Development Advisory Team Fall 2014

Chris Germann
I am a junior at Saint Marys College majoring in Global Studies with a concentration in International Development and
minoring in Justice Education. I am focusing my studies on education and empowerment of women in the developing
nations. My leadership experience includes in-depth work with the Girl Scouts organization. I have participated in the
strategic planning phases of the Girl Scouts of Northern Indiana-Michiana council and served as delegate to the National
Convention in Houston. As a non-traditional student my life experience also enhances my perspective of problem solving
and the pursuit of realistic solutions. My many years in the financial field has enhanced my skills in data management,
personnel management and efficiency, but my passion is development issues, especially in Africa, which is why I am
spending next semester in Tanzania learning Swahili, taking courses in rural development, East Africa education issues and
performing field research with Foxes NGO.
Brianna Leon
Originally from Grayslake, Illinois, I am a senior at the University of Notre Dame studying Finance and Spanish, with a minor
in Poverty Studies. I have a broad base of experiences ranging from microfinance work at Accion Chicago to international
business at the Cannes Film Festival and corporate finance at Procter & Gamble. From these experiences and my coursework
I have developed my interpersonal and analytical skills and gained exposure to a number of industries and issues. For
example, this summer I conducted internal and competitive research to benchmark the efficiency of our operations to create
promotions strategies and growth plans. I look forward to applying these research skills to the development context this
semester. My leadership experience includes involvement in Student Government, serving as Vice President of my residence
hall and now as director of programming for the Student Union Board. Additionally, I also serve as an AmeriCorps member
at the Robinson Community Learning Center, which has helped cultivate an interest in education issues. I plan to explore my
interest in education as well as womens empowerment for my Poverty Studies capstone research project this spring.
Emmie Mediate
I am a senior at the University of Notre Dame pursuing a double major in Africana Studies and Pre-Medicine and a minor in
International Development Studies. Having conducted several independent research projects, worked for three international
non-profit organizations and pursued an extraordinary amount of scholarship in my field, I have developed an expertise in
assessing international HIV/AIDS interventions in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly Uganda. My strongest skills are in
quantitative analysis and strategic planning as it relates to international health issues. In particular, my experience working with
Save the Children UKs Policy and Advocacy Department will bring a unique perspective to this development advisory team.
After graduation, I intend to pursue graduate work in health policy evaluation and research at the University of Oxford.
Claire Donovan
I am a senior studying French and Francophone Studies, International Development Studies, and Peace Studies.
My interest lie most strongly in policy related to public health in developing countries. I spent the summer of
2013 in Gulu, Uganda working with a community-based AIDS organization and researching the provision of
health care as related to HIV/AIDS in a post-conflict society. I spent spring semester 2014 in Dakar, Senegal
studying French, Wolof, and International Development and then spent part of the summer in Dakar and
surrounding regions studying iron and folic acid supplementation as related to maternal health in Senegal. I am
looking forward to a continuation of working with issues related to women empowerment and maternal health as
well as learning how a large international organization carries out domestic advocacy.
Szymon Barnas
I am a senior studying Economics with a minor in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE). I have a developing
expertise of public policy, economic development, and governmental affairs . In the Fall of 2013, I studied in
Washington D.C. where I took intensive coursework in public policy, law, and lobbying. I have experience
working in both the public and private sectors. I have conducted extensive research on political institutions and
philanthropy both individually and as a research fellow at the Center for Global Prosperity in Washington. I have
experience working on the lobbying days of groups like the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and Running Start,
a non-profit that seeks to get more women involved in politics. My Economics degree informs my analytical and
modeling skills that compliment my communication skills gained through my cross-disciplinary minor. My
interests in the development sector include women empowerment, project evaluation, and private philanthropy.
Angela Gomez
I am a graduate student in the Global Health program at the University of Notre Dame and am interested in
further understanding the role of policy in the world of Global Health and International Development. For my
undergraduate degree, I went to Clemson University and received a Bachelor of Arts in Biological Sciences with a
minor in Fine Arts and Humanities. Being raised by a single mother has led me to become a proponent of realizing
womens rights and I hope to understand how to imbue women with a sense of confidence to fulfill their
potential. Although my professional background has been focused more on basic science research, I bring a
different perspective to the team and aim to combine my experiences to expand my ideas through this CARE
project.