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Muskie Program News

Leadership Skills and Service Emphasized at Muskie Opening Workshop
August 16, 2010

Current Muskies share advice with the new fellows

2010 Muskie fellows discuss commonalities at a plenary session

A successful Muskie fellowship experience prepares a fellow to serve as a thought leader in his or her home country upon completion of the program.  For the 2010 Muskie fellow cohort, the U.S.-based portion of the path to enhanced technical skills, knowledge, leadership skills, and international perspectives began with the 2010 Muskie Fellowship Opening Workshop, held August 6-8 at Gallaudet University’s Kellogg Conference Center in Washington, DC.

IREX staff worked alongside current Muskie fellows to provide advice on adjusting to life in the US, succeeding in graduate school, securing professional internship experience, and designing a community service project.  The event laid the foundation for successful fellowships by providing an opportunity for the new Muskie fellows to network with one another, forming a support system to help them navigate graduate study in the U.S. 

 “It was great that the training methodology and the group leaders were interactive and involved the fellows,” commented one participant.  Another fellow praised the workshop design for “uniting people and bringing them to the realization of one big cause.”

Workshop sessions highlighted mutual understanding and professional connections. “Not only academics should be important but also socializing, networking, and representing my country’s culture well,” one fellow realized.  In regard to the session on community service projects, another fellow learned that “community service is not just a program requirement but also means to accept the community as yours and be ready to give people a hand.” 

“I feel more powerful,” one fellow commented on the overall effect of the workshop.

The Opening Workshop included 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. IREX President W. Robert Pearson addressed the new Muskie fellows and wished them success in their academic and professional endeavors.  Nearly 4,000 candidates applied for 142 available fellowships in the 2010 cycle.

 

Muskie Fellow Contributes to Preparing Climate Bill
July 27, 2010

2009 Muskie fellow Dayanch Hojageldiyev from Turkmenistan, who is studying Environmental Sciences at Brown University, was part of a class this past semester which presented research on climate change to the Rhode Island State Assembly.

See full story here.

Muskie Alumna and Host Advisor Collaborate to Deliver Workshop on Sustainable Environmental Policy in Georgia
July 16, 2010

 

Muskie Fellow's Community Service Featured on Boston University webpage
July 16, 2010

 

Muskie Fellows Help Americans Affected by the Economic Crisis
July 7, 2010

	Oleksandr Pankiv with community members at Foreclosure Prevention Project

Muskie fellows bring more to their host communities than just strong academic skills and diverse international backgrounds.  Whether they assist low income individuals to file their tax returns, teach financial literacy, or volunteer at a local food bank, Muskies are making a crucial impact on their American hosts at a time when there is an urgent need for this aid.  When selecting community service projects, many fellows chose to focus on helping those Americans who are hardest hit by the current economic downturn. 

Several law fellows are helping their communities through pro bono legal work. Maria Kuzmina, a LL.M. candidate from Russia, volunteered at the Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation, which provides free legal services to low income clients.  Maria enjoyed her work at the center and noted that, “It was a new experience.  We don’t have many organizations at home that do this kind of work for free.”  Maria, who studied at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, helped a senior attorney who specializes in family law with client interviews.  She also analyzed current developments to help solve legal problems, and wrote case summaries for the Foundation.

Sakina Ibrahimova, a LL.M. candidate at Pennsylvania State University from Azerbaijan, assisted low income individuals and households to prepare their tax returns.  After taking two online courses and passing exams administered by the IRS, Sakina helped guide locals through this complicated process and was constantly finding useful deductions and credits to increase their returns.

In addition to helping with tax preparation and family law, pro bono legal work can have an important impact on families who are facing the threat of foreclosure.  Oleksandr Pankiv of Ukraine completed his community service at the Neighborhood of Affordable Housing’s Foreclosure Prevention project in East Boston.  Oleksandr, a L.LM. candidate at Boston University, consulted with families and filed documents in order to prevent foreclosures.  Reflecting on his experience, Oleksandr noted that, “Because of the financial crisis, foreclosure is an actual and crucial problem in the US.”  He noted that community service is not widespread in Ukraine and added, “I was glad to help.”

Other Muskie fellows are helping families manage their financial resources more effectively.  Bakai Madybaev, who is from Kyrgyzstan and studies in the MBA program at Texas Christian University, volunteered at Catholic Charities in Fort Worth, where he taught a financial education class for low income households.  Bakai explained that, “the financial education initiative grew out of a desire to contribute to permanent solutions to household poverty.  [The] classes provide participants with the tools they need to decide how to use their money to meet their family's needs and goals.”

American families are also in need of food aid and safe living environments.   Otar Kantaria, a fellow from Georgia who studies at the Georgia State University, recognized these needs in his community and responded by volunteering at the Atlanta Community Food Bank, which distributes nearly two million pounds of food and other grocery items every month to agencies in Metro Atlanta and Northern Georgia.  Maksym Klyuchar, a Ukrainian fellow at the University of Texas in Brownsville, helped low income families build their own homes through his work at the Community Development Corporation of Brownsville.  Pleased with this experience, Maksym observed that, “you see the results immediately and you are working with the people who are building their own housing and who are appreciative of your time and labor investment.”

In addition to pursuing these highlighted activities, Muskie fellows responded to the needs of their communities by participating in community service activities at schools, universities, hospitals, business development centers and non-profit organizations.  In total, the 2009 cohort of Muskies contributed over 4600 hours of service to their host communities.  Through the process of identifying community service projects, Muskie fellows learned about the effects of the economic crisis in America while also positively affecting the lives of many Americans who are impacted by the challenging economic times.    

 

Muskie Fellow Expands Skills and Network Through Conference Presentation
June 30, 2010

Professional development opportunities during the academic year give Muskie fellows an opportunity to gain new skills and broaden their networks of professional contacts.  2009 fellow Maksym Klyuchar of Ukraine has taken advantage of these opportunities as a student and graduate research assistant in the Master of Public Administration program at the University of Texas in Brownsville. 

As part of an on-going research project, Maksym collaborated with professors and other graduate students on a paper titled “The Development of the Knowledge Analytic through Value Heuristics: On the Border Decision-Making in Health Care Services in the Lower Rio Grande Valley.”  Maksym was recently honored with the opportunity to present this paper at the Public Administration Theory Network’s Annual Conference in Omaha, Nebraska.   The Public Administration Theory Network and The University of Texas in Brownsville sponsored his participation in the conference.  As one of 124 public administration professionals in attendance, Maksym was able to make additional professional connections while also improving his presentation skills. 

Maksym’s on-campus research assistantship has provided him with valuable experience in data collection and analysis.  The primary focus of these research efforts has been on the empirical study of decision-making.  In addition to improving his research skills, Maksym also drafted materials for submission and approval of the University of Texas in Brownsville’s Institutional Review Board.   These experiences have helped prepare Maksym to promote mutual understanding and to better understand democratic processes upon his return to Ukraine.

Muskie Fellow Gains New Perspective on Education Reform
June 17, 2010

	Muskie fellow Rashad Aliyev (left) meets with high school students in Brazil
	Rashad (third from left) attends a meeting at the Federal Ministry of Education in Brazil

“Having studied the theory and practice from my professors here at school, it was worthwhile to see firsthand the situation in the trenches,” noted 2009 Muskie fellow Rashad Aliyev after a recent study trip to Brazil.  Designed to provide Azerbaijani reformers with an opportunity to observe and learn from Brazil’s progress in education reform, the study tour was organized by the World Bank in collaboration with the Brazilian Ministry of Education.  The delegation from Azerbaijan was headed by Deputy Education Minister Isgandar Isgandarov and included Azerbaijani educators and policy specialists.
 
As a student in the Master of Public Policy program at the University of Maryland, Rashad has concentrated his study on issues of sustainable international development and inequality.   Prior to becoming a Muskie fellow, Rashad’s experience in education reform included a position in the Project Coordination Unit of Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Education and work on a curriculum reform project sponsored by the Netherlands’ CITO Group.  The study tour in Brazil was an opportunity for Rashad to learn about education reform in another country while also making new professional contacts for his future as a public servant in Azerbaijan.

In addition to meeting with state and federal education officials in Brasilia, the delegation also traveled to Rio de Janerio and Sao Paulo where they visited schools and met with researchers, civil society representatives, and community members.  When visiting a vocational school in Sao Paulo, Rashad was impressed by the degree to which government decentralization allows education expenditures to be aligned with local priorities. 

Above all, Rashad admired “the existence of a very clear vision and an understanding of the goals of the reform, as well as the dedication and enthusiasm of federal and state authorities and at schools.”  He believes the Brazilian government’s commitment to dialogue has led to a true spirit of cooperation between civil society and government in the education sphere.  In his work as a public servant in Azerbaijan, Rashad also facilitated communication between local school officials and the federal Ministry of Education. 

Building on his professional experience, studies, and tour in Brazil, Rashad is interning this summer with the Azerbaijan Higher Education Project at World Bank Headquarters in Washington, DC.  Rashad would like to continue his work for Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Education after completing his degree at the University of Maryland.  When asked how the Muskie fellowship will influence his future work in Azerbaijan, Rashad emphasized the importance of public deliberation, noting “reform shouldn’t come from the top without the opinion of the interested parties.” 

 

Muskie Fellows Share Azerbaijani Culture with Students
May 19, 2010

	Aygun shares with a student in Branson, Missouri
	Aygun and Asvad with students in Branson, Missouri

When teaching English in her native Azerbaijan, 2009 Muskie fellow Aygun Dadashdova facilitated cultural exchange by organizing pen pal relationships between her students in a village near Astara and American middle school students in Iowa.  As a Muskie fellow, Dadashdova has continued sharing her culture with others.

Dadashdova and 2008 Muskie fellow Asvad Gabul-Zada recently visited Green Forest Elementary School in Branson, Missouri to speak with students about life in Azerbaijan.  The Azerbaijani fellows traveled to Branson from Fayetteville, Arkansas as part of the 24-member International Cultural Team of the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.  At Green Forest Elementary, Gabul-Zada and Dadashdova co-facilitated cultural presentations for students in grades 4-7.

One of the students’ favorite activities was a game associated with the holiday of Novruz Bayram, the first day of spring and a week-long celebration in Azerbaijan.  In this game, each participant holds a boiled egg and knocks the egg against the egg of his or her competitor.  The participant whose egg cracks last is the winner.  Gabul-Zada noted enthusiastically that when she asked for only four volunteers to play, every student wanted to participate.

Gabul-Zada will return to Azerbaijan in June after earning a Master of Science in Public Health.  Dadashdova currently studies international relations and will intern this summer at OMNI Center in Fayetteville, where she will coordinate outreach to women’s organizations in Fayetteville and surrounding communities. 

 

Muskie Fellow Featured in Howard University Magazine
May 12, 2010

In the summer edition of its magazine, Howard University profiles 2009 Muskie fellow Tsovinar Nazaryan from Armenia.  Read how a mass media course helped her come “to the powerful realization that the struggle to be heard and understood is universal.”  (article appears on page 15)

 

 

 

 

Muskie Fellow Experiences North Dakota-Style Community Action
May 6, 2010

	Sirojiddin Eshmatov fills sandbags with community members
	Sirojiddin with other international students from North Dakota State University

Over the past century, residents of Fargo, North Dakota, have seen the Red River, which flows along the city's eastern border, rise as high as 41 feet during the rainy season. When flooding threatens, the people of Fargo pull together to minimize the damage to their community. This spring, Sirjoddin Eshmatov, a Muskie fellow from Uzbekistan studying agricultural economics at North Dakota State University, was proud to join the community action and contribute to help prevent flooding in the city that has become his new home.

Sirojiddin never knew the effects that floods can have on a community until arriving in Fargo, but was moved to action after hearing stories about the devastation caused by past flooding. "Floods are an environmental as well as economic loss for the nation, whether they occur in small scale or large scales," he observed. "Flood damage impacts rural communities which are suffering from poverty.” Living on the far western side of Fargo, away from the Red River, Sirojiddin knew that any flooding would not affect him or his university directly, but he still wanted to help. After seeing a bulletin in the international student office on campus, he signed up to spend a Saturday filling sand bags with other international students.

Arriving at the volunteer station, Sirojiddin found himself surrounded by large piles of sand, thousands of empty bags and many other community members ready to help. For the next twelve hours, working with a smaller group of volunteers, Sirojiddin filled 20-pound bags with sand and piled them on the back of large flatbed trucks to be taken to the river. By the end of the day, he had helped flood prevention efforts by filling more than 500 bags with his group. He was also able to make friends with people from across the local community, observing firsthand the value Americans place on community service. Seeing people from outside of the flood area drive long distances to work together, Sirojiddin reflected, “I was surprised how many people helped, even if they didn’t have anything to lose in the flood."

By March 21 of this year, the Red River had swelled to almost 37 feet, yet Fargo saw little damage, thanks to the actions of citizens from the surrounding area who came together in the flood prevention efforts. Looking back on his volunteer experience, Sirojiddin says his main lesson learned is “to help people, even when they are not your friends, your neighbors or your family.” Upon returning to Uzbekistan, he plans to organize service projects bringing together his own community to help others.

Muskie Fellow Highlighted on North Dakota State University's Website
April 30, 2010

2009 Muskie fellow Sardorbek Musayev from Uzbekistan, who has been studying environmental sciences at North Dakota State University, was recently featured on the university's website.

Economics Fellow Profiled on Colorado State University's Website
April 22, 2010

Nataliia Kravchenko, a 2009 Muskie fellow who is pursuing her master's degree in economics at Colorado State University, was recently profiled for a story on the university's website.

Muskie Fellow Connects American Students to Classrooms around the World
April 8, 2010

Muskie fellow Ibragimdzhon (Ibrahim) Rustamov brings students at a local elementary school in Connecticut to different classrooms around the world.  In addition to studying Educational Technology at the University of Hartford, Ibrahim volunteers with 5th grade children at Aiken Elementary School.  Using the internet to connect them with their peers all over the world, Ibrahim aims to teach students both communication skills and important lessons about diversity and tolerance. More than simply talking about different cultures, Ibrahim wished to actually show his students different countries in a new way.

Ibrahim Rustamov and his students. Photograph taken by University of Hartford’s Observer Magazine

Before joining the Muskie program, Ibrahim worked for five years as a teacher in his home country, Tajikistan, where he integrated technology into his lessons even in this remote setting. “In 2002, internet arrived to my hometown (of) Isfara, and I started using the internet and computers that I enjoyed in my student years… this time in a professional level… teaching English as a second language,” said Ibrahim. Ibrahim began to create lessons based on his own teaching experience and to learn new ways to present information by working as the Internet Learning Center Educator at Relief International Schools Online.  As an applicant to the Muskie program, Ibrahim wanted to continue to look for ways that he could incorporate technology into the classroom and create online learning communities through educational networks.  Shortly after arriving in Connecticut on the Muskie program, Ibrahim realized his vision, creating this online community with local children.

When Ibrahim met with teachers and administrators at Aiken Elementary school, he expressed his desire to work with the students and was welcomed as a volunteer.  In order to connect his students with students in Tajikistan, Ibrahim used rafi.ki. This British site, which takes its name from the Swahili word for friend (Rafiki), was started for students of all languages and countries to create home pages about their local schools and communities, while giving them the opportunity to research and meet students from different countries also connected to the site. Unfortunately, due to unreliable electricity in Tajikistan, Ibrahim has been unable to connect his students in the US with children from his country. However, he has started partnerships with students from the UK and China. His students have the ability to meet and learn about new these cultures by sending messages to students, starting discussion forums, communicating in chat rooms or setting up video conferences, all with the aid of the site’s translation tool when needed.

Currently, Ibrahim’s students are creating their own mini encyclopedia pages on the site to provide general information to other elementary level students. Topics they are working on include: American states, electronics, climate change and world hunger. To assure accuracy of information, pages are closely monitored by both teachers at Aiken Elementary and the administrators of the rafi.ki site. Ibrahim’s students have been prospering since he began working with them as evident by the fact that Aiken Elementary was recently selected as the school of the month by the website and one of Ibrahim’s students had her encyclopedia page on World Hunger chosen as the homepage of the month Ibrahim has seen the importance in creating an international perspective for his students that he hopes will continue after he has left Connecticut and returned to Tajikistan.

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

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

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.

"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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