I am the Managing Director of the Duke-UNC Rotary Peace Center, based on the campuses of both Duke University at the Duke Center for International Development and UNC's Office of the Vice Provost for Global Affairs. Joining the Rotary Center as program coordinator in May 2005, I have managed the day-to-day operations of the Center for 18 years, creating opportunities, strategic partnerships and a strong curriculum for over 180 Rotary Peace Fellows from all over the world. I love to connect people and create networks, and appreciate the vast network that working with Rotary International brings to our program and students.I am also passionate about advocating for immigrants in the United States, and recently completed an immigration law course at Villanova University to become an immigrant advocate. Prior to my work with the Duke-UNC Rotary Peace Center, I had 20 years of experience in the field of international humanitarian assistance, principally working for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. I worked on large-scale refugee operations in Sudan, Ethiopia, Malawi, Turkey, Hong Kong and Thailand. In 1991, I was the first UN Liaison Officer with the Allied Forces in Incirlik, Turkey, working with military personnel on the protection and assistance of Kurdish refugees.As an Emergency Management Officer with UNHCR, I focused in particular on developing institutional mechanisms for improving the organization's response to refugee emergency situations, including staffing systems and emergency stockpiling. I also had the opportunity to coordinate two UNHCR training programs - one focusing on gender analysis of refugee populations and the other on emergency preparedness. In these coordination roles, I was responsible for designing and implementing training, program and operational strategies involving staff in the UN system, NGOs and governments.Specialties: International program management, strategic planning, creating partnerships, university administration, emergency management, design of training programs, international higher education, mentoring, immigrant advocacy