Board 2007-2008
Lincoln Ajoku - President
lna2105@columbia.edu
Lincoln Ajoku is a second year student in the MIA program, concentrating in
International Economic Policy. Prior to SIPA, he worked on internships
related to microfinance and economic development in Ethiopia and Rwanda. He
taught 4th grade for two years in Houston, Texas, through the Teach for
America program. In the summer of 2007, he interned at the United Nations
Development Programme researching the Millennium Villages Project in Africa.
Lincoln earned his BA in Economics from the City College of New York in
2003.
Osa Iyayi-Kanu – Treasurer
opi2101@columbia.edu
Osa is a second year Master of International Affairs student at the School
of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), Columbia University focusing on
Economic and Political Development, with a regional focus of Africa. While
to SIPA, Osa interned at the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF).
Prior to SIPA Osa worked at the Environmental Grantmakers Association. She
completed her undergraduate studies in Environmental Science at the
University of Birmingham, UK.
Chinonso Emehelu – Social Chair
cte2104@columbia.edu
Chinonso is a second year graduate student of Columbia University School of
International Affairs (SIPA). He was born in Enugu, South East geopolitical
zone of Nigeria and attended both primary and secondary education in
Nigeria. Chinonso also obtained a Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical
Electronics Engineering from the Federal University of Technology Owerri,
Nigeria.
Kristina Kempkey – Events Chair
klk2119@columbia.edu
Kristina Kempkey graduated from the University of California, Berkeley in
2002 with a BA in Political Science. Since then, Kristina has been actively
involved in African affairs. Prior to SIPA, Kristina worked in African
development for over 4 years, both in Washington, DC and Nairobi, Kenya,
where she worked for the United Nations doing post-conflict and disaster
reconstruction. Currently, Kristina is studying International Security
Policy at SIPA with a focus on Africa while interning at the Council on
Foreign Relations and the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point.
Assistant Vice Presidents (AVPs)
AVP Curriculum (2)
Harriette Williams - AVP Curriculum
hew2109@columbia.edu
Harriette is from Sierra Leone and is a first year MIA student concentrating
in Economic and Political Development. Prior to SIPA, Harriette worked with
the African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD) in
Durban, South Africa. She worked on strategic planning for the organization
and was Internship Coordinator. Harriette has published articles on the case
of displaced women in Africa and the role of women in post-conflict
reconstruction. She is a keen photographer and enjoys hiking and dancing.
Zeleka Yeraswork - AVP Curriculum
zy2113@columbia.edu
Zeleka Yeraswork is an Ethiopian national in her final semester at SIPA.
Having focused her studies on Urban Policy and Development Planning she was
eager to gain some practical experience in the field. At the end of her
first year at SIPA an opportunity to work in Hospital Management with the
William J. Clinton Foundation presented itself. After a year of absence, she
has returned to SIPA with a renewed commitment to serve the African
continent.
AVP Events (2)
Sachin Gathani - AVP Events
sg2553@columbia.edu
Sachin Gathani was born and grew up in Nairobi, Kenya. He earned a B.Sc from
the University of California, Berkeley in Business and Political Economy. He
worked for three years in management consulting after a short stint working
for a non-profit in San Francisco. He is now working towards his MIA at
SIPA, concentrating in International Economic Policy and Africa regional
concentration.
Willow Hunt Heske - AVP Events
whh2106@columbia.edu
Willow Heske is a first year, MIA student studying International Security
Policy with a focus on Conflict Resolution in Africa and the Middle East.
She graduated from Rutgers University, Newark, with a B.A. in History. Her
regional interests include women’s participation in political processes,
state formation, and democratic transitions. Willow has a background in
gender-specific public health and non-profit management. Most recently, she
has worked as a consultant for The Goddess Fund, an organization dedicated
to women’s cerebrovascular health.
AVP Communications (2)
Neda Sobhani - AVP Communications
nvs2104@columbia.edu
Neda Sobhani is a first year student at SIPA, concentrating in Economic and
Political Development. Neda studied at Universite Cheikh Anta Diop in Dakar
while completing her undergraduate degree from Mount Holyoke College. Upon
graduation, she worked as a Small Enterprise Development Agent with the
Peace Corps in Mali. She extended her Peace Corps service to work with
Catholic Relief Services before returning to the United States for graduate school.
Victoria Okoye - AVP Communications
voo2101@columbia.edu
Victoria Okoye is a first-year student at SIPA in the International Affairs
program, concentrating in Urban Policy and Economic & Political Development.
Before attending SIPA, Victoria worked as an after-school program teacher
with minority junior high and high school students in Washington, DC. She
also completed internships with Africa Action, a political advocacy
organization, doing policy analysis and communications work, and Nebraska
Appleseed, doing Latino immigrant integration and civic participation work.
Victoria is from Lincoln, Nebraska, and she has bachelors’ degrees in
Magazine Journalism and International Studies from the University of
Missouri.
AVP Social (1)
Zaki Raheem - AVP Social
ztr2101@columbia.edu
Zaki Raheem is a second year graduate student at SIPA concentrating in
Economic and Political Development with a professional focus on Microfinance
and Micro-enterprise Development. As an undergraduate student, he studied
KiSwahili and interned with Intermediate Technology Development Group, an
International NGO working in the slums of Nairobi on housing and finance
issues. Upon graduation, he worked with several development consulting firms
and NGOs on micro-enterprise development issues in Latin America and
Southeast Asia. Presently, he is working with the Women's Commission for
Refugee Women and Children on a research project in Northern Uganda, looking
at how vocational training programs for youth can be better tied to market
realities in post-conflict settings. He hopes to continue working in the
micro-enterprise development field.
