David earned a BA & MA in UMass Boston's International Relations accelerated master's program.  Currently a Ph.D. Candidate in Political Science at Boston University, his research focus is political violence and human rights, the resolution of intractable conflicts, and the geopolitics of greater Eurasia. He has conducted interviews along the Armenian-Azerbaijani line of contact and in preparation for his dissertation, he will conduct research on the Russo-Ukrainian War and Fergana Valley conflict in Central Asia. Previously David worked for the Foreign Ministry of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) and several human rights watchdog NGOs to advocate for populations under threat of violence.

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Geymi earned a BA & MA in UMass Boston's International Relations accelerated master's program.  Currently a Senior Manager of Youth Programs at MassHire Metro North Workforce, she focuses on public education and socio-economic development and is passionate about youth support, development and creating meaningful workforce opportunities for young people. 

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Sami, a Fulbright Scholar graduating in 2016 is co-founder and editor-in-chief of Amu TV, a digital news platform that brings together journalists from within and outside Afghanistan to provide independent reporting in Farsi and Pashto. Previously, he was director of PAYK Investigative Journalism Center and a fellow at Harvard University’s Shorenstein Center. He was Bureau Chief of Radio Azadi (Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty) in Afghanistan and before that Strategic Advisor to Tolonews. He has also been an op-ed contributor to major Afghan and international newspapers and magazines.

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Vlad earned a BA & MA in UMass Boston's International Relations accelerated master's program. Currently a Non-Profit Fundraising specialist, he is highly knowledgeable on the international affairs of Eastern Europe, China and the Middle East. Experienced in researching and applying for grants and other fundraising opportunities for organizations. 

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Parfait is a Democracy and Governance Advisor for USAID Rwanda working across the public sector, academic, and corporate spheres, building collaborations and seeding innovative, high-impact social change mechanisms. He manages pioneering development projects in Rwanda with local and global reach, including developing a Rwandan Green Bank, implementing a circular economy, and establishing an international business council.  He is also co-founder and president of the Kigali Reading Center established in 2014 a non-profit literacy organization that serves over 100 children, providing English-language tutoring and reading opportunities. 

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Joelle is a Media Analyst and Researcher, specializing in Middle Eastern Affairs. She is passionate about empowering communities and fostering social change through research, collaboration, and programming. Skilled in designing and implementing programs that prioritize conflict sensitivity and socio-political dynamics and build partnerships with local communities, international organizations, and governmental stakeholders. 

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