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Muskie Program News

Fellows Meet First Lady of Georgia at Fundraiser
March 9, 2010

2009 Muskie fellows Sopio Chakvetadze, Otar Kantaria, and Olena Mar'yenko recently had the chance to meet the first lady of Georgia, Sandra Roelofs Saakashvili, at the annual Taste of Georgia fundraiser organized by the Atlanta-Tbilisi Sister City Committee. The event, held at the Atlanta City Hall, was also attended by the Georgian Ambassador to the United States, Batu Kutelia.

From left: A guest, Muskie fellow Sopio Chakvetadze, First Lady Sandra Roelofs Saakashvili, and Muskie fellow Olena Mar'yenko.

"The Georgian first lady is well aware of the Muskie program and she frequently attends Muskie fellow receptions in Georgia," Sopio commented. "When she learned that we would be in Atlanta, she invited us to attend the fundraiser. We talked to the first lady about our studies, told her about our programs, and shared with her our future plans." The first lady also presented Sopio with a signed copy of her autobiography. Sopio and Olena are studying at the University of Georgia, while Otar attends Georgia State University.

 

Muskie Alumnus Starts Website to Popularize the Blues in Armenia
March 9, 2010

Since returning to his native Armenia, 2007 Muskie alumnus Vahan Danielyan has created a Russian-language website, Mojoclub.am, that provides information on blues music. The site features a history of the blues as well as video footage of blues greats, and aims to unite music lovers in Armenia and beyond. Vahan also plans to organize a blues festival to bring together musicians from Armenia, Georgia, Ukraine, and the United States.

 

Duquesne Shares Host University Perspective
February 4, 2010

The directors of Duquesne University's Graduate Center for Social and Public Policy and Donahue Graduate School of Business discussed the Muskie program in an recent article on the university's website. 2008 Muskie fellow Svetlana Doni from Moldova was also featured.

 

Duquesne University Highlights Muskie Fellows
January 26, 2010

2009 Muskie fellows Aida Bazarkulova from Kyrgystan, Turan Jafarova from Azerbaijan and Vladimir Ivashchuk from Russia, all of whom are studying at Duquesne University, were recently featured in an article on the university's website.

 

Muskie Fellow Featured in Portland Press Herald
January 5, 2010

Malika Umarova, a dentist from Uzbekistan and a 2009 Muskie fellow studying health policy and management at the University of Southern Maine's Muskie School of Public Service, was recently highlighted in the local Portland Press Herald newspaper.

 

Muskie Fellows Win International Education Week Photo Contest
December 23, 2009

2009 Muskie fellows Otar Kantaria of Georgia and Andrey Rybalov of Russia were awarded prizes in Georgia State University’s “Crossing Paths, Crossing Cultures” photography contest. Held during November’s International Education Week, the contest invited international students to submit their favorite photographs taken in the United States, while students in GSU’s study abroad programs submitted pictures from their time overseas.

Photograph by Otar Kantaria, a 2009 Muskie fellow

Otar, who is enrolled at GSU’s Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, won first prize in the People category. His photo, taken in Atlanta’s Piedmont Park, was inspired by his volunteer experience at the Atlanta Pride Festival in October. “I found it an amazing opportunity to contribute in making a difference in the community,” Otar reflected. “[The photo shows] a little bit of freedom, tolerance, and acceptance within the concrete walls of the city and the minds made of concrete.”

Andrey, a fellow Andrew Young School classmate, won first prize in the Daily Life category for his photo taken during a trip to an outdoor art festival in Nevada. It was “a huge week-long gathering in the desert, to which hundreds of artists and art lovers from all around the world dream of coming,” he explained. Though Andrey had never considered himself an artist, when he heard about the festival from a friend, he decided he had to see it for himself.

Photograph by Andrey Rybalov, a 2009 Muskie fellow

While a desert sandstorm took Andrey's camera out of commission, he managed to take the winning photo with his cellular phone. “The festival was so colorful and extraordinary-looking,” he said. “My broken camera covered in Nevada’s grey sand is on my bookshelf. Every day, watching American sunsets, the colors of which are so different from European, I think I might need a new camera and some free time to explore America not as a public policy scholar, but as a photographer.”

 

 

 

Knowing Their Rights: Muskie Alumnus Advocates for Hospital Patients
December 18, 2009

In 2008, Dr. Kemal Goshliyev returned to the Central Skin and Venereal Disease Hospital in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan with a master’s degree in public health and a commitment to improve the institution he’d worked at for over 10 years. The hospital is the leading institution of its kind in Turkmenistan, with the goal of restoring, maintaining, and enhancing health through superior care, and provides assistance to similar hospitals across the country. Dr. Goshliyev enjoyed his work, but was concerned with the issue of patients’ rights—something that he had explored in depth as a master’s student in the United States.

Dr. Goshliyev speaks to health professionals

Dr. Goshliyev received a Muskie fellowship in 2006 to study public health at Western Illinois University. “After completing my graduate program in the USA I returned back home full of enthusiasm to work here. My educational experience, strong motivation to improve health care services and the attitude of a Muskie fellow compelled me to [return] to the hospital,” Dr. Goshliyev explained.

In 2009, Dr. Goshliyev received a Careers for Alumni in Public Service (CAPS) award, which provides a stipend to alumni working in the public service sector in their home communities. He used it to deliver twelve presentations to 28 health professionals on topics such as patients' rights, health care administration, health care management, and preventive measures for sexually transmitted infections. Dr. Goshliyev also mounted the text of the World Medical Association’s Declaration on the Rights of the Patient in the hospital’s lobby. The Declaration states that unnecessary medical treatment violates patients’ rights, an idea that was new to many patients. In addition, he also measured health professionals’ attitudes towards patients’ rights before and after his seminars. He noted “significant positive changes” in attitudes towards patients and his “audience believes now that maintaining patients’ rights [is] much more worthwhile.” 

 “CAPS allowed me to advance and demonstrate my leadership potential in public service," Dr. Goshliyev reflected. "I am proud to be a Muskie fellow...I feel dedicated to the public service, which makes my life more meaningful for me.”  Dr. Goshliyev saw the CAPS award as an opportunity to share some of the knowledge, skills and practices that he acquired during his fellowship in U.S.  More importantly, he saw it as a chance to help his patients: “I started to advocate for the rights of the patients when they did not even know that they have them.”

 

Business Fellow Meets Investor Warren Buffett
December 16, 2009

Bakai Madybaev, a 2009 Muskie fellow from Kyrgyzstan, had the chance to meet the investor, businessman and philanthropist Warren Buffett in November. Bakai, an MBA student at Texas Christian University (TCU), traveled to Omaha with fellow students from TCU’s Neeley School of Business to visit two of Buffett’s companies and hear him speak about life, business, and the current economy.

Bakai Madybaev and Warren Buffett display the flag of Kyrgyzstan

While Buffett was named the richest man in the world by Forbes in 2008, “he is very down to earth” and joked around with the MBA students, Bakai observed. “Later we had lunch at Mr. Buffett’s favorite place, a very simple café somewhere in the suburbs of Omaha. After lunch, Mr. Buffet took an individual picture with every single student out of 180. He was greeting, shaking hands, smiling and posing with every student. He didn’t have any guard or secretary with him. After the photo session he got into his Cadillac and drove away by himself.”

Bakai was impressed by Buffett’s insights as well as his modesty. “Mr. Buffett told us we should never sacrifice family values to succeed professionally,” he said. “To be successful one should do what he likes. That’s what Mr. Buffett does—he likes to run his business just because he likes his work, not because he likes money.”

Buffett, who recently acquired a railroad company, the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation, “shared his rationale in picking companies to invest in,” said Bakai. “He invests in companies where he understands the business and where he likes people and what they do.”    

“This is definitely one of the most unforgettable experiences that greatly impacted my life,” Bakai reflected. “Meeting with such a person makes people believe in the good and provides inspiration for big achievements. Thanks to the Muskie program for making it possible!”

 

Environmental Management Fellow Featured by North Dakota State University
December 16, 2009

Sardorbek Musayev, a 2009 Muskie fellow from Uzbekistan enrolled in the natural resources management interdisciplinary program at North Dakota State University, was recently profiled in a university newsletter (see page 21).

 

Law Fellow Featured by William & Mary Law School
December 7, 2009

Vsevolod Ovcharenko, a 2009 Muskie fellow from Kazakhstan enrolled in the LL.M. program at William & Mary Law School, was recently profiled in a story on the university's website.

 

Law Fellow Profiled on University of Arizona's Website
November 24, 2009

Altynay Tanasheva, a 2009 Muskie fellow from Kazakhstan enrolled in the LL.M. program at the University of Arizona, was recently highlighted in a story on the university's website.

 

Muskie Alumna's Work with Girls Leadership Camps Featured on America.gov
November 20, 2009

Lilit Simonyan, a 2005 Muskie alumna from Armenia, has conducted annual summer leadership workshops for young women through her NGO, the Stepanavan Youth Center. Lilit's work, originally featured on the IREX website and the State Alumni website, was recently highlighted again on the America.gov website.

 

Business Fellow Profiled on Kent State University's Website
November 20, 2009

Malika Ibrohimova, a 2009 Muskie fellow enrolled in the MBA program at Kent State University, was recently interviewed for a story on the university's website.

 

Muskie Fellow Volunteers to Teach University's First Russian Course in Twelve Years
November 18, 2009

For the first time in twelve years, Georgia Southern University (GSU) has a Russian language and cultural course thanks to the volunteer efforts of Saida Akbarova, a 2008 Muskie fellow from Uzbekistan studying in GSU’s graduate education program. Saida teaches the three-credit course as an adjunct faculty member on a volunteer basis, introducing seven undergraduate and graduate students to the basics of Russian and the cultures of several countries where the language is widely spoken, including Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Belarus, Ukraine, and Moldova.

One of Saida Akbarova's students interviews Ifoda Abdurazakova using Skype's video calling software

Saida is employing technology creatively to engage her students and maximize their exposure to the language and cultures studied. In a recent lesson, she arranged a 30-minute video Skype interview for her students with Ifoda Abdurazakova, a 2008 Muskie fellow also from Uzbekistan, who is studying international affairs at Ohio University. The students greeted and introduced themselves in Russian before interviewing Ifoda in English about her country’s food, clothing, music, marriage traditions and its political and economical situation. “It was a great experience for the students, as they broadened their understanding of Uzbekistan and communicated with a representative of the country they have learned about,” Saida said. She hopes that as her students further develop their language skills, they will be able to conduct similar interviews in Russian.

Saida developed her own lesson plans for the course from scratch while interning in summer 2009 at the Center for Excellence in Teaching (CET), the professional development office for educators at GSU. Studying the faculty’s developmental models for teaching “broadened my views on the way students might learn,” she said. “Teachers create a research-based learning environment where students are actively engaged in mastering the course content and in developing essential skills by working in self-managed teams on guided inquiry activities.” Saida hopes to create a professional development center based on the CET model at the Uzbek State World Languages University after she returns to home to share these new approaches with teachers in Uzbekistan.

 

Muskie Fellows Volunteer to Monitor Polls on Election Day in Virginia
November 13, 2009

On November 3, 2009, Virginians elected a new governor, and Muskie fellows Alexandru Mocanu and Andriy Olenyuk were in the thick of the excitement as poll monitoring volunteers. Alexandru, a 2009 Muskie fellow from Moldova studying at George Washington University Law School, and Andriy, a 2009 Muskie fellow from Ukraine studying at Georgetown University Law Center, worked with Election Protection, a non-partisan voter protection coalition, to ensure that all voters had an equal opportunity to participate in the political process.

Alexandru Mocanu outside a polling site

Alexandru and Andriy were prepared for their volunteer roles by the Washington, DC office of Bingham McCutchen LLP and spent Election Day monitoring polling stations under the supervision of attorneys in Alexandria. As they assisted voters with questions, the attorneys gave the fellows a practical overview of the American election system, and both Alexandru and Andriy made comparisons with elections in their home countries.

“I witnessed certain voting practices here in U.S., such as electronic voting, curbside voting, or the 40 feet distance campaign [which prohibits persons from loitering or congregating within 40 feet of the entrance to a polling place], which are either different or only being discussed in Eastern Europe,” Alexandru observed. “Also, I learned firsthand about the handling of various election-related concerns which are still unresolved in my country, such as the lack of voter’s identification or absentee voting.” 

“The most striking difference between [elections] in Ukraine and the U.S. is the logistics of elections,” commented Andriy, who has served as an observer during the presidential and parliamentary elections in his home country. “Polling stations are well equipped to process large amounts of voters, and the usage of electronic machines and special software not only allows votes to be processed more efficiently, but also prevents lines at the polling place and the eventual irritation of voters.”

During their day at the polls, Alexandru and Andriy did not encounter any violations of voters’ rights. “It was our impression from the discussion with the election workers and outside partisan campaigners that sporadic problematic cases were handled positively and in a professional manner by the assigned polling station personnel,” Alexandru said.

“Even though elections volunteers…may not enter the premises of polling places under Virginia law, all of the election officers were tolerant and supportive in our endeavors and kindly agreed to answer our questions as to compliance with the elections procedures,” Andriy added.

Alexandru believes his Election Day volunteer experience will be helpful upon return to Moldova. “Although elections are an area continuously being improved in the U.S., there are at this stage a lot of good practices and lessons learned to be looked at,” he said. “I found monitoring elections in the U.S. an excellent experience that I may take back home upon ending my program.”

 

Alumni Promote Environmentally Friendly Transportation in Kazakhstan
November 2, 2009

A group of Muskie and UGRAD alumni celebrated World Car Free Day in September, conducting a campaign to raise awareness about pollution and encourage environmentally friendly ways of traveling around Almaty, such as walking, public transportation, and cycling.

Inkarim Beg-Ali, Talant Sultanov, and Sofya Tairova

Sofya Tairova (UGRAD 2005-2006), Inkarim Beg-Ali (UGRAD 2006-2007), Dmitry Zhukov (Muskie 1998), and Talant Sultanov (Muskie 2004) developed content and printed books, stickers, leaflets and pins for the outreach campaign, which targeted schools, libraries, educational clubs and information centers.

The alumni met with children at an Almaty school to discuss cleaner transport options and review bicycle traffic rules. Car Free Day culminated with a bike march to a local park, where the alumni met with media outlets to demonstrate the advantages of bicycling in the city and pass out additional informational materials.

 

 

Alumni Organize Therapeutic Dance Classes for Youth With Disabilities in Kyrgyzstan
November 2, 2009

From September 2-11, Aicholpon Jorupbekova, a 2004 Muskie alumna, organized therapeutic dance classes on the shore of Lake Issyk-Kul in Kyrgyzstan for 25 young people from Obereg, a rehabilitation center which serves children and youth with autism, epilepsy, Down’s syndrome, infantile paralysis, and other conditions. The classes combined medical treatments with competitions and games using balls, hoops, and jump ropes.

 

Aicholpon and fellow volunteers Satkyn Beketaeva (Muskie 2005) and Tahir Ahmetov (Muskie 2003) consulted with Obereg's instructors to develop a plan for the activities. According to feedback from the instructors, the classes helped participants improve physically as well as letting the young people enjoy the treatment process.

Aicholpon won a Project Smile grant to implement the project and received co-funding from Kalikova and Associates, the Bishkek law firm where she heads the mineral resources practice. Aicholpon also teaches mineral resources law to senior law students at the American University in Central Asia in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Project Smile is a community development program for alumni of select Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) sponsored programs. Grants are awarded to alumni to implement community service activities that will benefit an underprivileged group in their local community such as children at an orphanage, the disabled or the elderly.

 

Internship Experience Will Help Muskie Fellow Strengthen Legal Aid in Georgia
October 20, 2009

Access to legal assistance can have a dramatic impact on individuals in crisis, helping families keep their homes and avoid foreclosure, allowing victims of domestic violence to obtain protective orders, and ensuring that workers receive compensation promised by their employers. Andro Gigauri, a 2008 Muskie fellow from Georgia, learned more about the U.S. legal aid system during his summer internship at the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) in Washington, DC and made connections that will help him expand legal aid to low-income people in his home country.

Muskie fellow Andro Gigauri (center) with LSC staff.

 

 

The Georgian government supports access to justice by the poor through its legal aid bureaus, but Andro believes this assistance must be expanded to cover more regions and target more groups. He says that in order for the government-provided services to function efficiently, future steps must be based on models from other countries, including the United States.

“My plan is to bring the knowledge that I gained through the internship back to Georgia and contribute to the further strengthening of legal aid delivery to the poor,” he concluded. “During such a limited internship—only three months—it is difficult to learn the [intricacies] of the system, but now I have a general understanding of how civil legal aid works in the United States, and it’s equally important that I’ve established contact with LSC professionals and I know who to reach out to for advice in the future.”

 

Law Fellow Profiled on University of Miami's Website
September 29, 2009

Aida Satylganova, a lawyer from Kyrgystan and a 2009 Muskie fellow enrolled in the LL.M. program at the University of Miami School of Law, was recently interviewed for a story on the university's website.

 

Fellow Featured by the University of Southern Maine's Muskie School of Public Service
September 16, 2009

Malika Umarova, a dentist from Uzbekistan and a 2009 Muskie fellow studying in the Muskie School's Health Policy and Management program, was recently highlighted on the university's website.

 

Armenian Muskie and UGRAD Alumni Clean Part of Lake Sevan's Shore
September 14, 2009

On August 22, 2009, in celebration of the recent International Youth Day, eleven UGRAD and Muskie alumni and two IREX staff members worked together in cleaning a small area of Lake Sevan’s polluted shore.

Despite the cold weather, the attending alumni diligently covered a quarter mile stretch of Sevan’s shore, picking up trash that had accumulated over many months. Over two hours, alumni collected dozens of trash bags full of cigarette butts, bottle caps, empty bottles, and plastic bags while asking visitors to be more environmentally conscious by cleaning up after themselves.

During the day, the alumni also discussed their experiences in the United States, particularly in dealing with community service. The alumni concluded that while the concept of community service is widely accepted in the U.S., they need to encourage friends and colleagues to be more active within the community for Armenia’s benefit.

At the end of the event, the alumni enjoyed a traditional Armenian barbeque while discussing Armenia’s environmental challenges. 2000 Muskie alumnus Norayr Vardanyan stated that he was concerned with the current trend in deforestation and tree cutting in Armenia’s urban areas. Despite having returned to Armenia eight years ago, Vardanyan continues to volunteer, saying, “It is another chance for me to help people in need, improve the environment, and also provides the opportunity for me to meet other alumni and interesting people.”

(Story originally posted on the ECA State Alumni website.)

 

Summer Round of Project Smile Grants Awarded
September 7, 2009

IREX is pleased to announce the Summer 2009 Project Smile grantees. Project Smile is a community development program for alumni of select Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) sponsored programs. Grants are awarded to alumni to implement community service activities that will benefit an underprivileged group in their local community such as children at an orphanage, the disabled or the elderly.

 

Welcome Workshop Equips New Fellows with Tools, Connections for a Successful Fellowship
August 18, 2009

The 2009 cohort of Edmund S. Muskie Fellowship Program participants embarked on their U.S. experiences at the August 2-5 Welcome Workshop held at Gallaudet University in Washington, DC. Several current Muskie fellows from the 2008 cohort were on hand alongside IREX staff to provide advice on succeeding in graduate school, locating housing, managing personal budgets, finding a community service project, and securing an internship. The event also laid the foundation for successful fellowships by providing an opportunity for the new Muskies to network with one another, forming a support system to help them navigate graduate study in the U.S.

Muskie fellows Malika Ibrohimova (left) and Nargis Karimova, both of Tajikistan, point out their host universities on a map of the United States

“The orientation was full of information about academic integrity, housing, living and studying, to name just a few!” said one fellow. “Supporting handouts for all sessions and the participant handbook are so useful. It was a good idea to allow fellows from various countries in the same field of study to get to know each other.”

The current Muskie fellow mentors provided helpful academic advice to the new cohort as they start their graduate classes. “Although we will have lots and lots of reading to accomplish, I discovered from previous year fellows that we're not supposed to literally read every page and every paragraph carefully,” shared another new fellow. “It’s much more important to gain effective note taking skills to extract the most intrinsic and key information from the reading material.”

Others left with concrete ideas for community service projects and strategies for the internship search. “I've been engaged in dozens of community service activities both in the U.S. and my home country, but I couldn't think of a community activity that'd be related to my field of study before the session,” reflected a fellow. “I saw an excellent example on one of the handouts and that was like an ‘aha’ moment for me.”

Introductory comments from representatives of the U.S. Department of State and IREX at the Welcome Workshop

The Welcome Workshop concluded with a luncheon featuring speakers and guests from the Department of State and several foreign embassies. Mary Ellen Koenig, Chief of the Europe/Eurasia Branch of the Office of Academic Exchanges of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, gave a warm welcome to the incoming fellows and congratulated them on becoming finalists through a competitive selection process. Over 3,000 candidates applied for 141 available fellowships in the 2009 cycle.

 

Mayor of Wilmington, Delaware Hosts Muskie Fellows for Candid Discussion
August 5, 2009

13 Muskie fellows participating in the pre-academic training program at the University of Delaware's English Language Institute recently had the unique chance to meet for nearly two hours with Mayor James Baker of Wilmington. Mayor Baker discussed current challenges facing his city, as well as ways his administration is addressing these issues. The meeting and the Muskie program were highlighted in the university's UDaily newspaper.

 

Muskie Alumna Named State Alumni Member of the Month
July 28, 2009

Karine Taslakyan (Muskie 2004) was recognized as July's State Alumni Member of the Month for her contributions to the alumni community in Armenia. Karine serves as vice president of the American Graduates Association (AGA), an association of U.S. government-sponsored exchange program alumni in Armenia, and has implemented projects to increase public awareness of ecological issues and build capacity among NGOs in the rural development sector.

The State Alumni website is an online community of alumni of U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs. It provides opportunities for alumni to network with each other, develop their careers, and stay in touch with the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, thus helping to extend their exchange experience. Alumni must register on the site in order to gain access to the community.

 

Muskie Fellow's Photography Featured in University Magazine
July 28, 2009

Silva Stepanyan, a 2008 Muskie fellow from Russia studying business at Eastern Michigan University (EMU), is also an avid photographer. Silva entered a photo contest at EMU during the spring semester, and while she didn’t win, her submission “Train from Sochi – Moscow” was selected for publication in the summer 2009 issue of Eastern, the university magazine. You can view Silva’s photo and read about recent developments at EMU in the Eastern.

 

New Orleans Experience Inspires Fellow to Promote Community Service in Kyrgyzstan
June 19, 2009

Muskie fellow Ruslan Karabukaev and several of his MBA classmates at the Georgia Institute of Technology spent their winter break volunteering in New Orleans with the Saint Bernard Project, which aims to help rebuild the lives of Hurricane Katrina survivors, family by family. Says Ruslan, “We spent an amazing week working from 9 to 4 rebuilding houses damaged by the flood and hurricane: putting in drywall, painting, and cleaning. It was good physical exercise, which helped to reload busy brains after final exams week. We met a lot of volunteers from all around the country, who came to help during their winter break. After long working days, we had a chance to enjoy the famous night life in the historical French Quarter of New Orleans, where you can listen to live jazz and enjoy authentic Creole cuisine.”

Ruslan Karabukaev (front, in blue) and fellow Saint
Bernard Project volunteers.

“I really enjoyed our community service trip," Ruslan shared. "It was really rewarding to hear the appreciation of our work from the owners of the houses, mostly elderly people who had been strongly hit by Katrina, because they are not so mobile as young people and can’t start so easily from scratch. Seeing how people live outside of a university campus helped me to better understand the life of people in the USA and enriched my cultural experience.”

“In my undergraduate studies back in Kyrgyzstan, I never participated in volunteer projects since we did not have a big culture of community service at the school," Ruslan commented. "Back to my country—we also have villages and people who need community service. One of the things I learnt from both from my studying at school and community service projects is the concept of servant leadership. As an educated person, I think it is our [civic responsibility] to help make community life better and help to prevent poverty and homelessness. After returning to Kyrgyzstan, I plan to combine my career in business with teaching in the universities, sharing the knowledge and values I learnt in my studies and inspiring students to volunteer for community service projects.”

New Round of Project Smile Grants Awarded
June 12, 2009

IREX is pleased to announce the April 2009 Project Smile grantees.

Project Smile is a community development program for alumni of select Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) sponsored programs. Grants are awarded to alumni to implement community service activities that will benefit an underprivileged group in their local community such as children at an orphanage, the disabled or the elderly.

 

Muskie Fellows Connect and Reflect Before Heading Home
June 1, 2009

Muskie fellows during a team-building activity at the
Commencement workshop.

With Master’s degrees in hand after two successful years in the US, the 2007 cohort of Muskie fellows reunited for a Commencement Retreat May 18-21 at the Rocky Gap Resort and Lodge in Cumberland, MD. Through interactive workshops and guided reflection, the graduating class of Muskies prepared for the next steps ahead—re-integrating in their communities, finding employment, and utilizing their US experiences and new skills to foster Eurasian development and strengthen relationships between Americans and people in their home countries. 

The Commencement experience brought together fellows from all participating countries and fields of study, many of whom had not met since their initial program orientation in August 2007. Alumni guests shared their perspectives on post-program personal and professional transitions. Team-building activities, as well as time sharing best practices and cultural insights, solidified this cadre of skilled professionals into a strong network ready to take on challenges and support each other’s efforts at home.

A celebratory Commencement luncheon concluded the week at the Hotel Monaco in Washington, DC, where representatives from the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Ambassadors, foreign embassy representatives and other special guests congratulated participants on successfully completing the Muskie program. Dr. William Foster, Dean of the Muskie School of Public Service at the University of Southern Maine, also spoke on the legacy of Senator Edmund S. Muskie, for whom the program is named, and encouraged participants to keep the Senator’s spirit of public service alive after they return home.

(From left) Professor Bruce Clary, Muskie fellows
Darya Trushkina and Ramil Mammadov, and Dean
William Foster of the Muskie School of Public Service
at the University of Southern Maine.

Muskie alumni form a powerful network of change agents across Eurasia, working in government, business, education, international organizations and the NGO sector and sharing their first-hand understanding of American culture back home. “Before I was an ambassador of Turkmenistan educating people of Wyoming about Turkmenistan; now I feel that I will be an ambassador of the US educating my colleagues, friends and neighbors about America,” says Jeren Hakiyeva, who is returning home with a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Wyoming. 

 

Fellow Expands Understanding of Race Relations While Editing New Georgetown Law Journal
May 15, 2009

Andriy Moskalyk came to the US to study securities and financial regulation, with the aim of reforming mortgage laws in his native Ukraine. Through his community service project with the Georgetown Journal of Law and Modern Critical Race Perspectives, however, Andriy has gotten a perspective on issues outside his field of study. As a volunteer editor for one of the few law journals in the country dedicated to legal scholarship on race and identity, Andriy met new people from diverse cultural backgrounds and gained a new window into racial discrimination issues in the US.

“My work for the journal definitely affected my understanding of problems of people of different nationalities living in the US,” Andriy said. “I mainly focused on editorial activity, review and commenting on the content of the articles. The most memorable article for me is called When There is Nothing Left to Lose: The Historical Treatment of Black Children in the Juvenile Justice System and the Call to Open the Doors, by Lucie Small. It describes the unfairness in treating young black people in the judiciary process of conviction and imprisonment.”

Andriy, a 2008 Muskie fellow enrolled in the L.L.M. program at the Georgetown University Law Center, added, “This experience helped me understand some controversial aspects of life of people in the US, helped me socialize with people of various nationalities, and enriched my perception of life in general.”

 

Public Health Fellow Honored by University of Georgia
May 15, 2009

Tamar Gabunia will return to her home country this summer with a Master’s degree in Public Health and special honors from her host university. Faculty of the University of Georgia’s College of Public Health selected Tamar to receive the 2009 Health Policy and Management Student Award for Excellence. Graduating students are chosen based on their academic performance, contributions to the educational experience, and potential for leadership after graduation.

Tamar Gabunia (third from left) with professors at the College of Public Health.

Tamar, a trained medical doctor and health policy specialist, worked at the Republic of Georgia’s National Institute of Health and Social Affairs before beginning her US studies as a Muskie fellow in 2007. During her fellowship, Tamar interned at the University of Georgia’s Institute of Gerontology and volunteered with the American Red Cross and the Athens Neighborhood Institute of Health Care. 

Tamar plans to continue working towards improved quality of health for Georgians. “I believe that the expertise I have gained here will enable me to make an effective contribution to health systems strengthening efforts in my home country,” she said. 

 

 

Muskie Fellow’s Project Gives Incarcerated Youth a Second Chance
April 24, 2009

Youth who are incarcerated are more likely to be incarcerated as adults.* Hoping to break the cycle, Muskie fellow Anna Andrianova teamed up with members of the West Texas A&M University Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) chapter to provide a positive influence and training in valuable life skills for youth at a local correctional facility.

Muskie fellow Anna Andrianova (second from left)
and fellow SIFE volunteers meet with youth at a
correctional facility.

Over the past five months, Anna and her fellow volunteers have built a relationship with youth at the facility, conducting sessions once or twice monthly on personal finance, teamwork, communication and leadership skills. “Every time we came to the facility, the children were excited about seeing us and remembered material from the previous trainings,” Anna said. “Some of them reported that their mood was good all day because they knew that [West Texas A&M] students were coming that day. In the feedback, children wrote that they are filled with excitement to put the skills they were taught into practice.”

Anna had volunteered with homeless youth in her native Russia, but wasn’t sure what to expect before starting her Muskie community service project with SIFE. “I was scared to see these kids who had violated the law,” she shared. “Some of them committed serious crimes, like sexual offenses. But when we came out there I found these were kids who were seeking for attention. Of course they will try to manipulate you to get what they want…but if you look past that, one can find people who got lost on their way and desperately need help and guidance.”

Anna will return to Russia to work in consulting or marketing management after receiving her MBA this May and plans to continue her service with at-risk youth in Moscow. “The trainings encouraged me as well and helped me to see what I have achieved and how many people I am capable of helping,” she said.

*Source: “What Incarcerated Youth Say Would Help Them Succeed: Can Extension Play a Role?” Journal of Extension, August 2002

 

Community Service Humanizes HIV/AIDS Epidemic for Muskie Fellow
April 24, 2009

Muskie fellow Margarita Aksyonova (right) with HIV
activist and support group leader Patricia Kelly at the
A Family Affair office.

Before volunteering with the Minority AIDS Council of Orangeburg County, South Carolina, Muskie fellow Margarita Aksyonova knew the basics about HIV. But Margarita didn’t see the epidemic on a personal level until she started organizing events with support group leader Patricia Kelly, who has been living with HIV since 1985. “No matter how many movies or news stories you’ve watched about [people living with HIV/AIDS], it’s totally different from actually dealing with them on [a daily basis],” Margarita reflected. “I learned that they are not those who blame everyone for their problems; they are very vulnerable, sensitive and optimistic people.”

According to the United Nations, the rate of HIV infections in Margarita’s home country, Uzbekistan, has been rapidly increasing in recent years.* “Unfortunately, the majority of the Uzbek population is not aware of actual statistics about HIV positive people, their ways of living, and their real problems, as well as emotional issues,” said Margarita. “As far as I know, most of the Uzbek people are afraid of and avoid having any connection with HIV infected people.”

Volunteering is an integral part of the Edmund S. Muskie Graduate Fellowship Program, with 40 hours of community service required during the first year of the fellowship. Margarita, who is pursuing an MBA at South Carolina State University through the Muskie program, shares her financial management skills with the Minority AIDS Council, as well as providing hands-on assistance in the community garden organized by the A Family Affair support group. Like many Muskie fellows, Margarita plans to continue her service after completing the required minimum hours.

Giving back allows fellows to meet new people in the community, develop a commitment to volunteer service, and gain professional and leadership skills. “From doing my community service, along with improving my communication skills, I gained things which are beyond the area of my expertise at school,” Margarita said. “First of all, it was a driving force for me to find out more about HIV in Uzbekistan, and hopefully I will even be involved in some HIV/AIDS programs there. Also, it was very useful for me personally to understand that each of those HIV positive people whom I know wants to be accepted by society…to be considered as an ordinary human.”

* Source: “UN Says HIV Rate Sharply Increases in Uzbekistan,” Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, November 22, 2007

 

Muskie fellow Ainur Nurtay (left) with actor and activist
Matthew McConaughey at the February 2009 Clinton
Global Initiative University Meeting, where Ainur was the
sole representative for Grand Valley State University.

Young Nonprofit Professional of the Month Will Nurture Grassroots Organizations in Her Native Kazakhstan
April 14, 2009

Ainur Nurtay, a 2007 Muskie fellow from Kazakhstan, has been named Young Nonprofit Professional of the Month by the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network of Greater Grand Rapids. Ainur, who will receive her Master of Public Administration degree from Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan in April 2009, has been an active member of the local nonprofit community, serving as a volunteer board member for Michigan-based SowHope and a campus representative for the Clinton Global Initiative University.

Ainur will carry valuable knowledge and skills in philanthropy and nonprofit management back to her native Kazakhstan. She has already registered her own organization, the Kazakhstan Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership, and has collected over 200 books on fundraising, research methods and nonprofit management to create a resource center in her home country. “During my course of study, I have learned much about intermediary organizations, which strengthen the capacities of nonprofit organizations and help them reach their goals,” Ainur reflected. “Upon my return home I plan to build the Center from the ground level in order to support grassroots organizations and put my education to use.”

To read the interview with Ainur featured on the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network website, click here.

Paula Legore, Director of Luxurious Hair Boutique (right),
receives an Entrepreneurial Spirit award from Nola
Miyasaki, Executive Director of the Falcone Center for
Entrepreneurship at Whitman School of Management at
Syracuse University.

Ukrainian Business Insights Benefit Syracuse Businesswomen
April 14, 2009

Roman Yasmonytskyy may not know a lot about wigs or artisan chocolates, but he does know how to start a business and create a strong online presence. Roman, a 2008 Muskie fellow and MBA student from Ukraine, volunteered these skills at the Syracuse Entrepreneur’s Bootcamp, a six-weekend-long program designed to benefit and support local entrepreneurs by leveraging the experience and expertise of the Whitman School of Management’s faculty and students. 

One of Roman’s clients, Paula Legore, owns Luxurious Hair Boutique, an on-line wig shop. Another, Stacy VanWaldick, owns Promise Me Chocolates, a website that sells chocolate in the shape of rings, diamonds, and other gems. 

Syracuse, like cities across the United States, has been seriously hit by the economic downturn.  Entrepreneurial endeavors like the Bootcamp are helping local businesses to survive and thrive. Roman says, “My participation as a practical business management consultant will help start-up entrepreneurs to start, finance and grow their businesses, creating wealth for their families, new jobs in the community and tax payments to the State.” Roman provided consulting services in various areas, including business plan development, raising capital, marketing, accounting, client relations management and strategy. He feels that his advice and feedback will increase his clients’ chances of success. 

Muskie fellow Margarita Tadevosyan receives her
Distinguished Student Award.

Muskie Fellow Honored by George Mason University School of Public Policy Alumni Chapter
April 14, 2009

Margarita Tadevosyan, a 2008 Muskie fellow from Armenia, was selected to receive a prestigious Distinguished Student Award from the George Mason University (GMU) School of Public Policy Alumni Chapter. The Distinguished Student Award is presented annually to one or two students in the School of Public Policy based on their academic performance, community service, extracurricular activities and faculty recommendations. Margarita’s award was presented following a keynote speech by former Congressman Tom Davis on March 27.

Margarita is studying Peace Operations at the School of Public Policy and hopes to bring peace and reconciliation to her native Armenia, which has an outstanding conflict over territory with neighboring Azerbaijan. As part of her Muskie fellowship, Margarita volunteered her time with seniors at the Culpepper Garden assisted living community in Arlington, Virginia. Margarita has also been active in School of Public Policy events, assisting at conferences and workshops, including the Civil Affairs Transitions roundtable.

Muskie Fellow Featured in Eastern Washington University (EWU) Newspaper
April 14, 2009

Seda Murtazalieva, a 2008 Muskie fellow from Russia, was recently featured in Eastern Washington University’s campus paper, The Easterner. “As one of the best Masters in Public Administration (MPA) students, Seda is a true asset to our university and the MPA program,” said Olga Baron, International Projects Manager at EWU. Click here to read the full story. 

 

Internship with Board of Regents Sows Seeds for Education Reform in Uzbekistan
April 14, 2009

A spring break internship with the University System of Georgia’s Board of Regents helped Saida Akbarova, a 2008 Muskie fellow, understand how the Board and its departments function. “Meeting the great people of the University System of Georgia has broadened my perspectives on the work done by administrators who make changes to improve the quality of teaching and learning,” Saida commented. “Hopefully one day, I will be able to implement most of the progressive ideas and innovative programs for our educators in Uzbekistan.”

Saida’s host institution, Georgia Southern University, featured Saida’s experience on its website. Click here to read the full story.

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