role of transitional justice, DDR, security sector reform, and the doctrine “right to protect” in conflict prevention and resolution in the MENA region.  Prior to this, she worked in economic development and poverty alleviation throughout the region and managed programs in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Morocco.  Sarah holds two Master’s degrees in political science and comparative politics of the Islamic world from the Institut d’Etudes Politiques in Paris, France and a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin where she majored in Middle Eastern Studies and Arabic.

 

 

Nancy Rodriguez

Citizenship: USA
E-mail: nancy.rodriguez@miis.edu
Home Institution: Monterey Institute of International Studies

Nancy Rodriguez worked in the field of development focusing on the role of youth populations for several years at the World Bank. She is now pursuing an M.A. at the Monterey Institute with a focus in international policy, more specifically stabilization and reconstruction programs.

 

Waleed Sadek

Citizenship: Egypt
E-mail: waleed_sadek@hotmail.com
Home Institution: Nottingham University

Waleed Sadek is from Egypt, and a PhD candidate at Nottingham University, UK in the Information Technology Institute.  In 2000 he established with his friends the Future Youth Club in Cairo to develop the abilities and skills of Egyptian youth and prepare youth leaders.  He is looking to work together with international organizations to let the entire world listen to the voice of the youth, because through ideas of the youth, the world will change for the better.   Life is too short to not let this dream come true.  He is striving very hard each day to balance his activism life with his academic life.  Life is a constant journey for Waleed, never a destination.  So he tries to live his life to the fullest each day with honor, passion and adventure!

Kurt Schulz

Citizenship: USA
E-mail: kschulz@gwu.edu
Home Institution: George Washington University

After teaching for twenty years, Kurt’s seeking a new path—he’s a student of international affairs (development and conflict resolution) at George Washington U. and is pursuing a his passion for writing fiction at Johns Hopkins. Too, he spent two years in Sierra Leone West Africa as a Peace Corps volunteer in the late 80s, started an engineering program at the Universidad del Turabo in Puerto Rico, lived and worked in Baton Rouge, LA, Stockton, CA, and most recently directed a new engineering program at Sweet Briar College in Virginia. Now, he’s looking forward to a month in the Middle East.

Jacqueline Shoen

Citizenship: USA
E-mail: jacqueshoen@gmail.com
 Home Institution: Bethlehem University

I have a background in Middle East politics and history both in my studies as well as in my work. Since May of 2006, I have been living and working in Bethlehem and Ramallah in the field of journalism, public relations and development. As I prepare to enter into a master’s program at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London for Middle East Politics and Society, I thought that participating in the Global Majority Seminar would further solidify my background and understanding of conflicts in the Middle East and what it takes to address the root causes of those conflicts in an effort to solve them peacefully. My overarching goal is to contribute to strengthening good relations between the US and the people living in Middle Eastern countries. I am particularly interested in the use of direct diplomacy with so-called enemies of the US and am hoping to work in the field of diplomacy and/or foreign policy advisor.
 
Rubayi Srivastava

Citizenship: USA
E-mail: rubayi.srivastava@miis.edu
Home Institution: Monterey Institute of International Studies

Growing up in India, I attended a unique school where children were encouraged to think and learn about their surroundings. We worked in rural areas to learn the history of agriculture, how water was preserved for use on the land through times of drought, or how it would be filtered for cooking and drinking in traditional societies. Most of all, the curriculum emphasized holistic education - from developing social skills to acquiring methods to teach oneself how best to address a problem or conflict. I believe that the understanding of conflict resolution and mediation is fundamental for rural development. My professional interest lies in alleviating poverty through public-private partnerships in developing countries, with the use of communication technology, education and knowledge sharing, and planning for water resource management in rural areas. I received my BA in Global Studies (socio-economic emphasis) with a minor in conflict resolution from the University of California, Santa Barbara. I am currently a Project Consultant for a small agricultural city impacted by sprawl and industrial development in California, which is also working to sustain water supplies during droughts. I am a 2nd year MA student at the Monterey Institute of International Studies.