I manage IHME's partnerships in Eastern and Southern Africa, building mutually beneficial relationships with key stakeholders from research institutes, universities, multilateral organizations, and government offices to promote evidence-based decision making in health policy. Additionally, I work closely with partners at the Ethiopian Public Health Institute to facilitate the Ethiopia subnational burden of disease project, which produces region-level health estimates for Ethiopia in order to gain a comprehensive understanding of the burden of disease, strengthens local capacity, and translates evidence into health policy action in Ethiopia.

The Humanitarian Assistance Applied Research Group is a unique partnership between University of Denver graduate students, the Humanitarian Assistance Certificate Program at the Josef Korbel School of International Studies, and international non-governmental and humanitarian organizations. Research assistants provide support to international non-governmental organizations to conduct literature and desk reviews, monitoring and evaluation, programming reports, etc. In my tenure, I worked for the International Rescue Committee's Department of Research and Evaluation to contribute to an impact evaluation of a post-conflict reconstruction project in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and analyzed program data to test whether community-based interventions improved intergroup relations in post-conflict and protracted conflict settings. I also completed a literature review on best practices in gender-based violence (GBV) programming in post-conflict settings to inform the Center for Victims of Torture's review of their GBV programming around the world.

As Associate Director of the Center on Human Rights Education (COHRE), I managed daily operations and seven staff members. I guided the development of a new strategic plan for the organization and worked with staff to implement the plan through event planning, writing blogs and other publications, networking with community stakeholders, and collaborating with partners to cultivate an educated community of human rights advocates at the University of Denver and in metro-Denver. I facilitated weekly staff meetings, managed the operating budget, and prepared monthly expenditure reports. In my previous role as Research Coordinator, I conducted original research related to human rights and displacement in local, national, international contexts (i.e. homelessness, migrant and refugee rights). I collaborated with University of Denver and other partners to facilitate presentations and events which promote an understanding of human rights. I wrote blog posts for the organization’s website related to displacement.

As the Job Readiness Intern at International Rescue Committee, I worked to promote economic empowerment for refugees, particularly women, through education and skills training. I taught IRC’s job readiness training in one-on-one and classroom settings to newly arrived refugees and assisted in the development of a women’s financial literacy curriculum, for which I created monitoring and evaluation materials to measure program outcomes. I completed IRC’s Cultural Orientation Certification Course (Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced levels).

Over two years, I taught daily English classes to 6 classes of 417 Grade 9 students in rural Ethiopia. I directed the high school's English Club and developed a female empowerment program for high school girls. I ran a teacher's English club formatted to improve teachers' English skills (especially speaking) and developed an English teacher mentoring program. I helped to facilitate two iterations of a US style summer camp focused on leadership, girls empowerment, and health for almost 50 youth from across Tigray province and was Monitoring and Evaluation Co-Director for each camp.

In my role as Program Coordinator, I managed an Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) Ethnic Based Communities Self-Help Program Grant, funded by the Department of Health and Human Services. I authored all federal programmatic and financial reports and administered payroll and all financial aspects of ORR grant program. I oversaw the English as a Second Language, Case Management and Community Outreach programs falling within the ORR grant guidelines while also directing advocacy efforts to build bridges between Greeley and refugee communities to enhance refugee integration. I built & facilitated community partnerships which promoted refugee self-sufficiency and I created and disseminated marketing & outreach materials like fact sheets, event promotions, brochures, and social media.

As the Community Development VISTA, I worked primarily in volunteer recruitment and retention, community outreach and education, and resource development. I recruited, trained, supervised, and motivated non-profit’s 55 volunteers while assisting in the management of the programs volunteers worked in through the creation of databases, and monitoring and evaluation tools. I spoke to community groups, schools, and government about refugees and expanded trainings for organizations about refugee experiences. I wrote grants and solicited donations for the non-profit and assisted in planning educational and fundraising events. I co-wrote the Office of Refugee Resettlement Ethnic Based Community Self-Help Program grant, which was awarded to the organization and which quadrupled their operating budget. I also designed and distributed promotional materials for organization, events, and fundraisers. As a VISTA, I was a Finalist for the Colorado Governor’s Service Award and a Nominee for the Corporation for National Community Service Impact Award.

As an intern, I assisted newly resettled South Asian refugees to establish Social Security Numbers, medical insurance, and state residency in Ohio. I facilitated communications and interaction between refugees and their landlords, medical personnel, utility providers, with the goal of building connections and helping refugees integrate into their new community.

I volunteered at Youngsfield Refugee Camp during my semester study abroad during my undergraduate degree. There, I taught math, science, English, and life skills to small groups of young Somali refugees. I also planned lessons to help refugee learners attain grade-level knowledge so they could enter into Cape Town's local schools.

Coordinated campus and community events to raise awareness of global human rightsInspired activism across campus, in the community through strategic marketing, tabling, etc.Led weekly meetings and represented organization at Student Congress/Student Government meetings