Alumni Directory

Hannah Zaveri 2023-2024 Fellow with The Rwanda School Project, Rwanda University of Virginia Class of 2023

she/her/hers

 Hannah was born in Kenya and raised in Zimbabwe, where she developed a passion for public health and youth mentorship while volunteering with children impacted by HIV/AIDS. She is a recent University of Virginia (UVA) graduate who majored in global public health and minored in sociology. Hannah’s commitment to supporting youth in her community motivated her to volunteer at the UVA Children’s Hospital and mentor high schoolers who volunteer with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Charlottesville. Growing up in Zimbabwe and attending an international school, Hannah valued learning from people of different backgrounds. Therefore, as president of the Global Student Council at UVA, she started roundtable discussions for students of all cultural backgrounds to identify differences and similarities in their UVA experiences. In addition, Hannah led independent research studies as an undergraduate. Most recently, she has continued to support people living with HIV/AIDS by investigating factors to improve access to HIV care at UVA’s Ryan White HIV Clinic. Hannah’s experience with remote Africa-based work solidified her interest in further developing her connection to the region. In 2021, she interned with the Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) and wrote reports on gender inequality in Zimbabwe and ZimRights’ financing options. That year, she also collaborated on a remote investigation of the best clinical practices at the University of Rwanda’s multidisciplinary pain management clinic. After this fellowship, Hannah intends to pursue a master’s in public health. She aims to increase global access to quality and affordable health care

Nahal Zebarjadi 2007-2008 Fellow with International Rescue Committee (IRC), Democratic Republic of Congo Princeton University Class of 2007

Alumni Update:

After Nahal’s year at IRC in DRC, and the great opportunity of a second mission with IRC (this time briefly in Chad), Nahal moved back home to Australia where Nahal completed a JD at Melbourne Law School. Nahal then spent about three years advising and representing the state in constitutional and administrative law matters, before moving from being a civil servant to an international civil servant at the World Intellectual Property Organisation in Geneva this year.

Eva Zenilman website photoEva Zenilman 2014-2015 Fellow with The BOMA Project, Kenya Emory University Class of 2014

Eva is from Baltimore, Maryland. After high school, she spent a year in New York City as an AmeriCorps member with the program City Year, and then went on to major in Economics and graduate from Emory University in 2014. During her junior year, she started working on an RCT that is measuring the cost-effectiveness and health impacts of water, sanitation, hygiene, and nutritional interventions on child health and cognitive development in rural Western Kenya. She travelled to Bungoma, Kenya for 10 weeks over the summer to continue working on the study as an intern for Innovations for Poverty Action. Eva was also a research assistant for the social enterprise program at Emory’s business school, and is excited to continue using business concepts and solutions to create meaningful impact with The BOMA Project. She is also looking forward to meeting new people, learning Swahili, and seeing the sights she didn’t get to see last time!

Jenny Zhang 2008-2009 Fellow with Feedback Madagascar, Madagascar Princeton University Class of 2009

Fellow Bio:

Jenny is a politics major from Pewaukee, WI. At Princeton, she has guided Orange Key tours, acted as community service chair for Mathey College, and traveled to Mobile, AL, with a Hurricane Katrina relief trip. Jenny studied political science at the University of Cape Town during her Junior Spring and looks forward to spending the summer working in and exploring Madagascar.

Jennifer Avukile Zoya 2017-2018 Fellow with Baylor International Pediatric AIDS Initiative, Botswana Colorado College Class of 2017

Avukile was born and raised in South Africa. She recently completed her Bachelors of Arts Degree in Molecular Biology and a minor in Spanish at Colorado College. In addition to English, Xhosa, Zulu and Setswana, she speaks advanced Spanish after having studied abroad in Spain, Peru and Chile for immersive cultural programmes. Avu has always been passionate about the scientific and social impacts of HIV/AIDs. Thus, during a summer in her sophomore year, she interned in South Africa, doing public health community research and volunteering with the TB/HIV care association that offers care and community-based treatment adherence support. Then, she interned in Colombia helping youth find strategies to tackle prominent public health issues such as teenage pregnancy and drug addiction. In her junior year, she worked as the Diversity and Inclusion Programs Coordinator at Colorado College, organizing and planning student campus events, panels and lectures for minority and international students on campus. She served as a mentor for sophomores and led a cultural mentoring team for a local refugee family from Colombia. She loves playing volleyball, practices yoga and meditation. Avukile plans to get a master’s degree in public health after working a few years with public health organizations. Avu is excited for the wonderful professional and cultural opportunity in working with BIPAI in Botswana!

Alyson Zureick 2007-2008 Fellow with International Rescue Committee (IRC), Sierra Leone Princeton University Class of 2006

Fellow Bio:

Alyson Zureick ‘06 is a politics major from Cincinnati, OH. During her fellowship, Alyson will serve as the grants coordinator and information intern for the International Rescue Committee in Sierra Leone. She spent her first year after Princeton as a Project 55 fellow at the Cyrus Vance Center for International Justice in New York. There, she provided administrative and research support for the center’s programs in Latin America and South Africa and spearheaded the development of the center’s gender-based violence network. She has written for an English-language magazine in Thailand and a major political magazine in Washington D.C.; researched sex-trafficking in Hungary; and researched community radio station in South Africa. At Princeton, she was co-editor of The Daily Princetonian’s opinion page.

Our History

In 1999, a group of Princeton alumni, faculty, and staff launched Princeton in Africa as an independent affiliate of Princeton University inspired by the University’s informal motto, “Princeton in the Nation’s Service and in the Service of All Nations.” In 2010, the program opened up to include graduates of any US accredited university in order to meet the growing demand from host organizations and allow more young professionals access to the unique opportunities afforded by PiAf. During the past 20 years, we have placed over 600 Fellows with more than 100 organizations in 36 countries, while developing more strategic partnerships across Africa and creating more opportunities for our alumni community to engage with the continent and with one another.

Testimonials

The International Rescue Committee has been so fortunate to have had a longstanding relationship with Princeton in Africa since our very first Fellows landed in Rwanda in 1999.  Whether it was Emily or Renee in 1999 or the 110 Fellows across 14 IRC countries over the years, we have been blessed by the relationship, the quality of the Fellows and the impact on what IRC does on the ground every single day.

Brian Johnson
Chief Human Resources Officer
International Rescue Committee

My fellowship has been the most impactful personal and professional development opportunity of my life. I wanted a post-college experience that would push my limits, expand my comfort zone, and help me discern the next steps in my career journey. And this has been the case.

Ryan Elliott
2014-15 Fellow
Baylor Pediatric AIDS Initiative in Lesotho

I can honestly say that this year has changed my life and my view of what’s possible for the future. Princeton in Africa isn’t just a one-year fellowship, it’s an introduction to a particular way of life and a new way of thinking about the world. I feel like so many doors are open now that I never would have considered before.

Katie Fackler
2010-11 Fellow
UN World Food Programme

My Princeton in Africa fellowship was everything I could have hoped for and much more. The myriad of experiences makes my head swim, and it has strengthened my desire to help underserved populations worldwide.

David Bartels
2006-2007 Fellow
Baylor Pediatric AIDS Initiative

Princeton in Africa was an invaluable experience for me. I learned an infinite amount through my work and through living in Uganda. I also realized that I want to continue working on African issues as long as I can.

Alexis Okeowo
2006-2007 Fellow
The New Vision

The International Rescue Committee’s experience with Princeton in Africa has been exceptional. Each Fellow brings excellent writing and analytical skills as well as unique interests and passions that enrich the program and the field office environment. We were so pleased we expanded the program to more field offices.

Susan Riehl
Human Resources, IRC

The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation has been working in Africa for over 11 years through its Secure the Future program.  One common theme in all aspects of program implementation is having passionate, energetic individuals on the ground who can think outside the box and then transfer the skills for sustainability.  The Princeton In Africa Fellows have been a huge asset in this regard and our programs and patients have been better for it.

John Damonti
President, Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation