Students
Our students in the Master of Global Human Development program are working to become leaders in international development and make a difference around the globe.
A day in the life
From classes to studying in the lounge with peers to working one-on-one with faculty members, learn more about what it’s like to be a student in Georgetown’s Global Human Development program.

Class of 2027
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Abigail MengistuGlobal Human Development StudentAbigail Mengistu is a young professional with a strong interest in urban planning and socio-economic development in East Africa. Most recently, she served as…
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Daniel LedinGlobal Human Development StudentDaniel Ledin is an international development practitioner and aspiring public service leader. He recently served as a functional coordinator at the Department…
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Divinna BoydGlobal Human Development StudentDivinna Boyd grew up in Monrovia, Liberia and is deeply passionate about women’s rights and health equity. At sixteen, in a community struggling with high…
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Gabi HymanGlobal Human Development StudentGabi Hyman joins the Global Human Development community as a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer. During her two and a half year service in Ecuador, Gabi worked as…
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Helina KetemaGlobal Human Development StudentHelina Ketema, born and raised in Ethiopia, developed a passion for equity and resilience after witnessing the devastating effects of poverty, environmental…
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Japhet OsujiGlobal Human Development StudentJaphet Osuji is a medical doctor with considerable experience in all tiers of the healthcare system in his home country, Nigeria. He earned his medical degree…
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Juan Alejandro Olarte-CortesGlobal Human Development StudentJuan Alejandro Olarte-Cortes was born and raised in Panama City, Panama, and is a proud Asian Latino with Filipino roots. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in…
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Maria Alejandra Salinas GomezGlobal Human Development StudentBorn and raised in Colombia, Maria Alejandra is dedicated to reducing inequality and fostering inclusive communities. With over five years of experience in…
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Maria Cristina Caldas AlbornozGlobal Human Development StudentMaria Cristina Caldas Albornoz is an international development professional with a strong commitment to education as a driver of equity, critical thinking, and…
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Maria Hernandez PintoGlobal Human Development StudentMaria Hernandez Pinto is an international development practitioner dedicated to promoting sustainable and community-led development. Before joining…
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Mariam YousefGlobal Human Development StudentMariam Yousef is from Jordan and holds a Bachelor of Science in Communication with a concentration in Advertising from Boston University. Her early interest in…
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Oishi NawalGlobal Human Development StudentOishi Nawal is a development professional from Bangladesh working at the intersection of research, knowledge and communications, policy and strategy for…
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Perry SpikeGlobal Human Development StudentPerry Spike is an international development professional and passionate advocate for addressing governance, development, and social issues around the world. He…
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Preston StewartGlobal Human Development StudentPreston Stewart recently served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Viet Nam from 2022 to 2024. As a TEFL Volunteer, Preston was assigned to live in a community…
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Samantha ChaiGlobal Human Development StudentA proud daughter of Southeast Asian immigrants, Samantha Chai was raised in Idaho and California but spent her formative years in her family’s durian-farming…
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Sandy TaylorGlobal Human Development StudentSandy Taylor is originally from California and earned a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience from the University of Michigan in 2018. After working in research…
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Sharaf TariqGlobal Human Development StudentSharaf Tariq was born in Dhaka, Bangladesh and gained her interest in international relations while growing up in Pakistan, Ethiopia, and the Northern Virginia…
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Sydney RubinsteinGlobal Human Development StudentSydney Rubinstein is passionate about reimagining tourism and economic development through a lens of equity, sustainability, and local agency. Originally from…
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Van NguyenGlobal Human Development StudentVan Nguyen is originally from the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam and immigrated to the United States at a young age to reunite with her family. She earned a…
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Zoha TunioGlobal Human Development StudentZoha Tunio is a development professional and investigative journalist specializing in the intersection of climate resilience, gender equity, and sustainable…
Class of 2026
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Trey SpadoneGlobal Human Development StudentTrey’s passion for cross-cultural collaboration and international development was cultivated during high school at the Center for Global Studies, an…
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Sary ValenzuelaGlobal Human Development StudentDr. Sary Valenzuela is a public health physician and environmental health specialist, advocating for holistic, inclusive environmental health and climate…
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Ricardo Jose Patron Mier y TeranGlobal Human Development StudentRicardo is interested in program design and evaluation, together with how local community efforts can become a driving force for development. He is passionate…
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Paawani TewariGlobal Human Development StudentPaawani Tewari is a development and strategy professional with experience in policy research, program design, and cross-sector partnerships. At the Vedica…
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Olayinka AdedejiGlobal Human Development StudentOlayinka Adedeji is a Nigerian lawyer who has dedicated her career to advancing the intersection of law, health, and gender. During her time at Health Ethics…
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Natasha TodiGlobal Human Development StudentNatasha Todi is a human rights advocate and data systems specialist with over six years of experience documenting violations and advancing accountability…
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Molly KnappGlobal Human Development StudentMolly Knapp joins the GHD program after four years of implementing democracy, human rights, and governance (DRG) initiatives at Democracy International (DI).
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Linh NguyenGlobal Human Development StudentLinh Nguyễn is a global development practitioner specializing in gender-responsive program design and evaluation. Originally from Massachusetts, she earned…
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Linda Uzoamaka ChristopherGlobal Human Development StudentLinda “Amaka” Uzoamaka Christopher is a first-generation student from Iruonwelu, Nigeria, a community where opportunities for girls’ education were…
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Liam MaddenGlobal Human Development StudentLiam Madden grew up in Douglas, Massachusetts. After graduating from Boston College with a B.A. in economics and international studies, which included studying…
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Lamis Ben AiyadGlobal Human Development StudentLamis Ben Aiyad is passionate about international development and the diverse theories and approaches that drive progress in addressing the world’s current…
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Kulunu JayamanneGlobal Human Development StudentKulunu Jayamanne, from Sri Lanka, is a practitioner within the development sector with nearly 9 years of experience. He is currently the Youth Programme Lead…
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John MurphyGlobal Human Development StudentJohn Murphy is an international development practitioner specializing in quantitative analysis and human capital development with a focus on Central Asia. John…
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Johanna LichtschlagGlobal Human Development StudentJohanna Lichtschlag joined the Global Human Development program after an early career in international development program management and advocacy. Johanna is…
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Jeremy KundtzGlobal Human Development StudentJeremy Kundtz is a development practitioner dedicated to advancing human-centered solutions to poverty, climate change, and biodiversity loss. Before joining…
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Imhotep SimbaGlobal Human Development StudentImhotep Simba was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, and graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Global Studies from Coppin State University, a…
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Grace ReyndersGlobal Human Development StudentGrace Reynders is from Oak Park, Illinois and graduated from St. Olaf College with degrees in Political Science and Chinese studies. As a college student,…
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Gina GoldenGlobal Human Development StudentGina Golden joins the GHD program as an international development professional after two years working for Nickol Global Solutions (NGS), an implementing…
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Giana LorettaGlobal Human Development StudentGiana Loretta is a proud native of Shinnston, West Virginia. In 2023, she graduated from West Virginia University with majors in political science, philosophy…
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Frances TurkGlobal Human Development StudentFrances is a third culture kid who spent her adolescent years in Madagascar before going back to the United States to obtain her undergraduate degree at…
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Daniella HernandezGlobal Human Development StudentDaniella obtained her B.A. in political science with an emphasis on global politics from California State University, Long Beach in 2020. After graduating, she…
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Chantal BraunwalderGlobal Human Development StudentChantal Braunwalder’s lifelong pursuit has been to trailblaze a new paradigm of human flourishing — one that empowers individuals with agency and equal…
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Arshia ChandGlobal Human Development StudentArshia Chand hails from Karachi, Pakistan, and is a development professional working on the sexual and reproductive health rights of rural youth. She…
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Aaliyah IbrahimGlobal Human Development StudentAaliyah O. Ibrahim is an international development practitioner working at the intersections of resilience, fragility, and gender-transformative outcomes. She…
Rangel Fellows
The Rangel Graduate Fellowship is a program that aims to attract and prepare outstanding young people for careers in the Foreign Service in which they can help formulate, represent and implement U.S. foreign policy.
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Joshua EliasGlobal Human Development AlumniJosh Elias is a second-year GHD student specializing in Governance and Development from Miami, Florida. He studied International Relations at Miami Dade…
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Sheyann BarnettGlobal Human Development AlumniSheyann (shy-ann) “Shey” Barnett is a proud first-generation Jamaican American from the South Bronx. What started off as a genuine curiosity about the…
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Kennedy CopelandGlobal Human Development AlumniKennedy Copeland is from Atlanta, Georgia and holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Alabama A&M University (AAMU). While at AAMU, she…
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Giana LorettaGlobal Human Development StudentGiana Loretta is a proud native of Shinnston, West Virginia. In 2023, she graduated from West Virginia University with majors in political science, philosophy…
Pickering Fellows
The Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship is designed to attract outstanding individuals from all ethnic, racial and social backgrounds who have an interest in pursuing a Foreign Service career with the U.S. Department of State.
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Imhotep SimbaGlobal Human Development StudentImhotep Simba was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, and graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Global Studies from Coppin State University, a…
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