Board 2009
Monique Bagirimvano Tuyisenge-Onyegbula – President
mtb2122@columbia.edu
Monique Bagirimvano Tuyisenge-Onyegbula is a Rwandese born in USA and was raised in Rwanda, until the unrest of 1994. Monique is a first-year Master of International Affairs student at SIPA. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from George Mason University. She is a US Navy Veteran and served in both the Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. At SIPA, she is an International Security Policy and Africa concentrator. Prior to SIPA, Monique worked as a consultant for Family Health International. She is a devoted wife and a passionate tennis player.
Kifle Bantayehu – Co-Vice President
kb2421@columbia.edu
Kifle Bantayehu is from Ethiopia and is a first-year Master of International Affairs student at SIPA. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Virginia. At SIPA, he is a Management concentrator. Prior to SIPA, he worked in Washington, DC as a management consultant in the public sector for Booz Allen Hamilton and Deloitte Consulting. His professional focus was on Performance Improvement, Strategic Communications, and Business Information Systems. In addition he serves as a board member of Mehaber, a 501 c(3) nonprofit dedicated to serving as a portal for providing visibility and financial support to charitable/philanthropic organization's programs serving towards improving the lives of disadvantaged men, women, and children worldwide.
Innocent Bash – Co-Vice President
ilb2109@columbia.edu
Heather Miller – Treasurer
ham2124@columbia.edu
Heather Miller is a Master of International Affairs student concentrating in Economic and Political Development, with a focus on sustainable development and environmental considerations of economic growth in Africa. Prior to SIPA, she worked in corporate banking, management consulting, and telecommunications. She earned her undergraduate degree in International Business from the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Ataoulaye Bah – Events Co-Chair
afb2123@columbia.edu
Ataoulaye Fela Bah was born in Guinea-Conakry and grew up in Mali-Ville in northern
Guinea. After high school, he moved to New York where he earned an Associate degree in Business Administration from LaGuardia Community College (City University of New York), followed by a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. Prior to SIPA, he worked at Target Corporation as an Executive Team Leader. Ataoulaye is fluent in English, French and Fulani (Pulaar).
Elizabeth Edelstein – Events Co-Chair
eme2130@columbia.edu
Lizzy Edelstein is pursuing a Masters of International Affairs degree at SIPA. She graduated from Cornell University with a B.A. in Government and holds a J.D. She finished her law degree in London, and practiced law in New York and Paris. Lizzy also worked in Ghana on education issues.
Madonna Kendona – Communications Co-Chair
mk3013@columbia.edu
Madonna Kendona is a first year Master of Public Administration student concentrating in Advanced Policy and Economic Analysis with a focus on gender issues and Africa. She is Ghanaian and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and French from the University of Ghana. Prior to SIPA, Madonna worked for Ghana’s Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning.
Rebecca Engle – Alumni Chair
rse2110@columbia.edu
Kode Nascimento – Curriculum Chair
kjn2107@columbia.edu
Kode Nascimento is of Senegalese-Cape Verdean origin and grew up in Washington, DC. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Tufts University and a Masters of Science in Social Anthropology from University College London. At SIPA, she is an Economic and Political Development concentrator with a focus on social policy. Prior to SIPA, she worked for an NGO in Senegal on facilitating exchanges between local grassroots peace-building actors in West Africa.
