Alumni Directory Display

Michael Broache 2007-2008 Fellow with International Rescue Committee (IRC), Tanzania Princeton University Class of 2006

Fellow Bio:

Michael Broache graduated from Princeton in 2006 and went on to complete a one-year master’s program in international relations at Cambridge. At Princeton, Michael majored in the Woodrow Wilson School and wrote his thesis on police reform in Afghanistan. His master’s thesis explores why developing countries provide troops to UN peacekeeping operations. At Princeton, Michael rowed lightweight crew, was a member of the Opinion Board for The Prince, and was the alumni relations chairman at Cloister. At Cambridge he spent most of his free time at the river, either rowing or coaching. Michael will be headed to Kibondo, Tanzania, in August to start his fellowship with the International Rescue Committee.

Alexandra Broner website photoAlexandra Broner 2014-2015 Fellow with International Rescue Committee (IRC), Somalia (based in Kenya) Stanford University Class of 2012

Hailing from NYC, Alexandra has a B.A. Honors in International Relations from Stanford University, where she consolidated her regional specialization and quantitative/qualitative research training through an M.A. in African Studies with a concentration in political economy and security. While abroad, Alexandra studied conflict resolution and post-conflict development economics through programs at University of Oxford and Hebrew University. Outside of the classroom, Alexandra conducted research in West Africa for her B.A. Honors Thesis, Measuring government reform progress in post-conflict states: A comparative case study of Sierra Leone and Liberia. Alexandra has also pursued her interest in topics such as poverty eradication, gender-based violence, infectious diseases, food security, and political accountability across sub-Saharan Africa through work as a Stanford research assistant; RTI International research intern; USAID policy intern; Stanford in Government International Fellow at Ghana’s Center for Democratic Development; and Stanford Graduate Teaching Assistant for Global HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria. She looks forward to working for IRC, learning Swahili, horse riding, and exploring Kenya. Following the fellowship, she plans to work in social impact investing in the developing world, and eventually return to school to pursue an MBA/Ph.D.

Avery Brown 2011-2012 Fellow with UN World Food Programme, Benin Stanford University Class of 2011

Fellow Bio:

Avery (Stanford ’11) is an International Relations major and Economics minor from Minneapolis, MN.  At Stanford, she was co-president of the Stanford Association for International Development (SAID) and involved with FACE AIDS.  She studied abroad in Paris and worked with the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP) in D.C.  Avery also spent two summers in Africa volunteering in a Maasai village in Tanzania and interning with Idasa- An African Democracy Institute in South Africa.  In Benin next year, Avery is excited to explore West Africa, learn about the Kingdom of Dahomey and meet new people.

Hannah Brown websiteHannah Brown 2014-2015 Fellow with International Rescue Committee (IRC), Tanzania University of California, Davis Class of 2012

Alumni Update:

Hannah is working at the State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM), where she currently covers Afghanistan. She is also working on her Ph.D. at George Mason University’s Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution, with her dissertation research focusing on refugee protection in Zimbabwe. She is based in Washington, D.C., with frequent travel. 

Fellow Bio:

In 2014 Hannah received her MA in Global & International Studies from UC Santa Barbara, focusing on human rights in sub-Saharan Africa. Her MA thesis was titled, “How Mitigating Conflict and Building Lasting Peace Prevents Genocide and Mass Atrocity: A Ugandan Case Study for Central Africa Today.” She spent fall 2013 in Uganda, where she worked in Patongo, Northern Uganda, conducting field research and volunteering with PCCO, an organization engaged in counseling individuals traumatized by war. She also lived in Kampala, interning in the POL/ECON section of the U.S. Embassy where she worked on human rights issues. In 2012 Hannah graduated cum laude from UC Davis with a BA in International relations and Sociology focused on development in Africa, during which she studied abroad in Botswana. She has also spent time in Washington, D.C. working with the Center for Strategic and International Studies in the Crisis, Conflict, and Cooperation Division and working with Africa Action. When she’s not reading books on Africa, you can catch her rapping to Tupac or hitting the beach! Hannah is very excited to spend her fellowship year in Kasulu, Tanzania working with the International Rescue Committee!

Jennifer Bryan 2019-2020 Fellow with Global Partnerships, Kenya George Washington University Class of 2018

Jennifer Bryan, originally from Honolulu, HI, graduated from The George Washington University in 2018 with a B.A. in International Affairs and a concentration in International Development. She speaks fluent French and conversational Arabic, and is passionate about financial markets, regulations, and the role they play in the development of Sub-Saharan Africa. During her time at George Washington, Jennifer studied abroad in Dakar, Senegal and worked at the Global Research and Advocacy Group (GRAG), where she participated in research and field studies in rural Senegal on female genital mutilation. Jennifer also studied abroad in Kigali, Rwanda where she analyzed economic development in post-conflict society. Her passions for business and development lead her to join the World Bank as a Consultant for the Enabling the Business of Agriculture (EBA) project, where she conducted research and assisted in Livestock data collection from 82 countries. After graduation, Jennifer joined Deutsche Bank as a Regulation, Compliance, and Anti-Financial Crime Analyst where she studies regulatory trends, and advises business lines on best practices and risk management. She believes in giving back to communities through public service, and is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. At George Washington, Jennifer volunteered with the Smithsonian National Museum for Natural History, and the African Union. Jennifer aspires to increase her experience in Sub-Saharan African development, in order to use business, finance, and social inclusion to promote sustainable and equitable opportunities in Africa.

Erin Buchholtz 2011-2012 Fellow with African Impact, Zambia Princeton University Class of 2011

Alumni Update:

Erin is an ecologist at the US Geological Survey based in Colorado. She conducts research addressing conservation and management challenges in the American west, ranging from wildfires to wildlife connectivity.

Fellow Bio:

Erin (Princeton ‘11) is an Ecology and Evolutionary Biology major from Rosalia, Washington. While at Princeton, she played on the women’s club basketball team, was a leader for the freshmen pre-orientation community action program with the Student Volunteers Council, and was a member of 2-Dickinson Co-op. A defining experience of her time at Princeton was studying abroad in Kenya with the EEB department her junior spring and then conducting her thesis research there during the summer. This led to her pursuit of an African Studies certificate. She looks forward to working in Livingstone and seeing Victoria Falls next year as a fellow with African Impact.

Laura Budd 2011-2012 Fellow with Mpala Research Centre & Wildlife Foundation, Kenya Middlebury College Class of 2011

Alumni Update:

Laura is currently a 2nd year veterinary student at UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, located in Davis, CA. Last summer, she was able to return to Mpala to conduct research on camel milk quality and production. It was wonderful to return and catch up with many friends from her year in Mpala.

Fellow Bio:

Laura (Middlebury ‘11) is a Biology major from Hinesburg, VT. While at Middlebury she was involved in theatre as a stage manager and set builder. She was also active in the Mountain Club, Quidditch Club, and is an international Quidditch champion. Laura spent six months in South Africa’s Kruger National Park studying abroad with the Organization for Tropical Studies. She is passionate about wildlife and conservation biology. Laura is excited to play soccer, learn Swahili, and once again be surrounded by some of her favorite wildlife while she is in Kenya this year.

Bulkeley_India_WebsiteIndia Bulkeley 2015-2016 Fellow with The BOMA Project, Kenya University of Southern California Class of 2015

India graduated from the University of Southern California with a major in Cognitive Science and minors in International Relations and Consumer Behavior. A New York City native, India got involved in her local Los Angeles community as a mentor and Director of Involvement for Women and Youth Supporting Each Other and as a high school teacher for USC’s Teaching Ethics Program. At USC, she worked as a Research Assistant in the School of International Relations as well as the USC Shoah Foundation. India’s interest in post-conflict reconstruction led her to spend a semester at the University of Cape Town where she studied Politics and Psychology. While she wasn’t in class or exploring Cape Town’s natural wonders, India interned with Enablis, an entrepreneurship NGO. Following her time in South Africa, India worked in Eastern Rwanda, where she facilitated the creation of a grain-storage business with a team of local entrepreneurs. She has further pursued her interests in social enterprise, gender equality, and sustainable development as a Brittingham Social Enterprise Lab scholar and as a StartingBloc Fellow. This year India is looking forward to spending time with BOMA’s entrepreneurs, living on the equator, and learning Swahili!

Our History

In 1999, a group of Princeton alumni, faculty, and staff launched Princeton in Africa as an independent affiliate of Princeton University inspired by the University’s informal motto, “Princeton in the Nation’s Service and in the Service of All Nations.” In 2010, the program opened up to include graduates of any US accredited university in order to meet the growing demand from host organizations and allow more young professionals access to the unique opportunities afforded by PiAf. During the past 20 years, we have placed over 600 Fellows with more than 100 organizations in 36 countries, while developing more strategic partnerships across Africa and creating more opportunities for our alumni community to engage with the continent and with one another.

Testimonials

The International Rescue Committee has been so fortunate to have had a longstanding relationship with Princeton in Africa since our very first Fellows landed in Rwanda in 1999.  Whether it was Emily or Renee in 1999 or the 110 Fellows across 14 IRC countries over the years, we have been blessed by the relationship, the quality of the Fellows and the impact on what IRC does on the ground every single day.

Brian Johnson
Chief Human Resources Officer
International Rescue Committee

My fellowship has been the most impactful personal and professional development opportunity of my life. I wanted a post-college experience that would push my limits, expand my comfort zone, and help me discern the next steps in my career journey. And this has been the case.

Ryan Elliott
2014-15 Fellow
Baylor Pediatric AIDS Initiative in Lesotho

I can honestly say that this year has changed my life and my view of what’s possible for the future. Princeton in Africa isn’t just a one-year fellowship, it’s an introduction to a particular way of life and a new way of thinking about the world. I feel like so many doors are open now that I never would have considered before.

Katie Fackler
2010-11 Fellow
UN World Food Programme

My Princeton in Africa fellowship was everything I could have hoped for and much more. The myriad of experiences makes my head swim, and it has strengthened my desire to help underserved populations worldwide.

David Bartels
2006-2007 Fellow
Baylor Pediatric AIDS Initiative

Princeton in Africa was an invaluable experience for me. I learned an infinite amount through my work and through living in Uganda. I also realized that I want to continue working on African issues as long as I can.

Alexis Okeowo
2006-2007 Fellow
The New Vision

The International Rescue Committee’s experience with Princeton in Africa has been exceptional. Each Fellow brings excellent writing and analytical skills as well as unique interests and passions that enrich the program and the field office environment. We were so pleased we expanded the program to more field offices.

Susan Riehl
Human Resources, IRC

The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation has been working in Africa for over 11 years through its Secure the Future program.  One common theme in all aspects of program implementation is having passionate, energetic individuals on the ground who can think outside the box and then transfer the skills for sustainability.  The Princeton In Africa Fellows have been a huge asset in this regard and our programs and patients have been better for it.

John Damonti
President, Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation