Former team members
Ananya Roy, Education Director
Ananya Roy is Professor of City and Regional Planning and Distinguished Chair in Global Poverty and Practice at the University of California, Berkeley. She is a scholar of global urbanism and international development. Her research, teaching, and public scholarship are concerned with how poverty and inequality are produced, maintained, but also contested. At the Blum Center, Roy serves as founding chair of the Global Poverty & Practice Minor and leads The #GlobalPOV Project. From 2009 to 2012, she served as co-director of the Global Metropolitan Studies Center, and from 2005 to 2009, she served as Associate Dean of International and Area Studies.
(510) 666-3704 | ananya[at]berkeley[dot]edu
Students formerly at the Center
Carlo De La Cruz, Masters of City Planning Candidate
Carlo is the Graduate Student Researcher for the Global Poverty and Practice Minor (GPP) at the Blum Center. He is current pursuing a Master of City Planning and is focusing his studies on community and economic development in post-industrial cities. Carlo received his B.A. in Asian American Studies and Art History from UC Berkeley and is an alumnus of the GPP minor. Prior to joining the Blum team he spent three years as policy advocate and community organizer for the Voting Rights project at Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Asian Law Caucus, a non-profit law firm based in San Francisco. Carlo is a Californian native and resident of Oakland.
Melissa Cervantes, Political Economy
Melissa joined the Blum Center team as an administrative assistant in Summer 2014. She is currently a third-year undergraduate student majoring in Political Economy and minoring in Education. Melissa is studying education inequality and the socioeconomic gap in the United States; she hopes to have a future career in teaching and education policy. When she’s not working at the Blum Center, Melissa loves spending time talking with friends, watching addictive TV shows, basketball, admiring dogs, Redditing, and learning from children.
Nikki Johl, (Intended) English
Nikki has worked with the Blum Center as a Design Assistant for two years. She intends to major in English, and is interested in exploring evolving popular culture through literature. She has a background working in graphic design and specifically focusing in print media. Her other interests include keeping up with popular media, traveling, baking, and writing.
Somaya Abdelgany, Architecture
Somaya Abdelgany is an undergraduate Architecture major with minors in City and Regional Planning and Global Poverty & Practice. After graduate studies, she hopes to pursue a career in design and planning that focuses on developing creative methods of promoting social justice and equity in the built and urban environments. In her free time, Somaya enjoys hiking, sketching and relaxing on the grass of Sproul Plaza.
Divya Anand, MIMS Candidate, School of Information
Divya assisted with the Big Ideas at Berkeley contest, for judge and mentor outreach. She was a Masters student at the School of Information, where her focus areas are UX design and Product Management. Before the I School, Divya led the Product Team at Shine.com, an Indian job board. She also has a PG Diploma in Business Management from SPJIMR, one of India’s top 10 business schools. In the past, she looked after the branding and communications for Miss India Worldwide India 2009 and was the Event Lead for the SP Jain Marketing Effectiveness Conclave and SP Jain Marketing Impact Awards in 2008.
Evan Axelrad, MPP Candidate, Goldman School of Public Policy
Evan was a Graduate Student Researcher with the Blum Center. He is a Master in Public Policy Candidate at UC Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public Policy, and his interests revolve around the intersection of science and technology (S&T) and sustainable development. After graduating with dual degrees in Political Science and Environmental Studies from New College of Florida, a small liberal arts school in Sarasota, Florida, he spent a year as a Fulbright Scholar in Tromsø, Norway. Evan’s project investigated how developing countries are regulating agricultural biotechnology, and how aid and capacity building from industrialized nations affects this process. For the past two years, Evan continued to focus on such issues in his work with the USDA’s Foreign Agriculture Service, where he coordinated several scientific exchange programs which aim to support agricultural research in the developing world.
Allison Berke, Ph.D. Candidate, Bioengineering
Allison assisted in the development of new science and technology programs hosted by the Blum Center as part of its relationship with USAID. She is a PhD student in the department of Bioengineering, focusing on characterizing olfactory receptor sensitivities and specificities for biosensor design, a project that continues her work as an undergraduate at MIT. Allison also works with the Berkeley Science Review as an author and editor, and became interested in global development while participating in a project on open source drug discovery. In her spare time she enjoys improv comedy, playing the cello, and petting animals.
Nicholas de Raad, Political Economy
Nicholas worked as an administrative assistant with the Blum Center. He graduated with a degree in Political Economy with a focus in developing nations. He plans to attend law school, with the goal of working for the legal division of the United Nations. When he has free time he enjoys traveling, running, reading, and learning languages.
Jessica Clayton, Masters of Development Practice Candidate
Jessica is a Graduate Student Researcher for the Development Impact Laboratory (DIL) at the Blum Center. She is in her second year of, and part of the first cohort of students in the Master of Development Practice program at Cal, and is focusing her studies on impact evaluation and Latin American Development. Jessica received her B.A. in International Area Studies with a discipline in Economics, a focus in Latin America, and a specialization in Spanish from Middlebury College. Prior to joining the Blum team she spent three years as an agricultural Peace Corps Volunteer in Paraguay.
Shannon Dick, Political Science and Psychology
Shannon began working at the Blum Center in the fall of 2011 as an administrative assistant for the Global Poverty and Practice Minor. She double-majored in Political Science and Psychology. She hopes to work in D.C. or abroad and study the psychological effects of political violence on victims in affected areas. When she’s not studying, working or sleeping, Shannon likes to hike, bake, and go on adventures with her roommates.
Lindsey Dillon, PhD Candidate, Geography
Lindsey worked as a Graduate Student Researcher conducting a student learning assessment of the Global Poverty Program minor for the Blum Center. Lindsey was a Ph.D. candidate in UC Berkeley’s geography department, and her research focuses on environmental politics, health justice, and the redevelopment of post-industrial spaces. She recently completed a two-year fellowship with the Center for the Research on Social Change, and has also received a grant to teach about food justice in California through UC Berkeley’s American Cultures Engaged Scholarship program.
Ruwani Ekanayake, M.P.H. Candidate, UC Berkeley School of Public Health
Ruwani works as a Graduate Student Researcher for the Blum Center, providing education program support for the Global Poverty and Practice Minor. She is a second-year MPH candidate in the Maternal and Child Health department at UC Berkeley’s School of Public Health, where her research focuses on prenatal environmental exposures and their effects on infant health. As an undergraduate at Cal, she majored in Interdisciplinary Studies and completed the Global Poverty and Practice Minor, focusing on public provision of maternal and child health services in Sri Lanka.
Alishea Gibson, Lead Graphic Designer
Alishea Gibson has worked part-time as a graphic designer with the Blum Center since 2011. She holds a BA in Art Practice from the University of California, Berkeley’s College of Letter and Sciences where she focused on design, illustration and animation. Alishea’s work focuses on strengthening the Blum Center’s presence online and on-campus through the distribution of print, web and social media.
Luis Flores, Political Economy and History
Luis Flores worked as part of the Blum Center’s writing team for two years. He graduated with degrees in Political Economy and History and is currently working on his senior thesis examining American political philosophy in the 1970s. In addition to his work at the Blum Center, Luis is an editor at the Berkeley Political Review and is on the board of the Berkeley Student Cooperative. When he has free time, Luis enjoys cooking, backpacking, and playing foosball.
Felix Huang, Economics & Computer Science
Felix is currently entering his first semester of work with the Blum Center as a Administrative Assistant. He is a fourth-year undergraduate student majoring in Economics and minoring in Computer Science. Felix is interested in entrepreneurship and is currently building a startup company in the technology space with several close friends. In his spare time, Felix enjoys going to garage sales and auctions, rocking climbing, and exploring new ideas.
Javier Kordi, Peace and Conflict Studies
Javier worked as a writer for the Blum Center. Prior to joining the Blum Center, Javier interned at The Meiklejohn Civil Liberties Institute compiling shadow reports for U.N. human rights treaties. As a PACs major and a speaker of Arabic and Spanish, Javier is interested in the complex relationship between language and power. His hobbies include coaching and competing in Taekwondo under the U.C. Martial Arts Program and participating in CalSlam, an on-campus poetry group.
Jessica Kretch, MS Candidate, College of Engineering
Jessica worked on a project focused on the organizing, categorizing, and compiling the numerous facets of international development water and sanitation (watsan) interventions. She is a Masters Student in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department with a focus on Environmental Engineering, specifically water quality. Prior to arriving at Cal, she was heavily involved in the organization Engineers Without Borders. Jessica lead a team of students in northern Thailand to work on a drinking water contamination project for a rural village. She is motivated to continue researching the complexity of water quality and sanitation solutions in the developing world. The goal for this research is to provide providing guidance to those trained in their individual disciplines taking into a count a wider range of approaches and techniques to watsan projects.
Lincoln Lam, Business Administration
Lincoln worked one semester with the Blum Center as the Social Media Coordinator. He is currently a third-year undergraduate student studying Business Administration at the Haas School of Business. He also co-founded a social enterprise, Ola, that strives to donate necessary products to children in need in third world countries. In his spare time, Lincoln enjoys working out at the gym and playing basketball and golf.
Anh-Thi Le, Political Science
Anh-Thi Le graduated with a degree in Political Science and a minor in Global Poverty & Practice. On campus she spent most of her time with the Blum Center as a peer advisor for the GPP minor and an administrative assistant for the CellScope initiative. In addition, Anh-Thi served as an intern at the Cal Alumni Association in the Alumni Events & Groups department. She spent 2 months in India as an International Development fellow for Nest, a fair trade women’s empowerment organization, and hoped to return India. In her spare time, Anh-Thi enjoys jogging around Berkeley, listening to jazz, and watching Disney movies.
Elizabeth Lin, Undergraduate, Computer Science
Elizabeth worked as a design assistant for the Blum Center. She was a first-year undergraduate with an intended major in computer science, and is originally from Iowa City, Iowa. In the future, she hopes to pursue a career in either user-interface design, computer graphics, or animation. In her spare time, she enjoys playing classical saxophone, watching fashion shows, and reading mystery novels.
Emily Lutyens, M.B.A. Candidate, Haas School of Business
Emily assisted with the Blum Center’s Big Ideas Competition as an MBA student at Berkeley’s Haas School of Business where she served on the leadership teams for the International Development and Enterprise Club and the Global Social Venture Competition. Emily was also a GSI for Jonathan Lewis’ course, “Markets and Missions: A Practicum on Entrepreneurial Poverty Solutions”. Before Haas, Emily was a management consultant in New York and London, helped to run an ecolodge in Mexico, was the founding Country Director of an NGO in Uganda for two years and published a case study on the education sector in South Africa while working in Cape Town.
Subarna Mitra, MPP Candidate, Goldman School of Public Policy
Subarna started her career developing software architecture for investment banks. After an MBA at INSEAD and strategy consulting at Arthur D. Little, she decided that her true calling lay beyond the traditional realm of business. She is fascinated by the intersection of creative public policy and market-based solutions for human development, particularly on issues of agriculture and rural development. At the Blum Center, she worked with Dr. Laura Tyson on reverse innovation and impact investing, and helped the Blum Center develop its strategic plan.
Kelly Musca, Media Studies and Creative Writing
As a third-year student studying Media and Creative Writing, Kelly worked as a social media coordinator. She explored her interest in sustainable food by working on a taro farm in Kauai. She hopes to use her media and writing skills after graduation to work for a publication advocating and informing about a sustainable environment. During her free time, Kelly enjoys running, gardening and concert-going.
Rebecca Peters, International Developments & Economics
Rebecca Peters is in her fourth year studying International Developments & Economics through the interdisciplinary studies program with a focus on diplomacy and water politics and Society & Environment with a concentration in global environmental policy. As a Global Poverty & Practice minor, she spent 10 weeks this past summer interning with Agua para el Pueblo in Cochabamba, Bolivia while also completing research on NGO water management strategies for her honors thesis. She worked as a research apprentice with Ananya Roy and as a peer advisor for the GPP minor. She enjoys co-teaching her DeCal on water and human rights, facilitating Berkeley Water Group meetings, and exploring the Santa Monica mountains on her horse.
Erica Schlesinger, PhD Candidate, UC Berkeley – UCSF Joint Bioengineering Group
As a graduate student volunteer at the Blum Center, Erica worked on the Blum Center efforts to increase University involvement in science and technology initiatives. Erica served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Mozambique where she taught secondary-school chemistry and directed a national science fair program. Erica holds a BS in chemical engineering from Cornell University, and is currently focusing on drug delivery and device development.
Iris Shim, M.B.A. Candidate, Haas School of Business
Iris was as a graduate student researcher for the Blum Center. She was a second year MBA candidate at Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, studying agricultural development and trade. After graduating from Yale University, Iris worked for a strategy consulting firm that uses rigorous analytics to help foundations and nonprofits solve social and environmental problems. She then moved to Rwanda to join TechnoServe’s East Africa Coffee Initiative, where she supported the monitoring and evaluation of 40+ cooperatives around the country. She is passionate about turning good ideas into reality, and is excited to explore social entrepreneurship and international development topics at the Blum Center.
Sukriti Singal, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Sukriti is entering her first semester of work, as a Web Assistant, with the Blum Center. She is a third-year, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science major. She loves solving problems and hopes to create applications that will make human life simpler. When she is not coding, Sukriti enjoys reading, swimming, meeting new people and taking long nature walks.
Abby Snider,/strong>, English
Abby worked with the Blum Center as an administrative assistant. She graduated with a degree in English and has worked with numerous non-profit organizations, including one in Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, where she spent the Spring 2012 semester. She planned to attend law school after graduation with the ultimate goal of being a high school English teacher. She spends most of her time outside of work reading and being outdoors.
Raymon Sutedjo-The, MIMS Candidate, School of Information
Raymon was a Graduate Student Researcher at the Blum Center and a Master’s student at the School of Information. He obtained his undergraduate degree from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago; prior to being at the I School, he worked at Acquity Group, a leading technology consulting company, where he applied his knowledge in design and web technologies to build e-commerce solutions for companies such as L’Oreal and Discover. At the Blum Center, he is primarily responsible for managing existing web content as well as building sites for new projects/initiatives at the Center.
Adrian Fradd, MBA Candidate, Haas School of Business
Adrian is a Graduate Student Advisor for the BigIdeas@Berkeley Contest, and a second year MBA student at the Haas School of Business. He graduated from Oxford University with a degree in Modern History, and has a Masters in International Relations from the London School of Economics, with a focus on post-conflict development. He then joined the United Nations in New York and Uganda, before working at a consultancy for social enterprises, non-profits and social investors. He has worked on projects across Africa and Asia, and has experience in water and sanitation, healthcare, micro-finance, and in developing market-based solutions to social issues. He also developed and managed a $750,000 Prize scheme for social innovation and entrepreneurship in the water section. At Haas, he is co-president of the International Development and Enterprise Club, and Co-Chair of the judging team of the Global Social Venture Competition (GSVC).
Rachel Strohm, PhD Candidate, Political Science
Rachel is a first-year PhD student in the political science department and a graduate student researcher for the Development Impact Lab based at the Blum Center. Before starting her studies at Berkeley, she worked as a research manager for Innovations for Poverty Action in New Haven, CT, and Tamale, Ghana. She has also worked in the microfinance and social enterprise sectors in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. She holds an MA in international relations from the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins, and a BA in geography and French from Dartmouth.
Pooja Shah, American Studies & Global Poverty and Practice
Pooja is currently entering her fourth year of work with the Blum Center, as an administrative assistant for the Global Poverty and Practice minor. She is currently a fourth-year undergraduate student majoring in American Studies and double-minoring in Global Poverty and Practice & Public Policy. Pooja is currently studying the relationship between Business, Wealth and Poverty in America, and ultimately hopes to write her senior thesis on recent American economic movements. In her spare time, Pooja enjoys cooking, watching comedy shows, and playing volleyball.
Abby VanMuijen, Visual Communications Specialist
Abby VanMuijen is the story artist for The #GlobalPOV Project. She graduated from UC Berkeley’s College of Environmental Design in Spring 2012 with an undergraduate degree in Urban Studies. Her work focuses on creative visual representation through illustration, live action sketch and improv art. She also teaches an undergraduate course on Visual Notetaking on campus.
avanmuijen[at]berkeley[dot]edu
Lori Ann Ospina, Master’s of Public Policy Candidate
Lori Ann Ospina is a Graduate Student Researcher for the Global Poverty and Practice minor and Big Ideas@Berkeley competition, responsible for driving alumni outreach and providing student advisory support. She is a first year student at the Goldman School, pursuing her Masters in Public Policy. Prior to Lori’s arrival in California, she spent four years based in Medellin, Colombia where she oversaw regional programs for the Grameen Foundation. In her role, Lori co-led the establishment of a field office in Colombia and later designed and implemented innovative financing and extension services solutions for rural smallholder farmers. She simultaneously worked closely with agricultural cooperatives, local governments and private sector businesses to design for and ensure the longterm scaleability of these solutions. Prior to her time in Colombia, Lori was a Kiva fellow in Peru, and in her hometown of Chicago, she has worked with a variety of inner city non-profits. Lori holds a BA in Political Science and International Affairs from the Colorado College. She is fluent in Spanish and has been known to converse in French and Japanese.
Jessica Ernandes Naecker, PhD Candidate, Graduate School of Education
Jessica works as a Graduate Student Assistant for the Big Ideas@Berkeley Contest. As an undergraduate at Cal, Jessica participated in a Big Ideas award-winning service project, and as a doctoral student at Berkeley’s Graduate School of Education, she is interested in how schools can support students’ positive psychosocial outcomes. Jessica previously taught in middle and high school settings, and is thrilled to work with innovative and passionate Berkeley students who enter the Big Ideas Contest.