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Amber Martin (M.Ed. 2008) amberlee.martin@gmail.com
I liked Western Massachusetts so much that I decided to stick around for awhile!
I currently work at 1199SEIU, the largest local union of workers in the country whose membership is comprised of health care workers. As administrative organizer, my job is to work to develop the leadership and participation in the union of some 2,500 + personal care attendants in Holyoke and surrounding towns. In this position, I have many opportunities to put into practice the methodologies and knowledge about popular and adult education that I gained from my international experience and at CIE. I couldn’t be happier and am looking forward to even more new experiences and growth as an adult educator working for social justice.
I definitely see in the future sometime a move back to my beloved Central America, but am content for now to work in my own country where there is certainly no lack of work to be done for social and economic justice.
I hope to stay in touch with old friends and colleagues! [6-09]
Karen Binger (M.Ed. 2007) bingk55@hotmail.com or bingerkn@appstate.edu
I moved to Boone, NC in August 2008 and am now working in international admissions and recruitment at Appalachian State University. App State currently has just a small population of international students but is committed to changing that. I'm working on it and this year has brought an increase in our international enrollment. My job is part of the university's broader efforts to internationalize the campus and it's exciting to be a part of that!
While here I've had a chance to meet Vachel Miller and go hiking with Laura Ivey a few times. It's been nice to find a little bit of CIE down here!
Apart from that, I'm enjoying living in the mountains and living in my new house. Scott and I just bought little place in the woods. We're in the middle of renovations but the guest room is ready for anyone who wants to visit. [6-09]
James
MacNeil (M. Ed. 2000) James_Macneil@worlded.org
After graduating from CIE, James has been working for World Education,
based out of Boston, coordinating programs in Asia, with a focus on
Indonesia and India. From 2005-2007, James was based in India, where he
was technical advisor to a project that built capacity of Indian NGOs to
get 
out-of-school children and child laborers back into school. During
this time, he conducted his dissertation research on how families in
rural southern India choose between sending their children to school or
to work. He got his doctorate from Harvard Graduate School of Education
in 2008. James is now Vice-President for World Education's Asia
Division, overseeing programs in India, China, Nepal, Indonesia,
Cambodia, Thailand and Laos. During all this work and research and
travel, James and his partner Judy Chang have been raising two
daughters, Sophia (age 7) and Tara (age 2). [6-09]
Vachel Miller (Ed.D. 2004) vachel.miller@gmail.com
In June 2008, Vachel Miller returned to the US from Uganda, where he
worked as a research/policy specialist on a child labor project. He
is now a faculty member in a doctoral program in educational
leadership at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina.
Vachel plans to continue writing about child labor issues and
supporting Appalachian's international projects, while learning to
drink sweet tea and say "ya'll" [4-09]
He recently gave a talk on his work in East Africa. entitled: Problematizing the Notion of ‘removal’ from Exploitative Labor: Lessons from East Africa Thursday.
Dr. Miller discussed at a practical and conceptual level the problem of withdrawing children from exploitative labor. The presentation is based upon his experience from 2005-2008 working as the Research and Policy Specialist for a regional child labor project in East Africa. The project, funded by the US Department of Labor, targeted over 30,000 children to be withdrawn or prevented from child labor. In his role with the project, Miller coordinated a set of small-scale mixed-methods research studies and guided internal monitoring efforts. The studies were conducted in target intervention areas in Kenya, Ethiopia, and Uganda on children’s work during school holidays and the consequences of removal from child labor. Miller will synthesize findings from several research reports, as well as insights gathered from ongoing field visits and discussions with project stakeholders.
David Donaldson (M.Ed. 2005) donaldsondp@yahoo.com
After I graduated I returned to the classroom to teach in Washington, DC, which was an
excellent experience. I then worked for the Peace Corps Coverdell World Wise Schools program as an education program specialist. Presently, I’m the director of education for the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. My main responsibility is to help develop interdisciplinary standards-based resources for US educators that depict the work of UNICEF and its partners. Please visit our website to learn more.
I wish all of you the best. Please keep in touch.[1-09]
Rovshan Sadigbeyli (M.Ed. 2006) Upon return from his studies at the Center for International Education, Rovshan was appointed to the position of third secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Azerbaijan. In 2007 he visited Washington, D.C. as part of a three-month program that he was attending in advanced security studies at the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies. He says he is finding the job very interesting and stimulating.
He doesn’t see Muskies from UMass but does see other Muskies at activities of the US-Educated Azerbaijani Alumni Association (AAA) which holds reunions and other activities periodically.
Reflecting on his time at UMass Rovshan wrote - Please convey my best regards to the CIE faculty who inspired me to think about and explore new opportunities. The knowledge and skills I acquired at UMass are really useful in my daily work and life. [12-08]
Elias Moning (Ed.D. 2005) emoning@gmail.com
I am in Indonesia, busy working on the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) project. The purpose of the project is to reduce green house gases in the world that are a major cause of Global Warming. My project
captures methane gas from Municipal Solid Wastes and destroys it by flaring (burning) or uses the gas for energy to generate electricity. My company will then earn "carbon credits" that can be exchanged for cash or sold in the international market for the highest bid. Buyers are the European countries, Scandinavian, and Japan. Unfortunately NOT the United States, Australia and Canada. They just don't care about the global warming. I also started a company that I named "Outreach International" it involves in Renewable energy and Biofuels, you know fuel oils made from vegetable oils.
Yes, I am still dancing diligently :). I go dancing twice in a week at the prestigious Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Jakarta.[1-07]
Recent news from Elias indicates that he is focussing his export business on growing Jatropha curcas Linneaus for green oil to export. [12-07]Reinventing Indigenous Knowledge focusing on IPM Experience is finally published by VDM Verlag,
Saarbruecken, Germany. Please click on the image of the book cover for more information.
I am hoping that this unique experience will encourage me to write more books. My next book project is to writeIntroduction to Organic Farming - An Organic Agriculture Manual the initial version will be in Bahasa Indonesian, later I will also lauch the English version. This book will be writen with two organic farmers, Mbah Murdjiyo from Bantul, DIY and Mbah Suko from Sawangan, Magelang; both are graduates from IPM Farmer Field School. [10-08]
Peter recently responed to a query about his activities with the versions below! For a more prosaic version of his work as a faculty member at Saint Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia click here.
The really short and totally politically incorrect version is I'm training soldiers to do development in Afghanistan.
The slightly longer and somewhat less 'choke' version is I'm trying to get soldiers who have to do development before civilians can enter the field more room to do what makes sense on the ground and get jerked around less by the blissfully ignorant and equally arrogant remote managers. This figures huge in Iraq and Afghanistan...and will be a big part of R2P missions.
The long, and perhaps politically palatable, version is I'm doing research in a hard case institution trying to find alternatives to extant notions of bureaucratic rationality as a framework for justifying the movement of resources between heterogenous and rapidly changing communities with an eye to finding ways to render those deployed better able to respond to context driven and contextually appropriate initiatives in those communities that are suffering outrageous harm.
and I'm finding soldiers, particularly those who have seen folks die/had to kill folks, far more interesting/open to work with than PC development types. [12-08]
Silva Kurtisa (M.Ed. 2001) thesksky@gmail.com
It's so great to read all the messages about what folks have been doing during these past years! I graduated from CIE in 2001 and returned to Latvia to work as a director of an innovative Education department at the Liepaja City Council (a city of 100,000 people on the Baltic Sea coast). This position involved advancing educators' ideas, acting as a liaison between businesses, the federal and local governments, and educators, as well as submitting improvements for legislation. While there, we designed a project and received a grant for Muskie graduates to support women entrepreneurs in Liepaja. I also had a chance to work on a contract with the United Nations to evaluate a national project: *Coordinated Support to Young People's Health and Development* (where all the long hours spent on program evaluation in Prof. Alberto Arena's classes became in handy).
In 2004, life brought me back to the US and I had an opportunity to join a team as a research analyst at Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University in Illinois. We have just moved to be closer to friends and family and to start life anew in the Wild West (i.e., Berkeley, CA). While I miss dearly all of my former colleagues and stomping grounds in Chicago, I am ecstatic to be living near my great friends and former classmates at CIE, Phoebe and Mary. [12-08]
Dezie Trigu (M.Ed. 2004) trigud@yahoo.com
Recently, Dezie wrote to say
I am writing to inform the entire CIE family that as soon as I finished my Education for Sustainable Development course in Sweden and South Africa, I started implementing my Change Project.
A few months later, I secured a job with the Education Development Centre (EDC) which is implementing a project here in Malawi. I am the National Outreach Coordinator for the project. I am very sure that I was offered the job based on the wide knowledge and skills that I acquired from CIE. When I was offered the job the project did not want the Ministry of Education to lose me nor to seem as if it were poaching from its own stakeholder. EDC therefore negotiated for a 3 year secondment to it and against all odds it worked! I had never dreamt of such a thing! My contract expires in 2010, the World Cup year!
The project is responsible for the production of Interactive Radio Instruction (IRI) programs that are broadcast every school day on the the National Radio. The radio programs are very imaginative and learner centered.
Some of my roles include: training and supporting local government education officials to support schools so that IRI is institutionalized, supervising six divisional Outreach Coordinators who also train primary school teachers, assisting the M&E Specialist in monitoring the project and also solving any IRI outreach related problems.Thanx to CIE! [12-08]
Firuza Gafurova (M.Ed. 2005) firuza_gafurova@yahoo.com
It’s been already three years since I graduated from CIE. Amazing! Time flies so fast!
As a Muskie fellow I graduated from CIE in 2005 and returned to Uzbekistan to start a teaching position at a public school. While at CIE, I developed interest in HIV/AIDS and health education, thus, with great enthusiasm I started teaching health education classes to high school students. This was a great experience starting with developing my own curriculum to seeing how my students were developing confidence in discussing various health issues. Additionally, I was working with elementary school students on their conversational English skills, which was also a wonderful experience. I couldn’t stop admiring how easily little kids picked up every new language unit and how grateful they were for every new thing they learned.
This year I accepted a new teaching position at the English language teacher training department of the university in my hometown. Besides teaching, I am working closely with students applying to various exchange programs, advising on the program choices, working on their writing skills for academic purposes, preparing for TOEFL and other tests. Also, together with my colleagues we have just received and administrated a grant for a workshop on a research-based education for educational professionals in HE sector targeted at exchange programs alumni in Uzbekistan. In every kind of work I do, I am using the tools and experiences I received during my years at CIE, which I am very grateful for. [6-08]
Farida Fleming (M.Ed. 2008) farida.fleming@gmail.com
Dear CIE friends,
I hope things are well there. I think of you all often. Since finishing my Masters, I've been settling back in to life in Australia and traveling in the region. Big news is that my brand new niece is doing well, as is her mum.
I've kept up links with CIE through our contract with Unicef to do a desk review on non-formal education equivalance and skills training for out-of-school adolescents in East Asia and the Pacific. It's great to be working with friends and colleagues.
I've been doing research work for the Australasian Curriculum, Assessment and Certification Authorities on the study of Asian languages in Australia. The new federal government has provided additional funding for the study of Mandarin, Japanese, Korean and Bahasa Indonesia in senior secondary schools. I'm also doing some work for the Australian Development Gateway to identify and summarize education research and materials for use by field practitioners.
David and I have set up our place and there is a spare room ready for you when you visit! [9-08]
Tsoaledi Daniel Thobejane (Ed.D. 2004)
Dr.Thobejane presently lectures at the University of Venda, in the Northern Province of South Africa called Limpopo. The University is situated in Thohoyandou Town, not far from Zimbabwe. His area of concerntration is gender studies and economic development. He is offering courses at undergraduate and graduate level. Core courses that he offers provide students with an introductory overview for those who have no training in gender studies.The important aspect of the department is to correct inaccuracies and misconceptions of what gender studies are all about, and to improve the livelihood of many rural women who are still trapped into poverty.
Dr.Thobejane worked as the Director of a program that was offered by the School for International Training based in Brattleboro in 2004 and 2005. This program was in Durban, South Africa. Followoing that he took a job as a high school teacher in Baltimore, Maryland in 2006, and then went back to South Africa to do consultancy work for the department of education.
Dr.Thobejane has a daughter who is now 9 years old, and cherishes every moment that he can spend with her. He is also helping to strengthen the survivors of torture group by the name of Khulumani, a Zulu word meaning "speak out".This organization represents the rights of all the victims who were torutured during apartheid rule in South Africa. [9-08]
Halona Agouda (M. Ed. 2008) FirstTeacher@gmail.com
Halona wrote recently about her new job after graduation.
I have taken a job as the Local Programs Trainer/Case Manager at Wider Opportunities for Women in
Washington, DC. This position is a continuation of my love for adult education. I will be working on 3 programs that assist women and men alike with becoming self sufficient. First, I will be conductingtrainings on the DC Metro Area Self Sufficiency Calculator. In short, it's a financial planning tool that I will be training adult ed instructors and other case managers to incorporate in their day to day work with adults with low income. Second, there is the Adult Connections to Careers Workshop. This is a curriculum designed to assist low income adults with developing career plans that pay more than poverty level wages. I am currently revising the curriculum to reach out to female ex-offenders. Last, I am a case manager for the Women in Protective Services program where I will provide guidance to women in completing training programs that lead to careers in law enforcement.
I am very lucky to have been a student at CIE and am very happy to have landed in the exact career I set out to pursue upon entrance! [8-08]
Karin Wachter (M.Ed. 2002) Karin.Wachter@theIRC.org
Karin sent us this update since she couldn't be at the 40th!
Suffice it to say that it's been a veritable whirlwind since graduating in 2002 when I set off on a career in the humanitarian world with the International Rescue Committee. Working with the IRC has afforded me tremendous opportunities, adventures and a seemingly never-ending learning curve. It's a tremendous privilege to do this work.
Building off of my experience at the Everywomen's Center on the UMASS campus and my graduate studies, I have continued to work primarily on what the humanitarian world calls 'gender-based violence' but is more readily understood as violence against women in conflict. Over the past 6 years I've worked in approximately 12 conflict-affected countries in Africa. Since 2006, I have served as a regional Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Technical Advisor to a number of IRC programs. I'm currently advising: Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya and Ethiopia. I specialize in program design and monitoring and have been increasingly involved in research initiatives - which definitely keeps me on my toes and helps keep my dream of a PhD alive.
Since moving to our headquarters in NY in June 2007, I've had the opportunity to engage in a variety of advocacy efforts as well, and recently testified on the severity of violence against women and girls in conflict before the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Law.
One impetus for moving back to the US was for Aaron and me to get married. Aaron is also a humanitarian worker and we met in the field (Congo-Brazzaville) in 2004. We currently reside in Brooklyn and are traveling with work much of the time. [8-08]
Mary Lugton (M. Ed. 2001) Mlugton2@aol.com
Mary and her partner Phoebe moved to California.where Mary decided to try teaching 4th graders in an "underserved" school in San Pablo, California, where she has been since the fall of 2004. Mary is deeply proud of her students, who in only eight months have all made signifant progress toward academic excellence. Each day, Mary draws on what she learned as a teacher in Namibia and as a student at CIE. Before returning to teaching, Mary became an expert in civic education and also made a return trip to her beloved Namibia for the 10th anniversary of the school where she previously taught. Mary is still in regularly touch with Michael Tjivikua, and they still plot and scheme about how to get Mary back to Namibia for some teacher training
projects.
A recent update from Mary on her activities said:
I've been busy with end of term projects, including, get this, choreographing a hip hop number for 15 fourth graders!!! One of my lesser known talents (probably for good reason). Our multicultural festival takes place tomorrow. Other than that, I've been heavily involved with the Bay Area Writing Project -- a yearlong teacher research group on equity and serving as a member of their English Language Learner team. This has also been a large focus of my work at school where I serve on our ELD Lead Team -- 4th and 5th grade are doing content-based ELD using our new science curriculum -- PHYSICS -- the only subject I ever failed in high school!!!! But the challenges of successfully frontloading the ELD in the face of heavy content and language requirements has proved extremely rewarding. [6/08]
Dwaine Lee (Ed.D. 2007) dlee@usaid.gov
Dwaine Lee has been with USAID/Macedonia since
2006. He started out as the Director of the Education Office and in
June 2008 became the Director of a merged Democracy, Governance and
Education Office. He and his family - Naoma and boys Connor (6) and
Erik (4) - will be there through 2010. The work is extremely interesting and diverse...ranging from judicial reform and decentralization activities, to anti-corruption, to primary education reform and workforce development. Dwaine loves working in the Balkans - despite its many frustrations - and is grateful for this unique opportunity to support Macedonia's aspirations for EU and NATO membership.
After carrying his dissertation data around for years - from Amherst, to Uganda, to Washington DC, and then to Macedonia - he finally completed his degree in 2007.
Macedonia is a wonderful, beautiful, friendly country. His home is always open if anyone is in the neighborhood. [7/08]
Barbara Rodey brodey@rti.org
Barbara joined IDG’s CMMR group as a business development specialist in March 2008. Barbara works with 
CMMR staff to develop and implement its expanded strategic plan, innovations in conflict mitigation, and IDG’s impact in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Nigeria. She previously assisted CMMR as a consultant in 2007.
Barbara comes to RTI after spending 3.5 years with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)/ Kabul Mission, where she served as senior advisor for community education, youth, and social development; and as a senior gender advisor. From 2002–2003, she provided project design, evaluation, and management of alternative education programs for various NGOs and the University of Massachusetts. During the Taliban regime, Barbara managed the United Nations Human Settlements Program’s (UNHABITAT’s) northern Afghanistan program. Prior to her service in Afghanistan, she worked for 12 years in microfinance and community development, primarily in Latin America, including as executive director of FINCA International for 2 years.
Her primary interests are fitness, cooking, hiking, and her family—two daughters, two sons, and four small grandchildren. Her passionate concern is for greater equity and justice in a sustainable world. [5-08]
Lisa Deyo (Ed.D. 2007) lisa_deyo@yahoo.com
Hello to the CIE community. In December 2007, I returned to Kabul after almost two years in Chicago. From 2004 to 2006, I worked for Management Sciences for Health and with CIE on the development of an integrated health and literacy program for Afghan women. I'm back in Kabul as Institutional Development Advisor with UN-HABITAT for phase 2 of the Learning for Community Empowerment Program. It's an exciting time to be working in
literacy education in Afghanistan. Under LCEP-2, we are offering a community based economic empowerment and educational program, integrating literacy, productive skills and savings and investment and helping to build the capacity of the Literacy Department.[5-08]
Michael J. Simsik (Ed.D. 2003) msimsik@gmail.com
In April of 2008 I was named Peace Corps Country Director in Mali, West Africa, where I
manage 40 staff and anywhere from 125 to 175 Peace Corps Volunteers. Previous to being named director, I was working as the Programming and Training Officer (also in Mali) since July 2006, and before that, as the Associate Peace Corps Director in Madagascar.
If any CIE folks happen to be traveling to Mali, please pay a visit in Bamako.[5-08]While I continue to be afflicted with guilt for not writing more, I have managed to get a couple things in the works
Simsik, M. J., (2007). “The Political Ecology of Biodiversity Erosion on the Central Highlands of Madagascar,” in Kaufmann, J., (Ed.), Greening the Great Red Island: Madagascar in Nature and Culture. Africa Institute of South Africa (AISA), Pretoria, South Africa.
Simsik, M. J., (2007). “Adaptive Management,” “Botswana,” “Dian Fossey,” “League of Conservation Voters,” “Political Ecology,” and the “Sagebrush Rebellion” in The Encyclopedia of Environment and Society. Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, California.
Duc Le (Lee) Nguyen (M. Ed. 2006) lengduc@gmail.com
I can’t believe it's been two years since I left Amherst. It seems like just yesterday. After graduation from CIE, I decided to continue on the academic path. I was accepted to the Master’s program in Project Management at the School of Business, George Washington University. Having enrolled as a part-time student, it takes me longer
than usual to finish the degree but I’m happy since I can both work and study at the same time. I’ve changed a couple of jobs (Barbara would know) and World Learning is my most recent stop.
I am currently working as a Program Associate for the Global UGRAD program in the Capacity-Building Services Office of World Learning in Washington DC. This is a scholarship program initiated and funded by the US Department of State to bring undergraduate students from 18 countries in East Asia, the Pacific and Western Hemisphere to America. Scholarship holders will spend a semester or an academic year at different institutions across the nation, based on their major of interest. As a contractor, World Learning has administered and monitored the program. We are looking forward to the first student arrivals this July.
I am very excited to attend CIE's 40th anniversary and revisit Amherst. Hope to see some old and new faces. [5-08]
Dale Jones (Ed.D. 2004) djones411@charter.net
After graduating from CIE I was employed by the Cancer House of Hope in Westfield Mass, as the Director of Development. I worked there for a year and then took some time off to reflect on my next journey. I spent some time in North Carolina and also at my cabin in Shelburne Massachusetts. I became an avid road bicyclist for 2 years until my near fatal accident in August 2007. As of November 2007, I have accepted a position with the Western Mass Training Consortium's RECOVER Project in Greenfield, Massachusetts. This is a perfect match for my professional and personal values and my CIE education. This project is conducted by and embodies true "participatory" methods within a poor rural community with some of the most stigmatized and/or disenfranchised people.
Urakorn 'Toon' Fuderich (Ed.D. 2007) toon.fuderich@gmail.com
In 1982, after getting married to Rob, another CIE grad, Toon traveled to the US with Rob to teach at a Navajo Reservation, at Rock, Arizona. In 1985 Toon came to UMass to pursue a master degree in counseling psychology (family therapy and school guidance counseling). After co
mpleting her degree, Toon worked as a school guidance counselor at one of Amherst elementary schools and outreach counselor for Cambodian refugees in Amherst. In 1988, Toon accompanied Rob to Baluchistan where Rob worked with EIL and UNESCO respectively. During the four years of living there Toon took a primary role in raising the two young sons and worked with AED/USAID funded program as a teacher trainer and curriculum development specialist to provide technical assistance to the Baluchistan Bureau of Education.
In 1992, Toon returned to UMass to pursue a doctoral degree in international education. After finishing her comprehensive exam and field research in 1995 she packed up again and left for Croatia initially and then Switzerland where the family lived for nine years. In Geneva, Toon worked at an international school teaching 6th grade. In August of 2006 Toon felt compelled to put an end to her ABD status and returned to CIE. After sustaining considerable pressure from her guru, DRE, for 9 months she finally completed her dissertation. Her research explores factor influencing psychological resilience among adult Cambodian refuges who survived the Pol Pot regime as children and implications for educational intervention in conflict and post conflict settings. Toon is currently trying to figure out her next moves. She is interested in working as a consultant in the line of work that will allow her to combine her teaching, training, managing, and counseling backgrounds. [2-08]
Kaylen Jorgensen (M.Ed. 2002) kaylen6@gmail.com
Recent communication from Kaylen in Australia where she seems to be settling in for a long stay!
I have been in a holding pattern waiting to hear back regarding my application here at the University of Queensland. But all is well and I will be ending my job here at the School of Law on 15 Feb. and beginning a Ph.D. program on 18 Feb. in sociology/anthropology, with a four year scholarship. After a year she expects to be doing field research in Bolivia. I also have a research consultancy with Dr. Nadja Alexander in Alternative Dispute Resolution. As much as I have enjoyed editing Law Journals it will be good to move on. I will be an Australian citizen as of 5 March, with a strange American accent. I look forward to following all of CIE's happenings via the website.[1-08]
Yihong Fan (Ed. D. 2002) fanyihong2003@yahoo.com.cn
Fan Yihong is currently a professor at the Institute of Education Research, Xiamen University, P.R. CHINA. She is also responsible for developing international cooperation for the institute and chairing the Section for European Higher Education Studies. Recently, she received a Ministry of Education grant for a comparative study on Faculty Development between Chinese and European Universities. During the past four years since she returned to China from UMass, she has published 8 books, two in English and 6 translated from English to Chinese, the themes of which ranging from Holistic Education, Assuring University Learning Quality, Managing Successful University, Innovation Theory and Methodology and the Future of Higher Education.
She has a broad interest of study from the smallest microbial and atomic world to the biggest cosmos and its implications for human development and the evolution of humanity. Her passion is to bring a holistic educational vision and practice to higher education, especially by designing and implementing strategic, systematic and innovative educational programs at universities and colleges in China and beyond. [12-07]
Tamari Nduaguibe (M.Ed. 2004) henrytamari@hotmail.com
Tamari Nduaguibe has moved to Hong Kong with her family.
My husband Henry, and I have accepted two year teaching contracts at the International Christian School in Hong Kong. Our two children, Alex age 10, is a fifth grader, while
Chika, age 8, is a fourth grader at this school with us. After two years of living and teaching in Maine, with all of us spread out in 4 different schools, it is a blessing to all be back together at one school. This is the first time we have all been at the same Christian school together and it is an excellent experience thus far.
Hong Kong is truly an interesting, busy, and crowded place, but the standard of living is very high for most people. What an amazing and well-functioning public transportation system. This is different for us as we have been used to working in developing countries where the resources leave a lot to be desired both professiopnally and personally. Here, however, the school is very well stocked and equiped. My biggest learning curve is with all of the technology I am having to learn and keep on top of here. EVERYTHING is on computer at our school - from Rubicon for curriculum, to Grade Quick for report cards and assessment, to eClass for daily attendance, weekly parent communication, and posting homework assignments, not to mention the school email which I am expected to check a few times each day- it's all a new world for me! I have a wonderful class of 25 second graders, while Henry is teaching middle school science. We are looking forward to all that the Lord will bring our way over the next two years! [10-07]
Hui Zhao (M.Ed. 2005 ) zhao.hui@hotmail.com
Time passes so fast, I do not believe that I left CIE two and half years ago!
My first year back in China was kind of busy. My daughter was born at the end of 2006 and I started my work at the beginning of 2007. I work for the Department of Research and Development, National Education Examinations Authority in the Ministry of Education. The task I am engaged in is to manage the research projects and communications in the field of educational evaluation. In recent years, there have been curriculum innovations in the high school level all over the country to improve the quality of teaching and learning. The consequences bring the reforms for college entrance examination. So, the topics we are interested in are how to evaluate education and tests in China.
I am happy to see CIE members are working for the 40th birthday. I really miss the time that I was in CIE. Please let me know what I can do for CIE 40th celebration in China. [12-07]
Mary Monica Gomes (Ed.D. 2007) monicagomes507@yahoo.com
After spending the summer in USA and Canada with my family members (New York, Maryland, California, & Toronto) I am finally back in Bangladesh. I returned on October 31 and am re-settling here. Recently, I contacted the BRAC
University's Institute of Educational Development and they were very interested for me to join their team. I have been appointed as 'Senior Faculty' at the BRAC University Institute of Educational Development, and will be involved both in developing and teaching courses, as well as involved with other activities of the Institute. Among my tasks are assisting with the internal assessment of the Institute, leading to an external assessment and strategic planning for the next phase of development.
The Institute is within BRAC University and is developing academic programs as well as research and other activities, similar somewhat to CIE's contribution within UMass. In my initial discussion with the Director of the Institute, I mentioned that we might explore some form of linkage with CIE in the future and he was very supportive of this. Currently, they have partnerships with several academic institutions abroad, including George Washington University, University of Toronto, University of Manchester (UK) and others.
I would like to keep my links with CIE strong and vibrant and hope we can develop this institutionally as well. Definitely, I will work towards and welcome CIE's presence and contribution in the Bangladesh education scenario. If you have ideas that you want to share with me about this, I would love to hear them.[12-07]
Tigran is working as an Education Consultant at International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX) Armenia office since 2005. During the last two years, he oversaw the completion of five teacher training projects in Armenia: Elementary Level Curriculum Development and Teacher Training Program, Middle School Social Studies Curriculum Development and Teacher Training Program, High School Social Studies 
Curriculum Development and Teacher Training Program, Pre-Service Education, and Leadership Training for School Administrators. Currently, Tigran is involved in the implementation of the Eurasia/South Asia Teaching Excellence and Achievement (TEA) Program, Muskie and Global UGRAD programs.
As a curriculum development specialist, he has been involved in the “Education Quality and Relevance” project by the World Bank and Ministry of Education and Science of Armenia. Finally, in Spring 2007 Tigran with two colleagues finished the “Social Studies” Textbook and Teachers Guide that are currently mandatory readings for 8th grade students and teachers. Previously, they had published “Fundamental Principles of Democracy: Civic Education” alternative textbook and teachers’ guide for 8th and 9th grades.
As a part of EU TACIS Support to the Development of an Integrated Vocational Education and Training System Program Team, Tigran developed a Master level modular curriculum for the Armenian State Pedagogical University (ASPU). Additionally, Tigran coauthored "Pedagogy for Teachers of Artisan (preliminary) and College-based Vocational Education Institutions" manual that is close to launching by UNDP
In addition to his professional achievements, Tigran’s family welcomed a new member last year: Tatev Tovmasyan. Tigran has also agreed to serve as the communicator for the Muskies group in preparation for CIE's 40th Celebratory Conference. [11-07]
Greetings from Luanda, Angola - and happy birthday to CIE's 40th anniversary. I am with UNDP Angola, responsible for the disbursement of a 2.5 Million Dollar Trust Fund to Angolan Civil Society Organizations who have submitted technically-feasible civic education proposals covering themes such as electoral systems, human rights, civic rights and conflict resolution. As a civic education coordinator, I have the challenge of funding and coordinating education activities of organizations with great visions and low organizational capacity. How does one train when the programme design itself does not allow for pre-service training?[11-07 ]
We recently heard from Josephine. She has left her post in Ministry of Education and joined an NGO. She describes her new post below.
I'm working as Program Officer. BRIDGE Project is an HIV prevention project and is designed to energize change in the way we Malawians think and speak about HIV/AIDS and more importantly, in how we act. Its principles and values which guide all our interventions are: B= Belief in a better future (Hope); R= Risk is shared by everyone (Personalized risk); I= I can STOP AIDS ( Personal responsibility, Action, Self-efficacy); D= Discussion about HIV/AIDS (Openeness, Destigmatization); G= Gender equity; E= Emphasing the positive( Action orientation, Community assets, Positive role modeling).
Since I joined BRIDGE I was assigned to work as Program officer for Life Savings Partnership project, CORE Initiative and now am coordinating Hope kit activities. A Hope Kit is an HIV prevention tool developed by BRIDGE. [11-07]
Elena Khatskevich (M.Ed. 2002) khatskevich@comm.umass.edu
After I graduated from the Center for International Education, I went back home to Russia and chose a career in public health and development. I was hired by Johns Hopkins University as a project assistant for its USAID-sponsored project "Healthy Russia 2020." I worked in Moscow for Healthy Russia, first assisting the Chief of Party in daily program management and planning, and then I was promoted to a position of a project manager responsible for youth communication programs. In 2005, I applied for a Doctoral program in communication at the University of Massachusetts, and now I am back to UMass working on my PhD in communication.
My research endeavors are devoted to studying health as a cultural practice; I am trying to find the best ways to develop health communication campaigns based on cultural beliefs and community values. I am still working with Johns Hopkins University as a consultant on various public health projects and also collaborate with the recently created Institute for Global Health at UMass on its Russian project.
Svetlana Pivovar Dmitriyeva (M.Ed. 2004) sdmitrieva@inbox.ru
Svetlana has written several times about changes in her life since getting married and moving to Kiev.
In May of 2005 my husband and I returned to Ukraine. I had to terminate my contract with UNDP in Moscow though it was really hard for me to do because I enjoyed my position there. Right now I am staying at home with my daughter. Her name is Lada (this is the name of the Slavic goddess of love). [12/05]
I started working in January 2007 after spending a year and a half at home. Well, I think it was really worth it and I really enjoyed spending all my time with my daughter. But, honestly, I really missed communication with my colleagues and just the mere joy of learning something new at work every day.
Also, after working in UNDP I understood that I missed teaching and students a lot. So when I started looking for a job after my long maternity leave, I decided I would opt for a teaching position. Now I am working as a TOEFL and cross-cultural trainer in a US company based in Kiev, Ukraine. I am really enjoying the training format and I am using a lot of stuff from Sally's class on training and the cross-cultural management class. I am even rereading some parts from Hofstede to prepare for my classes. I am very thankful to CIE for these wonderful classes we had. [3-07]
Askarbek Mambetaliev (M. Ed. 2004) askarbek@gmail.com
A winner of the competition for the Edmund S. Muskie/Freedom Support Act Graduate Fellowship Program, Askarbek Mambetaliev came from the Kyrgyz Republic in 2002 to pursue his Master of Education degree in the Center for International Education of t
he University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Back home, Askarbek coordinated educational projects aimed at introducing values of a free society in the post soviet Central Asia. He served as a liaison person and cultural expert for pioneer international organizations in the early stages of independence of his country from the Soviet Union and published numerous articles in local languages concerning the issues of democracy and freedom. He is a strong supporter of open society ideas, an aggressive opponent of oppression, and a passionate promoter of mutual international relationships.
In early 2007 Askar approached the Rector of the Kyrgyz State University and he suggested that we launch a Center for International Education. Askar would like to create a Center like CIE-UMASS and would welcome suggestions and help. To get started he has created a blog. Add a comment or a suggestion.Welcome to his website. [3-07]
A recent update from Askar says:
I am now a Faculty Development Fellow of OSI-New York and will be at NYU for the spring semesters during 2008-2010. I am also a vice-rector of the Arabaev Kyrgyz State University and responsible for coordinating International Programs, Civic Education and Career Development Center. [11-07]
Larissa Savitskaya (M.Ed. 2005) savitskaya2003@yahoo.com
Larissa made a special effort to come to a Tuesday meeting at CIE and see old friends. Larissa was in Massachusetts to participate in an AACRAO conference for registrars in Boston. She said it was a good learning experience. Everyone at CIE was glad she made the trip out to Amherst while she’s in the states.
Larissa is currently the registrar at the Kazakhstan Institute of Management Economies and Strategic Research. In her position as registrar she focuses on University policy development, advising and making the registration process easily accessible and user friendly for students. Since leaving CIE in 2005 Larissa has worked as an international advisor on girls’ education issues with UNESCO in Tajikistan and also with UNESCO Paris on monitoring and evaluation of the EFA program in Kazakhstan. She also helped publish a manual for study abroad programs along with her colleague Muskie Fellows. Currently they are collaborating on developing sessions to aid graduates from orphan houses who are often left to fend for themselves when they turn 18. They are putting together sessions to help the graduates learn about their legal rights, educational opportunities, employment skills, and personal skills necessary for making the transition into the world of work.[3-07]
Mbarou Gassama Mbaye (Ed.D. 2004) mbarou.gassamambaye@gmail.com
Mbarou wrote recently in response to a notice about a presentation at a center meeting on self-financing groups because of her current role that she describes below:
I work currently as the Managing Director of a new project in Senegal " Women Incubator Center" funded by a US NGO, the National Council of Negro Women based in Washington, under a World Bank grant (InfoDev). This is the first women incubation program in Africa, Whose main goal is to support women entrepreneurs.
The pictures show the opening day ceremony of the office building of my current workplace - The Incubator Center. On the first floor of the center, we have a cyber café to provide Internet services for women in
business and tourists, while the second floor is dedicated to offices for the incubatees. The third floor is for the staff: myself, as managing director, a business development services coordinator, and the project assistant. Our main activities are: a) teaching women how to conduct their business, b) how to get organized in their office - most of them have received credit from organizations, but did not know how to use it, c) access to the computer and Internet - to learn word processing, to better manage their business and develop market strategies. I am using my nonformal training education and evaluation skills and also providing a lot of one-on-one coaching [2-07]
Phoebe McKinney (M. Ed. 2001) phoebemcki@aol.com
Since graduating from CIE in 2001, Phoebe's work and professional life have been interesting and rewarding.
I worked for several years as the Campaign Director for Amnesty International USA in Washington, DC. After relocating to
the San Francisco Bay area in 2004, I worked for a time for an organization that conducts leadership training for non-profit/NGO managers and leaders. Thanks in large measure to David Evans, I then secured consultancy work in Southern Sudan working for the American Institutes for Development on the Sudan Basic Education Program, in which CIE was also a partner. I am currently preparing to leave the U.S. to work on a short-term consultancy project for the American Refugee Committee in Gulu, Uganda to develop a curriculum -- and deliver a training of trainers -- for a youth-focused Life Skills development program for Ugandan IDPs affected by the civil war with the Lord's Resistance Army. I am also hoping to return to South Sudan to continue to work with some Southern Sudanese colleagues to create a human rights education project for teachers in Western Equatoria state. Finally, if funding is secured, I hope to do some tertiary teacher professional development and support work this summer with fellow CIE graduate (Ed.D) Michael Tjivikua in Namibia. I remain deeply indebted to CIE for opening up the wonderful professional path that I am so very blessed to be on. [2-07]
Recent update: I am on my way to Juba, South Sudan, where I will be working for 8-12 months on an education/food security/sanitation project. [3-08]
Folks,
God has been merciful towards me. Besides my main job as a Case Manager of a Partial Care Program at a private psychiatry institution, I’m also teaching as an Adjunct Professor of Sociology at the Essex County College of New Jersey; and again as a permanent part-timer for the Department of Human Services of the State of New Jersey. Call me a busy man but not a workaholic. [1-07]
Sam recently published a novel - Coincidence: Life's Fashion Designer. The publisher's abstract says in part:
Joe Bayden, the immigrant, has been on a death row over a year for the murder of Mr. Tom Fauze, a prominent politician and an ex-U.S. diplomat. The two had met in Africa, but the murder occurred in Virginia, USA. What circumstances brought the two together? Were the two destined to suffer a similar fate as they tried to improve their conditions on earth? Nat Bradford, Joe’s defense attorney, has now stumbled onto a golden opportunity to propel him into the limelight as a renowned investigative and legal practitioner. Does he know how to utilize the enormous opportunities? What was his motive of sending development projects to Joe’s tiny village in Africa? A classic story of inexplicable coincidences and circumstances, loaded with adventures, romance, greed, investigations and suspense. At the end of it all the fact still remains that coincidences we face daily fashion our lives, either for better or for worse.
Stephanie Pirronie (M.Ed. 2003) spirroni@yahoo.com
Over the past three years and a half years Stephanie was living in Haifa, Israel, where she was serving at the Office of Social and Economic Development at the Bahai World Centre, following development projects in the Americas. In Haifa she was working with two CIE members, Haleh Arbab and David Walker.
Next month, Stephanie will be moving to Cali, Colombia where she will be working at the Fundacion para la Ensenanza y Aplicacion de las Ciencias (FUNDEAC) with a secondary education program for development called Preparation for Social Action aimed at helping youth to build the capacities they need to promote the well-
being of their own communities.
I very much enjoyed participating in 11 December Tuesday Center meeting and meeting up with old friends. It felt as if I had never left; there was a dynamic conversation amongst a diverse student body about their coursework and its future application in the field and afterwards we enjoyed a delicious cake baked by BGW to celebrate Jacqi Mosselson's pregnancy. Looking forward to staying in touch! [12-06]
Anita Anastacio (M.Ed. 2006) anitaanastacio@yahoo.com
I cannot believe that it is already December. I am not sure where the
months have gone. I returned to Afghanistan in late August 2006 to take up a new
challenge. I have become the Chief of Party for CARE heading a large,
five-year community-based education project called PACE-A: Partnership for Advancing Community-based 
education in Afghanistan. Not bad for a start after a
masters degree! The community-based education project
includes support to primary education, accelerated primary education for
out-of-school youth, adult literacy and early childhood education. Our
partners are IRC, CRS and the Aga Khan Foundation. CARE and IRC have been
running community-based schools for a number of years. CRS has implemented
Accelerated Learning classes since the fall of the Taliban, thanks to
another CIE-student, Barbara Rodey. Other CIE fellows such as Fritz
Affolter, Monica Gomes and Chris Gamm also worked on the CRS program. AKF brought in
their expertise in supporting teacher training and formal schools. Current CIE student Amina Davlatshoeva came from that program via CIE's Learning for Life program. The CIE world is small, isn't it?
Afghanistan has a new Minister of Education who is smart, active and knows
the language of the international community. Just this week the Minister
launched the first ever written 5-year education strategy for Afghanistan, a
"very ambitious" strategy requesting about 1 billion for the next five
years. Community-based education is one that the Ministry finally
recognizes as an important mechanism to expand access and quality to
education. Major steps still lie ahead. One of them is that our
community-based teachers need to be recognized and accredited
teachers in Afghanistan. For those of you working on similar issue I would love to connect! [12-06]
Laura Ivey (M.Ed. 2006) livey@air.org
Laura wrote recently from Malawi:
I'm working for American Institutes for Research (AIR)as the Learning Resource Coordinator for the Malawi Teacher Training Activity (MTTA). For the most part, I love my new job. I am involved in everything from administration to conducting training workshops to going out and to monitoring activities. My primary responsibility is to develop learning materials, which can be anything from resource manuals to handbooks for training workshops, or, last week, t-shirts for our new Mphamvu Kwa Achinyamata clubs--power to the youth clubs. These new
clubs are supposed to replace the stagnant and unproductive primary school AIDS clubs. They are supposed to be student run with a focus on community action projects, instead of a teacher teaching a lesson. I'm encouraging my co-workers to be more creative in the way we do things, the clubs are an example. Though, it often takes some convincing to try new things, and many times I have to let things go on as before, sometimes I am able to convince others to make some changes in the way we faciliate and the content of our training workshops. I feel that the people with whom I work are benefiting from my time at UMass.
I also work regularly with Fritz Kadyoma. In fact, he and I are leaving today to monitor training workshop that the Minitry of Education is conducting for the new primary school curriculum. We'll be in two districts for the rest of the week and making a stop over in Lilongwe to make a presentation to Peace Corps educators about the new AIDS clubs, because they will be helping us with them in the spring.[12-06]
Daftar January Khembo (Ed. D. 2004) dkhembo@fhi.org.mw
After his doctoral studies at the University of Massachusetts, Dafter returned to Malawi to continue his work in Research and Test Development at the Malawi National Examinations Board. Dafter has since resigned from his position and joined Family Health International (FHI) in Malawi, a nonprofit organization, as a Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Officer.
FHI runs a number of programs which aim at improving lives worldwide through research, education, and services in family health. In Malawi, the focus of FHI programs is to assist households cope with HIV/AIDS by providing care and support to the chronically ill patients and orphans and other vulnerable children. Dafter’s task as M&E Officer is to evaluate the implementation and performance of these programs. It was fortunate that CIE offered an M&E course, which has become my main tool for my work, and Professor Rossman handled the course very well .[6-06]
(top of page)Majid Khan (M.Ed. 2003) smmajid@educ.umass.edu
It was nice to visit Umass after one and a half years away and meet old friends. I moved to Colorado in June 2005 and since then I have been 
working as a Residence Director at the Colorado State University, Fort-Collins, Colorado. My work includes student advising, staff supervision, administration, and I organize social, educational and cultural programs. During my stay at the CSU, I had the opportunity to work with key academic, key plus academic and global village living learning communities. Currently I work with Ingersoll living learning community where most of the students are part of the college of Natural Sciences. In addition, I teach a weekly student leadership development seminar at the CSU. Further, recently I had the opportunity to attend the inter-cultural development seminar in Portland Oregon and qualified to use the Inter-cultural development inventory (IDI). I am leaving for Pakistan on November, 2006 where I will conduct research and collect data on Privatization of Higher Education in Pakistan:Issues of Access and Equity, for my doctorate at CIE.. [10-06]
Mohamed Ibrahim Elgadi (Ed.D. 2003) mohamedelgadi@yahoo.com
Mohamed has now returned to Amherst where he has been working for the Bill of Rights Defense Committee (BORDC). He is also doing a variety of part-time consulting. In March of 2007 he did a presentation at the Center meeting on the human rights situation in Sudan. [3-07]
For more than a year I worked at the American Friends Service Committee in their National Office in Philadelphia. My job title was Project Voice National Coordinator for Alliance Building. Project Voice is a new initiative sponsored by AFSC (which CIE's Janna Shadduck had a part in getting started) to strengthen the voices of immigrant-led organizations in setting the national agenda for immigration policy and immigrants' rights, in order to foster a full integration of immigrants and refugees in their new communities. Project Voice combines local and national organizing, education, and outreach campaigns to achieve a strategic impact on key immigration and refugee issues, including legalization, abuse of authority, community relations, workers' rights, and other human rights issues.
Over the past 30 months of my work here I have helped in bringing more diverse immigrant voices to the work of AFSC especially among African immigrant communities, and the progressive faith-based groups like the new Islamic school of thought that I'm part of. [2-06]
For more about Mohamed and his activities check out the Elgadi Family blog.
Since graduating in May, 2002, I’ve been teaching at both Rhode Island College and The University of Rhode Island. At RIC, I’ve taught sections of required Foundations of Education courses for undergraduate teacher education students. These courses all focus significantly on the dynamics of cultural and human diversity in public education. At URI, I designed and offered a course, in the Department of Communication Studies, on “Cultural Conflict in Global Perspective.” This course has focused primarily on the rights of indigenous peoples and their struggles to maintain their lands, languages, and cultures in the face of overwhelming pressure to change and adapt to the modern world system. A second course, on the role of communication in fostering an ethic of environmentally sustainable living, is in preparation. Throughout this process, I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know well over 400 students, of both typical college age and older.
I’ve also had the honor to serve on the board of the Apeiron Institute for Environmental Living, an environmental education organization whose goal is to make Rhode Island the first environmentally sustainable state. I’ve served on several committees at my daughters’ school, a public charter school with a vision of instilling values of environmentally sustainable living and social responsibility in all students.
In Fall, 2006, I’ll be taking a break from college teaching to complete the Rhode Island teacher certification process by student teaching at a public high school. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, I’ve been coaching my daughters’ softball teams and acting as their full-time chauffeur to numerous enrichment activities. [5-06]
In 2004, I joined the Polytechnic of Namibia, Namibia’s University of Science and Technology as the Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning. The center was established to help improve teaching and learning on campus through academic development initiatives. It is focused on providing support to students and faculty.
Since my tenure here I have been preoccupied with the creation of an academic support system for the university. I am establishing an Academic Support Center for students which will provide a range of services to students but focused on tutoring in mathematics, writing and other courses for which they need assistance. I have also developed a series of support activities for faculty including induction, mentoring, academic discussions on best practices in teaching and learning, and faculty development workshops.
I am teaching a course titled Principles of Instruction and manage a faculty resource hub at the center. As you are well aware, Namibia is a relatively new democracy and we are fully engaged in the process of nation building and undoing the effects of apartheid and colonialism. [5-06]
Hatsue Kimura (M. Ed. 2003) kimura-ht@n-koei.jp
In spring of 2006, Hatsue began working for KRI International which has a contract from 
JICA to implement a literacy program in Afghanistan. Starting in April, Hatsue was in Kabul for several months and thereafter will spend about half her time in Kabul and half in Japan. Her assignment is to develop a database to monitor the progress of the literacy program. She will be working to develop the local capacity to collect and manage data generated by the various literacy classes.
Hatsue is eager to make contact with the vibrant CIE community in Kabul, which will increase with CIE’s new Higher Education project which also began in the spring of 2006. She is also hoping to draw upon CIE's experience with the recently completed Learning for Life project that trained over 8,000 women in basic literacy and health. [5-06]
I still work for IFES as a Civic Education Project Coordinator. Along with discussion groups for the target groups (youth, women, IDPs, people with disabilities) on different civic related issues, summer Democracy Camps, I am also coordinating a school-based project entitled "Student Action Committee". The idea is to reinforce extracurricular activities at schools by
increasing teachers' interactive teaching techniques and mentorship skills, by enhancing students' practical skills - problem solving, self-initiative, team building, leadership, decision -making, communication - and by producing small but meaningful changes in school community through the leadership of the children. However, IFES will unfortunately downsize some of its programs very soon, therefore I restarted "job hunting" and was successful: I have just been offered a position of Children's Education Project Coordinator position at the Save the Children. This is a regional project involving South Caucasus region. I am more than sure that the course I took at CIE "Learning in Post-Conflict Settings" will be useful for me, the issue of peace education will be important for the implementation of this particular project. Hope to see you all one day With love form Baku. [4-06]
Karen is currently working with the Indonesian National Commission on Violence Against Women to set up a program to monitor violence and discrimination against women in Aceh, Indonesia. Over the years, political and religious factors, and natural disasters in the territory have displaced women, limited their freedom of movement and association, and have, generally, contributed to violence and discrimination against them. These realities include: armed conflict between the Indonesian military and the Gerakan Aceh Merdeka (GAM); imposition of Islamic Law; and, the recent tsunami, which has resulted in many women being widowed, and some older daughters becoming head of household when both parents were killed. Karen is helping to train monitors of violence and discrimination against women - all of them displaced women with varying levels of literacy - and set up a documentation system.
Before this, Karen was seconded from the Christian University to work with the East Timor Reception, Truth-Seeking and Reconciliation Commission (CAVR). She coordinated the women’s research team that collected testimonies from women about their experiences of violence during the Indonesian occupation and the East Timor inter-party conflict prior to it. The completed Truth C
ommission report has been handed over (October, 2005) to the Timor Leste Parliament.
Along with her husband, John, Karen continues to support community development in Timor. Recently, John and Karen have been facilitating an informal “library” out of their home for the children of their village; they have purchased a number of children’s books for kids in their community, and are encouraging frequent exchanges of these reading materials. [12-05]
Leticia recently send us a holiday greeting from Bogota and reported on her current work.
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I`m now working hard in the mayor’s office of Bogota for a program called: The Urban Poverty or New Poverty. This has been a very interesting job and I think this is a very important experience for me. My current position gives me the opportunity to learn many things related to my interests in family & poverty. Since I joined the Welfare Institute for Bogota, I have been working with issues of people in poverty and exclusion conditions (homeless, displacement, sexual workers, elderly people, etc). There is a Family Department inside the Institute and they deal with changes in family structure for unemployment, lay off situations, and of course forced displacement. [12/05]
David Bell (Ed.D. 2001) Since graduating from CIE, I have worked at the Karuna Center for Peacebuilding in Leverett. For the past three years I have worked as an Assistant Professor of International Development and Social Change in the Department of International Development, Community and Environment (IDCE) at Clark University in Worcester.
My scholarly work and research interests remain focused on Southern Africa and on South Africa in particular on the process of education transformation, policy and neocolonialism. I recently conducted an assessment of Child Labor and Education in South Africa for the US Department of Labor and I continue to work as a consultant doing evaluation work for the University of Johannesburg that focuses on the role of Service Learning in National Community Higher Education Partnership Project (CHESP). I also taught Introduction to International Education at CIE in the 04-05 Academic year. [9/05]
Thanh returned to Amherst for the summer to be with her family and dropped in at CIE to visit with old friends. Her family has a house in Belchertowm where her husband and her two children are living. She will be home during the summer time and for winter break.
She is currently the Academic Director for the School of International Training's study abroad program in the Mekong Delta – which includes Cambodia, Viet Nam. The program focuses on Natural and Cultural Ecology. This is a brand-new program in a new place for SIT. During Spring Semester 2005, Thanh ran the first course there for undergraduate American students. This 16-credit training course provides American students with exposure to different environmental and cultural sites of Viet Nam and Cambodia. Because the underlying philosophy of SIT is rooted in experiential learning, she travels with the students to a variety of cultural and ecologically important sites in the Mekong Delta region.. Thanh is actively working to promote educational exchanges between US and countries in Southeast Asia.
She has a chapter entitled “Educating hard-to-reach children in Viet Nam” in the book From Bullets to Blackboards recently published by the Inter-American Development Bank [6/05]
Janna has been a visiting junior scholar in the Dept. of Sociology at UCLA for the past 2 years where she was able to finish the writing of her dissertation, titled, Here I am Now! Community Service-learning with Immigrant and Refugee Undergraduate Students and Youth: The Use of Critical Pedagogy, 
Situated Learning and Funds of Knowledge. The dissertation looked at the experiences of 10 first generation students who were part of CIRCLE (Center for Immigrant and Refugee Community Leadership and Empowerment) that was housed within CIE from 1994-2000. Janna came to CIE in 1994 to do her Master's degree and continued on with doctoral work, graduating in May 2005
Before returning to working on her dissertation, Janna had been the National Director for Immigrant and Refugee Rights with the American Friends Service Committee in Philadelphia where she coordinated national and international projects related to immigration, displacement and global migration. During her tenure (1999-2002) at AFSC she co-produced an educational video and curriculum guide with Third World News Reel. The video is titled, Echando Raices/Taking Root: Immigrant and Refugee Communities in California, Texas and Iowa.
This coming fall and spring Janna will be teaching two courses in the World Arts and Culture Department at UCLA. Each has to do with an aspect of her doctoral work that she is very interested in: the application of the arts in community organizing and community development processes. The courses are titled, Community and the Arts and Visual Arts and Immigration. Post-dissertation, Janna is looking for different employment opportunities related to her interests in education, community development, the arts and immigration. She lives with her husband, Ruben Hernandez-Leon (professor at UCLA) and their two daughters Olin (6) and Paloma (4) in Los Angeles, truly an exciting global immigrant city. [6/05]
After getting his doctorate, Samson came back to Malawi and joined the University of Malawi, Chancellor College as lecturer in Educational Policy and Leadership, and Sociology of Education. In January 2005, he was appointed Head of Educational Foundations Department at Chancellor College, the University of Malawi. As head, he is responsible for coordinating all academic activities and provide leadership in the department. He is also a member of board of trustees for two non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Malawi. In addition, he is an external examiner for two colleges and has acted as internal examiner and supervisor/advisor for graduate theses at Chancellor College. Furthermore, He is a member of the editorial board for the Journal of Development Education. With his colleague, Ken Ndala, who is also a graduate of UMASS, he has conducted an in-service training in Educational Policy and Planning for sixteen officials from Malawi National Examination Board. The training was successful and the college, through the Faculty of Education, recognized it by offering certificates of attendance to the participants.
My vision now is to provide more training courses in Educational Policy, Planning and Leadership to more officials in different institutions that deal with education in Malawi apart from the normal graduate program we are offering at Chancellor College. The aim is to help improve education in Malawi both at primary and secondary levels. I also want to help market the PPL program at Chancellor College to other countries so that we should serve people in the SADC region. Furthermore, I want to pursue a post-doctoral study where I will have time to sit down and reflect on the educational issues that I have confronted in Malawi and design a research project that will deal with such issues. So the journey is still on.
Samson has also been busy publishing work that he started during his doctoral studies. He has published versions of both his comprehensive papers and one paper from the Education Policy course - references below. [6/05]
Rural Communities-Education Relationship in Developing Countries: The Case of Malawi. International Education Journal Vol. 5, No 3, 2004, pp. 308-330
An Analysis of Free Primary Education in Malawi.
International Journal of Educational Reform, Vol. 11, No. 2, 2002, pp. 94-105.
Jack Stephen Chalimba (M.Ed. 2003) jschalimba@chanco.unima.mw
After completing his Masters degree, Jack returned to his job at the Malawi National Examination board where he continues to be responsible for examinations logistics.
In May of 2005 he attended a Sub Regional conference on Assessment which was held in Malawi and was attended by delegates from Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Mozambique, and the host country. He presented a paper that was a critique of script checking as done by MANEB. In August he will attend an Association of Educational Assessment in Africa (AEAA) meeeting in Uganda where he will be presenting on the theme of "the role of research in assessment practice."
My studies at UMASS helped to make me more able to write and present papers that deal with real measurement and testing issues [June 2005]
The Genges are proud to announce the birth of their second son Nicolas Daniel Genge Pérez on November 23 rd . To add to the excitement they are moving to La Paz (in the highlands, around 13,000 ft) around the 20th of Dec. after a year and a half in Santa Cruz (in the lowlands, around 1,200 ft.). Cole recently changed jobs and now works at The Nature Conservancy in the Southern Andes Conservation Program as Conservation Projects Coordinator for Bolivia. Basically he manages 3 projects (Parks in Peril - which provides assistance to 2 national parks in a highly conflictive area; Multisites - mostly financial support for the national system of protected areas and cross border conservation efforts between Bolivia and Argentina, Chile, Paraguay; and the Noel Kempff Climate Action Project - a greenhouse gas effect mitigation project via conservation, the largest in the world of its kind). Cole says:
I love the work I am doing, to the point that even on the longest and hardest days of work I come home exhausted but fulfilled and satisfied that I have accomplished something worth working for. It's a great feeling! Jenny was teaching a master's level course on Curriculum Development at a private Bolivian university until about a month ago when it got too uncomfortable to even move around because of the pregnancy. She loves teaching and does a fantastic job at it, but the systems in place are often times so counter productive that we wonder if it is worth going against the grain to provide a quality education. In any event, she is not planning to teach any tim
e soon, motherhood is more than a full-time job, and one she also loves and does very well.
We look forward to living in La Paz and escaping from the perpetual heat and moisture that is so characteristic of the Amazon basin. After all both Jenny and I are from the mountains - the Andes at that! Going back to the mountains will be a nice change. (November 2004)
I was particularly interested in reading through the snippets section of the CIE Off-Campus web site. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about my colleagues from the not-too-distant past. I've had a busy couple of years with buying a house, getting married, having a kid (the picture shows me with my son Owen on a recent hike up
Mt. Monadnock), and starting a new job in Putney,VT. I'm currently the Associate Dean of Short-term and Special Programs at Landmark College, which serves students with learning disabilities and/or AD/HD. One of my responsibilities is developing new programs in the Study Abroad department. Scrolling through all the people who've come and gone through CIE and seeing where they are now makes me all the more excited to renew old contacts and develop new partnerships around the world. I'll try to make a Tuesday meeting sometime soon and look forward to seeing you then. (October 2004)
Joanie Cohen-Mitchell (Ed. D. 2004) joanie@educ.umass.edu
After working 2 years with CIE on the Guatemala project as Research and Training Coordinator, Joanie returned to Western MA and spent two years as Executive Director of The Brick House Community Resource Center in Turners Falls, MA. While at The Brick House, Joanie developed a variety of community development initiatives including a women's empowerment and economic development program, a community technology collaborative, a youth arts program and an ESOL program for immigrants. After having Noah in July 2002, Joanie began consulting with the state DOE providing technical assistance and acting as an evaluator for family literacy programs throughout Western MA. She also works with Resource Economics Department at UMass on an exchange program in Colombia.In June 2004, Joanie, Tim and Noah moved to a rambling 1899 home in Orange, MA (October 2004)
Mainus Sultan (Ed. D. 2003) sultan@alumni.umass.edu
After
five plus years of work with the American Friends Service Committee, Hollyn,
Kajori and I returned from the Laos to North Village in Amherst, on a
quiet summer afternoon. Blurry-eyed with disorientation, we opened our
newly rented apartment and found a refrigerator full of food (thank you,
Jenny Ladd!) and enough bedding for a comfortable night (thank
you, Phyllis Robinson!).In Laos, we managed an international NGO and had the flexibility to do
field research. For AFSC and personal vacations, we visited eleven countries
in Asia and, after a long interval, I started writing Bangla again for
journals and daily newspapers. I had a series of travel stories published
illustrating trips to Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Laos. As a family
we were able to visit Bangladesh several times. Unexpectedly, two of my
books were published at this time. One is a collection of short stories
titled "Memory Traveler" and the other is a collection of poems
titled "Sweet Sixteen of Dew". I wrote these poems and stories
in the mid-1970s. All were published in not-so-popular magazines, but
they remained well liked and somewhat controversial, which encouraged
a publisher to take up this project.Back in the US, I managed to complete my graduate work after 13 years
of attachment with CIE (which is by no means the most impressive record!).
During the summer of 2002, I worked for a CIE project in Afghanistan.
The highlights of my Afghan work are small personal memories - morning
jogs to the top of a mountain with Barbara Rodey, visiting one
castle a day with Frank McNerney and a day trip with Monica
Gomes and Frank to a gorge.When I returned from Afghanistan, I started working with the Institute
for Training and Development. During this time, I was sent to the Republic
of Georgia, an interesting country with a rusty subway infrastructure
and golden grapevine in the Caucasus. I am scheduled to visit Romania,
Kosovo and Kyrgyzstan during 2004/5. Since my return, I have been teaching
courses at Springfield College and writing regular columns for three Bangladeshi
national daily newspapers.Today, as I write this short summary, I celebrate my 14 years of relationship
with the Center for International Education. I also would like to announce
the growth of our daughter, Kajori who is now ten and performs a perfect
cartwheel and loves to design materials for expression.(July
2004)
John Phillips (M.Ed. 2000) jtphil@hotmail.com
After
I graduated from CIE with a Masters in Int'l
Ed. Prior to CIE, I taught ESOL in Korea for
4 years, then non-formal adult basic ed/ ESOL
in Syracuse for two years. Currently, I am
the Management Development Educator in charge
of adult/ leadership education for an 8000
employee, not for profit hospital/ health
provider system in Buffalo, NY. I try to still stay involved
in development. I recently volunteered and
went as a team leader for 10 days with Global
Health Ministry to Kingston, Jamaica. I led
a team of doctors and nurses and we provided
free healthcare in the shantytowns. It was
a wonderful experience and I hope to go again
and work in development. (July
2004)
Swai
reports on his first months back in Tanzania after finishing
his doctorate at UMass. At the top of his list was the wedding
of his son, which also served to announce his return from
Massachusetts. Since returning he has also undertaken several
consultancies - one with the Tanzania Teacher Union to look
at the desired level of representation wanted by the members.
He found a significant majority preferred school rather than
branch representation. He was asked to advise owners of several
private secondary schools on the challenge of making their
schools financially sustainable. He reports a sizable demand
for secondary education, especially for girls, and notes that
the Minister of Education has just cut secondary school fees
by 50% which will have a sizeable impact on the demand as
well. He also reports on a new venture in his own words.
I
have worked with the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Ashgabat,
Turkmenistan as Information Resource Center (IRC) Specialist for the last
two and half years. I am part of the Public Diplomacy team here in Ashgabat
that manages exchange programs, 
community development grants and outreach
programs. I am particularly involved in outreach programs. My colleagues
are very understanding and I love my job. I am also the webmaster of the
Embassy website. Please spare a minute to check our website - http://turkmenistan.usembassy.govI am fortunate in my current position also that it allows me draw on
my knowledge and experience from the two years I spent at the CIE. I offer
government representatives and various local communities information,
reference assistance and a wide range of presentations and training. The
courses I took at CIE helped me particularly in designing curricula and
materials for my presentations and training activities. Looking back on
my CIE years, I have realized that it prepared me not only for my career
but also for life. With its emphasis on team work and dedication the CIE
community gave me the lesson for a life-time. I also enjoyed meeting outside
of class for social gatherings. I am very pleased to note that recently the U.S. Embassy has honored
me with the Franklin Award. My contributions were also recognized with
an American Council Certificate of Appreciation and with a group Meritorious
Honor Award.
Tim Taylor
(Ed. D. 2004) taylortimothy@yahoo.com
Tim
wrote recently from China: Anyway, I finished my dissertation.
Next time (ha), I'm not going to try to work two full-time jobs while
I write a dissertation. I had more than one moment when I thought the
fat lady would never sing.Dwight Allen and I have been busy in the last few months trying to
start a new, private niversity in Tianjin. We'll offer undergrad degrees
in affiliation with an American university. So far the Univ. of Hawaii,
Montana and Antioch are very interested. My role will be irector of the
intensive English dept. and probably academic director for a year or two.
It's too early to advertise, but tell me if you know anyone with a background
in English teaching who might be interested in working in China. The salary
will be competitive with American universities. Someone with some admin
experience would be a bonus. I can send you more info if you're interested
in the project. (January 2004)
Roja Affolter
(M.Ed. 2001) roja_affolter@hotmail.com
Hello,
my name is Roya. I graduated from CIE in 2001. I am Austrian of Iranian
background, married to a German (Fritz Affolter) who also graduated from
CIE. After having lived in Latin America, Africa and Eastern Europe, I
am now representing CIE in Afghanistan. I also work partly for the Foundation
for Culture and Civil Society as a Music Consultant, and I manage the
Ustad-Shagird project for the Agha Khan Foundation. Before I came to CIE,
I used to be a teacher and musician but I have to be very careful about
performing in Afghanistan. I have written a proposal, which to give Afghan
girls a chance to learn musical instruments, hoping that one day they
will be allowed to perform. My main interests are literacy and gender. In order
to understand better the problems of illiterate Afghan women I have started
my own literacy project for Afghan women. After having to learn to speak
five different languages, I have come back here to my mother tongue Farsi,
which is spoken in Afghanistan. Here, people think that I am Afghan, which
means that I am getting to feel the advantages and disadvantages of being
an Afghan woman.Last not least I am mother of three small girls
who are living with us here in Kabul; they are my long-term 'development
projects'. (January 2004)
Lulu
returned to CIE in May of 2003 and successfully defended her dissertation
after having worked in Washington D.C. for the past few years. She
writes about her recent activities:
More recently I have accepted a position at DC Public Schools as a Federal Compliance Monitor. As part of this role, I have had an opportunity to design a monitoring survey instrument that is now being used to monitor 300 public, non-public and charter schools throughout the District. [May 2003]
Hassan
now works as a counselor at the Community Residences: Arlington Virginia
Mental Retardation Program. 
He trains and works as an advisor with clients
with mental or physical disabilities. He assists his clients with their
education as well as helping to manage their finances. Hassan says that
he enjoys his work very much.In addition he serves as a Senior
Deacon in his church and also volunteers as a literacy tutor with the
Northern Virginia Literacy Council. He is a member of the Virginia Adult
Institute for Lifelong Learning which is responsible for providing basic
literacy in English for new immigrants to the area.
Hassan is happily married to his wife Christina and they own their own home in Woodbridge Virginia. [April 2003]
(top of page)Nancy Sosnowski (Ed.D. 2002) nhs@alumni.umass.edu
Nancy wrote to us recently to report on what she
is doing.
I'm
doing a consulting job with EDC in Boston. I'm working for a three-part
project involving implementation of project-based learning in social studies
with the New Bedford Global Charter School and the Eindhoven school in
the Netherlands. We will be going live (video teleconferencing) with two
presentations from the students related to commercial fishing and the
environment in April and May that will involve outside media as well.
In addition, I'm evaluating the social studies curriculum for grades 6-8
and I'm developing a social studies template for teachers that integrates
the curriculum standards, assessment, instructional materials, integrated
global and cross cultural themes (whew!) It's a bit complicated and will
involve much analysis and hard work. The contract is for so many days
until June and it is a very good job that will provide excellent experience.
So I'm happy about that. I'm finally getting my first check for professional
work as Dr. Nancy! [March 2003]
I
graduated from SOE, UMass/Amherst with an Ed.D. in May 2001 with a specialization
in English as a second language, literacy and cultural acquisition in
formal and non-formal educational settings. My invaluable mentors in graduate
school were professors (the late) David Kinsey, Sally H. Hafner, and Jerri
Willett. The faculty and students at CIE and LLC Doctoral Program provided
me with a stimulating environment for pedagogy, praxis and professional
development. Currently, I am working as a Senior Program Associate at the English Language Fellow Program in the Dept. of Language and Teacher Education at the School for International Training in Brattleboro, VT. I enjoy the work of recruiting at national and regional TESOL conferences, and advising and supporting EL Fellows posted overseas via internet communications. My long-term professional goal is to pursue my interest in English language teaching, teacher education and teacher research in formal and non-formal settings in the U.S., and in central and southeast Asia. Currently I am doing TEFL teacher training at Muhammadiyah University in Malang, E. Java for 10-11 months from September 2002 on a Fulbright Scholar/Lecturing grant! I'm am enjoying this professional development experience, the Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist culture in East Java, and looking forward to finding out what nearby Bali may offer! (7/02)