Education

Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY Doctoral Coursework in Applied Anthropology (08/1993-05/1996)

School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University, New York, NY Master of International Affairs (05/1993) Certificate in South Asian Studies (05/1993) Concentration: Economic and Political Development

World College West, Petaluma, CA Bachelor of Arts, International Service and Development (06/1990)

University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway Certificate: Norwegian Culture and Society (summer 1987)

Professional Experience

The New School, Graduate Program in International Affairs Director of India China Institute and Faculty (07/2004 - present) Responsible for establishing, developing strategic programming, and managing all aspects of newly established India China Institute at The New School. As a core faculty member, assist and advise the Director and students of Graduate Program in International Affairs.

Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs Lecturer, Department of International Affairs (01/2004 - 5/2004) Designed and taught a graduate seminar course examining critical development issues in contemporary Nepal. The course explored how competing ideas and practices of development have produced, propagated, maintained, and in too few instances, reduced socio-economic inequities. Each week will focus on a topic central to the discourse of sustainable development: Governance, the Maoist Movement/Conflict, Foreign-Aid and Investment, Civil Society, Human Development, and the participation of "The Poor."

The Ford Foundation, New York City Program Officer, International Fellowships Program (11/2000 - 12/2003) Worked at deputy director level to launch, design, and manage the International Fellowships Program (IFP), the largest global initiative of the Ford Foundation ($280 million), which aims to diversify and strengthen the leadership pool of committed individuals working in addressing social justice and sustainable development issues. (Participants belong to underrepresented groups and communities in 22 countries worldwide. IFP offers up to three years of scholarship at any university in the world along with strategic leadership training and other support.) Responsibilities and accomplishments include:

• Worked closely with senior Ford Foundation (FF) leadership to formulate overall policies/procedures for this 10-year initiative to ensure consistency with the global mission of IFP, while being attentive to diverse cultural norms and the significant variation in resources and experience among partner organizations in 22 countries.
• Provided financial and administrative oversight of in-country partners in Russia, China, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. Designed strategies to strengthen their capacity to develop locally-relevant recruitment and selection procedures for IFP Fellows, conducted strategic planning, and implemented IFP policies. Cultivated productive relationships with partners operating in complex cross-cultural settings.
• Conceptualized and implemented a pre-academic training program focusing on language enhancement (mostly ESOL), basic computer skills, and basic academic learning competencies needed to succeed in university-level studies. Developed a wide range of strategic global partnerships with organizations specializing in providing such services, which has proved to be essential for ensuring success, as many participants have inadequate secondary education.
• Designed and implemented multi-year strategic partnerships with selected universities around the world for IFP fellows. Currently, IFP Fellows are enrolled in more than 200 universities in about 40 countries.
• Conceptualized and managed a Leadership for Social Justice (LSJ) Initiative recognizing and strengthening fellows' emerging role as leaders within their communities and professions committed to making positive social change. Partnered with selected academic institutions and NGOs in designing specific activities, including an on-line LSJ Community to promote leadership for social justice.

Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs Lecturer in Economic and Political Development (01/1998-5/2001) Taught an annual applied workshop in Project Management, a capstone course for Master's students specializing in international development. Facilitated weekly seminars and workshops on key issues in project and program management, including: organizational assessment and institutional capacity building, participatory development methodologies, and development and use of performance indicators. Trained students in team building exercises, work-plan development, fieldwork methods, data analysis and presentation of project findings. Identified organizations such as UNIFEM, Technoserve, Open Society Institute, World Neighbors as clients and worked with them to develop short-term consulting projects for the workshop.

Trace Foundation, New York City Program Director - Capacity Development Initiative (02/1996 - 10/2000) Designed and implemented a comprehensive Capacity Development Initiative for Tibetans in China. Responsible for two related portfolios: (a) International Fellowships Program: Conceptualized, designed, and supported academic and vocational training, including English Language training opportunities. Successfully formed strategic partnerships with a wide range of organizations in China, Bangladesh, Nepal, Thailand, United States of America, Norway, and the Philippines to provide short and long-term training opportunities in rural development, higher education, small business development, vocational training, environment, and primary healthcare. (b) Community Based Participatory Development Initiative: Designed and managed an action-research project using participatory methods for improving sustainable livelihoods among the rural communities in the Qomolangma (Everest) National Nature Preserve in Tibet, China. Helped design innovative strategies that increased collaboration between people and several government agencies on projects aimed at improving livelihoods and environment conditions. The program succeeded in enhancing the capacity of several hundred individuals and dozens of institutions engaged in bringing about positive social, economic, and environmental changes in Tibet.

Trickle Up Program, New York City Program Advisor (09/1996 - 12/1998)Advised Executive Director and Program Unit to more effectively target the poorest households with conditional grants for enterprise development. Provided strategic planning and program development advice, and served as a resource person for Asia desk with special program initiatives.

Program Officer for Asia (05/1993 - 09/1996) Managed micro-enterprise program in Asia with 140+ grassroots development groups in 15 countries. Oversaw the region's strategic plan, budget, and development of innovative partnerships. Analyzed reporting requirements, incentive structures, data reliability, and project sustainability. Undertook regular field-missions to work with partner agencies to monitor and evaluate projects. Contributed significantly in fundraising. Helped spearhead the organization's current efforts to focus on critical issues of outreach to the poorest communities in Asia, importance of revolving savings, and linkages with micro-credit schemes.

Selected Other Professional Experience

Consultant, UNDP, Burma (1996) Conducted a micro enterprises workshop with the leprosy-affected families of Mayanchaung village.

Consultant, UNICEF, Belize (1992-93) Worked as part of a team to design a project-plan to increase access to education and integrated development services for children under age six. Conducted a need assessment in rural Belizean communities. Formulated strategic plan of action incorporating cultural and gender issues for project implementation.

Co-Founder and Coordinator, Kumal Pottery and Functional-Literacy Project, Nepal (1987-88) Organized skills training for pottery production in remote villages and established functional literacy program for Kumal community women. Project resulted in substantial increase in income as well as renewed self-esteem among a traditionally marginalized group.

Assistant Director and Field Coordinator, World College West, Intercultural Study Program, Nepal 1983-88) Designed and coordinated rural and urban family home-stays for international undergraduate students. Supervised students conducting village-based research projects.

Research Assistant, Language Culture and Training Research Center, Nepal, (1983-84) Conducted field research to evaluate two projects: (i) "Mobile Veterinary Services" an Integrated Hill Development Project funded by the Swiss government, and (ii) "Adult Education Program" in Rapti Zone, Nepal, funded by USAID/Nepal.

 

Reports and Publications

1999 "The Nepal Brain Drain: Beyond Nationalistic Moralizing" A background conference paper prepared for "Pharkera ke Painchha: A Workshop on Evolving Opportunities in Nepal" convened at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.

1999 "Towards Sustainable Development: Linking Micro enterprise and Conservation in Caohai Nature Reserve" a paper submitted for publication to the Rural Development Institute, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Beijing, China.

1995 "Refugee Situation Under the Microscope" A Conference Report, Himal, Vol.8, No.2, March-April 1995

1993 Co-author: "First Steps Towards Brighter future: Integrated Early Childhood Development Program: A Caregiver Education Project Proposal" a report submitted to UNICEF/Department of Women's Affairs, Government of Belize.

1991 "Role of Non-Governmental Organization in Nepal" a report submitted to Center for Economic Development and Administration, Nepal.

1991 Co-author with Professor Dunbar H. Ogden: "Relationship Between Audience and Performance: Mani Rimdu - A Tibetan Dance-Drama Ritual" a monograph, University of California, Berkeley.

1990 "Impact of Child Survival Strategies on US Private Voluntary Organizations in Nepal" a report for Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California, San Francisco.

 

Honors and Awards

Foreign Language Area Studies Fellowship (1992-1993)

Departmental Research Assistant Fellowship (1991-1992)

Dean's Fellowship, Columbia University (1991)

World College West President's Scholarship (1987-1990)

University of Oslo Fellowship (Summer 1987)

Indian Defense Scholarship: Full-scholarship for seven years of schooling (1972-79)

 

Languages

English, Nepali, and Hindi (Fluent in reading and writing); Gurung and Urdu (spoken); beginning Mandarin.