EDUCATION

Masters of Public Health, 5/2004; Global and Environmental Health Division Master’s Thesis: Hygiene and Sanitation Promotion Program (HSPP): Program Plan for CARE Niger’s Health and Nutrition Initiative.

Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology, 5/2001, cum laude

International Baccalaureate, thesis with highest honors.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Amman Imman (Water is Life) (Republic of Niger, Europe, USA), director and founder: Amman Imman, development program of the American 501c3 non-profit, the Frienship Caravan, is dedicated to saving and improving many thousands of lives by supplying permanent water sources to the 500,000 individuals living in the Azawak Valley of Niger, West Africa.

CARE International (Republic of Niger), consultant: served as primary consultant on the health conditions and needs of the Tuareg and Fulani ethnic groups living in the northern Tahoua region. Wrote grant proposals and project concept papers.

Milford County Department of Education (Milford County, CT), evaluator and program planner: conducted evaluation of the Milford County Schools physical education programs. Developed and implemented plan to reduce obesity among middle school students.

Fairhaven Community Health Center (Fairhaven, CT), program evaluator: conducted a two month evaluation of the medical center’s medical recording and updating system.

Fulbright Scholar Program (Republic of Niger), Fulbright grantee sponsored by CARE International and World Vision: conducted a yearlong medical anthropology study framed within a public health model designed to explore the variations in knowledge, attitude, behavior, and resources relating to health and nutrition among different ethnic groups in rural Niger. Developed and implemented quantitative and qualitative research tools to yield results currently being incorporated into a monograph aimed at underlining the disparate health attitudes and behaviors adopted by different Nigerien ethnic groups.

CARE International (Republic of Niger), intern with CARE Niger’s Food Security Program, Health and Nutrition sector: developed and implemented qualitative and quantitative research tools to examine the behaviour and knowledge concerning hygiene and sanitation among villagers in NER 054’s zone of intervention. Conducted exclusive breastfeeding education among the villagers. Wrote report entitled Recommendation for CARE Niger’s NER 054, Health and Nutrition Sector: Promoting Immediate and Exclusive Breastfeeding to Reduce the Risk of Vertical HIV/AIDS Transmission.

Yale University Primate Research Program (Uganda), primatologist: first-ever undergraduate research assistant to Professor David Watts, world-renowned primatologist; researched “babysitting” among wild chimpanzees in Kibale National Forest.

Freelance Photojournalism, writer and photographer: Published Water is Life for Winter 2007 edition of Yale Medicine; published online article Three Rounds of Tea to the Melody of the Imzad, for the Fulbright Scholarship website; held several month-long photo exhibits on Niger in various galleries.

Cambodian Genocide Program , (Yale University), editor and liaison to genocide survivors: edited articles posted on the CGP website; served as liaison between survivors and the program; gathered genocide information from survivors to add to the CGP database and website.

Louisville Zoological Gardens, (KY), writer and photographer: published two feature articles on chimpanzees and Uganda for Trunkline, the monthly zoo magazine.

The Friendship Caravan (Washington, DC), board member: helped organize events in Morocco, Bahrain, and the USA that attracted worldwide media attention for this international organization promoting understanding between Americans and people of the Arab/Islamic world.

Yale University Recycling Department, assistant coordinator: donated usable computers, clothes, office and home furniture to New Haven non-profit organizations; coordinated educational efforts for campus-wide recycling; conducted waste-stream analysis for Yale; coordinated and supervised the distribution and collection of recyclable items on campus.

DESK and Columbus House (Yale University), first aid volunteer: provided primary care services to homeless people at the New Haven soup kitchens and homeless shelters.

Habitat for Humanity (New Haven Chapter), construction volunteer: Helped construct and renovate houses for underprivileged New Haven families.

Food From the Earth, founder and coordinator: activist group (now in 7th year) that educates Yale students and administration about sustainable agriculture and hazards of agrochemicals to human health and the environment. Successfully worked with administration to substantially increase the use of organic foods in all Yale dining halls. Established on-campus organic farm.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Dual French-American national with multinational experience: Grew up in Francophone North and West Africa, Western Europe, and the southern United States.

Languages: bilingual English and French, with functional knowledge of Hausa and Tamachek.

Fundraising skills: Raised over $145,000 for well-building in the Azawak region of Niger. Raised $10,000 from organizational and corporate sponsors to fund 1999 research in Uganda.

Hobbies and Interests: traveling (including driving across West Africa), organic farming, hiking, long-distance running, camping, poetry-writing, jewelry making, roller-blading, construction/handyman work.

Immediate Goal: To raise $280,000 in order to launch the construction of two permanent hydraulic structures by the beginning of 2007 in the Azawak of Niger. The three primary goals of this pilot phase of Amman Imman are the following: to drastically improving the life of 50,000 individuals currently living under intolerably unhealthy and inhumane conditions due to a woeful lack of sufficient water to drink and bathe with; to build credibility and strength for Amman Imman; and to serve as a catalyst for other development agencies so that they may introduce other forms of drastically needed support into the Azawak.