Alumni Update:

Erin is an ecologist at the US Geological Survey based in Colorado. She conducts research addressing conservation and management challenges in the American west, ranging from wildfires to wildlife connectivity.

Fellow Bio:

Erin (Princeton ‘11) is an Ecology and Evolutionary Biology major from Rosalia, Washington. While at Princeton, she played on the women’s club basketball team, was a leader for the freshmen pre-orientation community action program with the Student Volunteers Council, and was a member of 2-Dickinson Co-op. A defining experience of her time at Princeton was studying abroad in Kenya with the EEB department her junior spring and then conducting her thesis research there during the summer. This led to her pursuit of an African Studies certificate. She looks forward to working in Livingstone and seeing Victoria Falls next year as a fellow with African Impact.

Alumni Update:

Since leaving Kenya, Emma has been working as an Innovations and M&E Manager with One Acre Fund, helping to grow their program in Tanzania.

Fellow Bio:

Emma (Barnard ‘10) graduated with a degree in African Studies and a minor in Biological Sciences. Before attending Barnard, Emma worked in southern Africa with baboons, elephants and humans in several distinct capacities. She returned to Africa in the spring of her junior year where she studied wildlife management in southern Kenya. At Barnard, Emma worked as a writing fellow and explored New York City’s vibrant food and coffee scenes. A Princeton native, Emma has worked in many facets of the local food community, both growing and eating the best of central Jersey’s bounty. She is thrilled to be returning to Kenya where she hopes to improve her Swahili, learn more about livestock and make new friends.

Alumni Update:

After her fellowship, Emily spent another year working for Plan in the same capacity as a Technical Writer and took on some additional roles and responsibilities. She then returned to the US for a year to do some remaining coursework in order to apply to medical school. She is currently working for UCSF as Research and Training Coordinator for Kenya. She coordinates a program that facilitates medical and master’s students and residents to do clinical work or research here in Nyanza Province as well as connect researchers to one another since they have a multi-institutional research collaboration. She is based in Kisumu, Kenya until June this year, when she will go back to the US for medical school. She is not yet sure which school she will attend, though she has a couple of options already!

Fellow Bio:

Emily (Princeton ‘11) is an economics major with a certificate in African-American Studies from the San Francisco Bay Area, CA. During her time at Princeton she was a member of the varsity swim team, an active Cap and Gown member and occasionally bartended and tutored to pay the bills. Through Princeton she interned with the Global Fund in Switzerland, which sparked an interest in a career in global health and development.  Emily aspires to become a physician one day. While in Uganda next year, Emily looks forward to learning about and participating in local music and dance, climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, and waking up to a new adventure every day.

Fellow Bio:

Emily (Wesleyan ‘11) is from Princeton, NJ. She majored in Psychology and French Studies and received the Writing Certificate. At Wesleyan, Emily was a member of the club ski team, the Ebony Singers gospel choir, and she led a community service group that taught elementary school children about disabilities through puppet theater. While in Botswana next year, Emily looks forward to learning more about pediatric HIV/AIDS care before she heads off to medical school.

Alumni Update:

Elly is currently working for Mercy Corps as part of USAID’s Implementer-led Design, Evidence, Analysis and Learning (IDEAL) consortium as their Food Security Technical Officer. She is based in Washington, DC.

Fellow Bio:

Elly (Iowa State ‘08) graduated with a double major in Public Service and Administration in Agriculture and International Agriculture. A native of Sheffield, Iowa, Elly previously worked for the World Food Programme in Ghana as a 2010-2011 Princeton in Africa Fellow.  After such a positive experience the first time around, she was thrilled to receive the opportunity to do it all over again!  Prior to her year in Ghana, Elly worked for the Center for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods and a small NGO in Liberia.  While she loved her time in Ghana, Elly is looking forward to experiencing a new culture, eating lots of Ethiopian food, learning a new side of WFP’s work (in Ghana she worked as a Programme Officer, in Ethiopia she will work in Public Information), and, of course, drinking lots and lots of Ethiopian coffee.

Alumni Update:

Desiree is an English teacher at Saint Ann’s School in Brooklyn Heights, NY, although she was recently granted a leave to attend a graduate creative writing program at NYU.

Fellow Bio:

Desiree (Georgetown ‘11) is an English major and African Studies minor. She was born in Trinidad and Tobago and lives in Queens, NY. Desiree has a deep interest in education and was involved in the DC Public Schools System through programs such as DC Reads and DC Schools. She is also involved in the written and performing arts, performing original poetry on campus and around DC. Desiree pursued her love for education and the arts while studying abroad at the University of the Western Cape in South Africa. She is excited to return for a year and hopes to deepen her knowledge of the nation’s history and culture.

Alumni Update:

After completing her fellowship in 2012, Cydnee spent another year doing business development for mothers2mothers in Cape Town, SA before enrolling at the NYU Stern School of Business in 2013. She will receive her MBA from NYU Stern in May 2015. She’s spending the summer as a pro-bono consultant with the African Entrepreneurs Collective in Kigali, Rwanda. In September 2015, she will join Strategy&/PwC Consulting in their organization design and leadership practice.

Fellow Bio:

Cydnee graduated with a major in History, concentration in African History, and minor in Peace Studies. Originally from North Kingstown, RI, Cydnee has spent the past two years working as the Deputy Scheduler for US Senator Sheldon Whitehouse. She studied abroad at the University of Cape Town and is excited to have another 12 months to continue to explore the city. While in South Africa next year, Cydnee plans on taking many road trips, running the Two Oceans Marathon (she still hasn’t decided if she’ll do the half or the full), and going pony trekking in Lesotho.

Fellow Bio:

Ciarra (University of Montana ‘11) was a member of the Betterside Rugby Club, promoted diversity and understanding with UM allies, was a member of Students for Economic and Social Justice, volunteered at the Cancer Resource Center, and helped incoming students integrate into campus life as a resident assistant. In her free time she completed the pre-med curriculum, obtained a bachelors degree in Anthropology, and minored in Biology and International Development Studies. An avid outdoor enthusiast from Salmon, Idaho, Ciarra enjoys snowboarding, rock climbing, white water rafting, and has worked as a wildland firefighter and helirappeller for the past four summers. In Ethiopia next year, she looks forward to delving deep into the cuisine, exploring Lalibela and other historic sites, and learning to speak Amharic.

Alumni Update:

Christine is currently the Quality Improvement and Data for Action Director with NEST360, a consortium working to reduce neonatal mortality in Tanzania, Kenya, Nigeria, and Malawi. 

Fellow Bio:

Christine (Rice ‘11), originally from Hann. Muenden, Germany, graduated with a degree in Anthropology and minors in Global Health Technologies and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. While at Rice she was president of the Partnership for the Advancement and Immersion of Refugees (PAIR), an organization through which she helped refugee youth adjust to life in Houston and succeed in school. During her summers Christine interned at an AIDS clinic in Lesotho, conducted malaria research in Thailand, and pursued medical anthropology projects in India. She looks forward to working with refugees in Burundi and applying this knowledge to her career as a physician specializing in refugee health. Christine is excited about climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, African wildlife, and new experiences every day.

Fellow Bio:

Avery (Stanford ’11) is an International Relations major and Economics minor from Minneapolis, MN.  At Stanford, she was co-president of the Stanford Association for International Development (SAID) and involved with FACE AIDS.  She studied abroad in Paris and worked with the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP) in D.C.  Avery also spent two summers in Africa volunteering in a Maasai village in Tanzania and interning with Idasa- An African Democracy Institute in South Africa.  In Benin next year, Avery is excited to explore West Africa, learn about the Kingdom of Dahomey and meet new people.