Alumni Update:

Shameika started a joint MDiv/MBA program at Eastern University’s Palmer Theological Seminary this Spring. Elected to the Student Assembly as Chaplain Ambassador, she supports the spiritual needs of the community. As a self-taught photographer, Shameika continues to spend time in nature and hone her skills. 

Fellow Bio:

Shameika is originally from Seattle, WA. At Swarthmore College, she majored in Africana Studies and spent a year abroad in Accra, Ghana. Since graduation, Shameika has worked at Philadelphia VIP, a nonprofit legal services agency, through the Philly Fellows program. In her free time Shameika enjoys learning languages, reading about the most recent developments in astro-physics, and kickboxing. While in Gabon next year, Shameika looks forward to learning French and Fang in addition to learning about Gabonaise culture.

Alumni Update:

In the year since his fellowship, Nabil has been working in Washington, DC as a research assistant at the Center for Global Development, an independent think tank that focuses on issues in international development. His work at CGD is concentrated on migration, aid effectiveness, and international financial institutions.

Fellow Bio:

Nabil is from Simsbury, CT and graduated with a degree in International Political Economy and a certificate in International Development. While at Georgetown, he helped start Compass Partners, a nonprofit organization that works with college freshmen around the country to launch their own social enterprises. Since graduating he has been working full-time to bring Compass to more schools in the US and abroad. In his free time, he enjoys running, reading, and making his own ice cream. While in Gabon next year with Olam International, Nabil looks forward to learning more about the role for-profit companies can play in development, eating fresh mangos, and getting to know new people and a new country.

Alumni Update:

After her fellowship, Lisa took time off to backpack Thailand and Australia with some friends. She is now living in Washington, DC (her roommate is other former PiAfer!) working for Deloitte’s federal emerging markets practice, where she’s been focusing on capacity building and training development for USAID and its counterparts.

Fellow Bio:

Lisa is originally from San Diego, CA  and graduated with a B.A. in International Affairs. While at GWU, Lisa dedicated a year of service to the AmeriCorps Heads Up initiative, where she led literacy programs for a class of second graders in an inner-city Washington, D.C. elementary school. She also worked with Calcutta Kids, a maternal-child health NGO in Calcutta, India, designing behavior change communication curriculums to combat diarrheal disease among slum children. Upon graduating, Lisa returned to Calcutta to create and implement health training modules for Calcutta Kids’ team of community health workers. In her free time, Lisa enjoys doing yoga, taking naps and seeing live music. While in Gabon next year, Lisa is excited to live by the beach again, as well as learn how the for-profit businesses model can be adapted to incorporate social and environmental impact.

Alumni Update:

After 7 years of working for social enterprises across Africa, Chris has recently launched his own business, CoffeeChat, based in Mauritius. This online platform connects professionals, entrepreneurs and enterprises with coaches, experts and speakers from across Africa.

Fellow Bio:

Chris is an economics major from Baltimore, MD. At Occidental College, he managed a student-run coffee shop and served as the vice president of a six-figure student investment fund. During his summers, he travelled to Ghana to explore the complexity and potential of development. In 2010, this was through a Davis Project for Peace grant and then in 2011, he conducted field research into the impact of microfinance on traditional chieftaincy. As a Fellow with Olam in Gabon next year, Chris looks forward to learning how large corporations can pursue a social mission in Africa – and picking up French along the way!

Alumni Update:

Akornefa began working at Bates College as an Admission Counselor in 2014. She has had the opportunity to travel across the country for Bates and she is also the geoDean for Africa.

Fellow Bio:

Akornefa is from Madison, WI and studied Music while completing the premed track. At Columbia, she was a coordinator for the Multicultural Recruitment Committee and worked as an intern at the Undergraduate Admissions office at Columbia. She is also an accomplished flutist and performed with the Music Performance Program for students in Music Humanities classes, campus recitals and at Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall. As a member of the African Students Association, she wrote original songs for their annual showcase and also performed and choreographed for Orisha, a Pan- African Dance group. While in Gabon next year, Akornefa looks forward to perfecting her French speaking skills, having the opportunity to travel around Africa and starting a blog.