Alumni Update:

Josh is currently working at Vera Solutions in Mumbai, India, as a consultant designing cloud-based monitoring and evaluation and other data management systems for a range of social impact organizations (from IPA and GAVI, to your small social enterprises). Sarah Evans (PiAf 2013-14) is also working at Vera!

Fellow Bio:

Josh is an International Studies major from Traverse City, MI. In undergraduate at Hope College (Holland, MI), he spent time abroad studying global health and development in Geneva, Switzerland and human rights in Kigali, Rwanda. Since graduation, Josh has spent time in India studying local governance systems, interned as a part of the Monitoring and Evaluation team at Search for Common Ground in Washington DC, and worked for Lutheran World Relief on the Constituent Engagement unit. In Malawi next year, Josh is looking forward to learning Chichewa and hopes to scuba dive in Lake Malawi.

JingKai, a native of Malaysia, graduated from UC Berkeley with a B.A. in Economics. He speaks professional Bahasa and Mandarin Chinese. At UC Berkeley, he had several student leadership positions as the External Vice President of Delta Phi Epsilon (UC Berkeley Professional International Relations Fraternity) and the External Events Chair of the International Student Association. JingKai has earned the Outstanding Delegate at the World Youth Economic Forum. He also has extensive research experience including as a research assistant for the Center for African Studies at UC Berkeley, analyzing the rotation in the ministerial cabinet in 36 African countries. In addition, he was a research assistant on an Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) study regarding social incentives for prenatal care and safe delivery in Sierra Leone and for Berkeley Initiative for Transparency in the Social Sciences (BITSS). He was an international development intern with the Uganda Village Project (UVP) in rural Uganda. JingKai is really excited for the opportunity to return to the continent as a Princeton in Africa fellow and looks forward to working with Imani Development in Malawi as a junior consultant.

Jeff graduated from the University of Southern California in 2017, with degrees in Environmental Studies and International Relations. As an undergraduate he has examining the interplay between the environment and a globalizing world. In pursuit of these interests, Jeff has traveled to Western China, the Philippines, Scandinavia, and South Africa, with various research projects and academic endeavors. His focus has been finding ways to increase the sustainability in agriculture and food systems. To this end, Jeff has explored the agriculture space from multiple vantage points. In Tel Aviv, he worked at a venture capital firm, analyzing their agriculture and food technology assets. In Los Angeles, he interned with a start-up incubator, leading their agriculture initiatives. This parlayed itself into a position interning with an agricultural technology start-up. Jeff is thrilled to be working with Imani development in Malawi, and hopes to gain a new perspective on agricultural development while there. He is also excited to learn some Chichewa and potentially climb Mount Mulanje.

Jasmin recently graduated in May 2015 from Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) with a Master’s degree in International Development and International Economics, and a specialization in Management for Development. She received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in Sociology and Art History. Upon graduating from UCLA, Jasmin worked for a relief and development NGO as a Program Development Officer, designing, implementing and evaluating global multi-sectoral development programs. Most recently, Jasmin spent a summer interning with the UN in Myanmar, completed a Practicum consulting for the World Resources Institute’s Sustainable Finance Department, and interned with a USAID contractor to conduct impact evaluations of various USAID E3 projects. Jasmin speaks French, Italian and Japanese and is looking forward to learning Chichewa and spending time in the “Warm Heart of Africa.”

Erin grew up in Buffalo, NY and received her BA in English from Georgetown University with minors in French and Psychology. While at Georgetown, she studied abroad in Strasbourg, France for one semester, and she also spent semesters interning at the Peace Corps Office of Inspector General, the U.S. House of Representatives and a juvenile justice nonprofit, Campaign for Youth Justice. Passionate about work in policy and advocacy, Erin stayed in Washington, D.C. after graduating and gained experience in the U.S. Senate. Most recently, she worked at an advocacy firm, The Sheridan Group, which gives policy advice and strategy to nonprofits looking to advance their missions through federal policy. There she worked as an associate on health policy for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Erin has also been fortunate to spend two separate stints working with the nonprofit organization, One Heart Source, in Hout Bay, South Africa where she volunteered and helped run education programs for elementary students living in the Imizamo Yethu township. While in Malawi, Erin looks forward to getting to know Malawian people and their culture, traveling to Lake Malawi, and hopefully playing some soccer!

Alumni Update:

Erik is currently a Quantitative Analyst at the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia where he is working with a team of economists and policymakers to modernize the Community Reinvestment Act, a landmark legislation focused on eliminating redlining. 

Fellow Bio:

Erik is pursuing a Master’s degree in International Public Policy at the LaFollette School of Public Affairs in UW-Madison. He will be starting his second year in the program after the Princeton in Africa Fellowship. He completed his Bachelor’s in Economics at UW-Madison. Erik studied abroad in St-Louis, Senegal, during his senior year of undergraduate, where he studied French, Wolof, and Economics. He loved Senegalese culture, particularly the music and dance, and he looks forward to experiencing Malawian culture next year. In his free time, Erik enjoys singing, running, and biking. He is currently in a Jewish a capella group at UW-Madison, Jewop.  He hopes to join a choir while in Malawi.

Alumni Update:

Chris finished his fellowship in Malawi last year.

Fellow Bio:

Christopher, a New York native, graduated from Williams College with a degree in Political Science and Economics. While at Williams, he developed a strong interest in African culture and economic development, which he pursued through both his academic studies and internships. He spent one summer working for OPIC, a government institution that helps US private enterprises invest in developing economies. The next summer he worked at Jeremy Academy in Limuru, Kenya teaching a range of subjects including Music, Math, and English to middle school students. He thoroughly enjoyed his time at Jeremy, which further piqued his interest in returning to Africa after college.  After graduation, he worked for two years at Fidelity Investments as an internal consultant, performing strategy work for Fidelity’s business units while learning more about financial services. In his down time, he enjoys playing his French horn and outdoor activities like mountain biking and skiing. Christopher is extremely excited to continue pursuing his interest in economic development while leveraging his financial services knowledge at Foster Lewis in Lilongwe, Malawi this year.

Fellow Bio:

Brittany is from Lexington, MA and graduated with a degree in International Studies. At Kenyon, she worked in the Writing Center, volunteered in a Head Start preschool classroom, and advocated for diversity on campus as a chair of the Discrimination Advisors. She spent a semester studying abroad in Dakar, Senegal. Brittany has interned at a refugee resettlement agency in Boston and conducted summer research on the challenges facing Mauritanian asylum-seekers in Columbus, Ohio. While in Malawi next year, Brittany is excited about broadening her knowledge of humanitarian aid, picking up some Chichewa, and exploring southern Africa.

Alumni Update:

After finishing her fellowship with WFP Malawi, Bridget took a position back in the US with Save the Children as a Program Coordinator in the Department of Child Protection and HIV/AIDS in Washington, DC. It’s been interesting going from the WFP-UN culture to the INGO world, but in a refreshing and exciting way. Bridget’s experience in Malawi has been invaluable to her work with Save because she is able to approach her work with the context of program implementation on the ground. While it’s nice to have hot showers again and steady electricity, Bridget is eager to find her way back to Africa.

Fellow Bio:

Bridget majored in Government with a concentration in International Relations and received a certificate in African Studies. She calls the rocky shores of Maine home. While at Smith, Bridget was a student liaison for the Government department, chaired the student curriculum committee, was involved in student government, and played in the orchestra. Throughout her time at Smith she worked as a social-justice community organizer in the Northampton area. She studied abroad in Arusha, Tanzania where she also spent the summer working as a research assistant at the Nyerere Center for Peace Research. She speaks Swahili and is very excited to learn Chichewa, another Bantu language, while working in Malawi next year.

Ben graduated with honors from Claremont McKenna College in 2017 with a degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE). At CMC, Ben worked as a Research Assistant at the Rose Institute of State and Local Government where he led a number of fiscal analysis projects, as well as for SOURCE, a student-run nonprofit consulting organization. In 2014, Ben traveled to Rwanda where he lived in a rural village and co-founded a crop storage and distribution enterprise—a transformative experience that inspired him to return to the continent and continue exploring how market-based solutions can be used to alleviate poverty. The following summer, Ben worked for Asia Pacific Investment Partners, an investment group in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia where he worked on a variety of projects. Most recently, Ben spent the summer as a Talent Consulting Intern at Mercer where he honed his analytical and quantitative skills. Growing up in Eugene, Oregon, Ben enjoys all things outdoors, particularly skiing, rock climbing, and hiking. He is incredibly honored for this opportunity in Malawi and looks forward to working towards enhancing the business environment in the region and also exploring the continent with other Fellows!