2012 Muskie Program Fellows

ARMENIA
 

Anahit Apinyan
Armenia
Education
Minnesota State University-Mankato

Anahit Apinyan earned her diploma from Vanadzor State Pedagogical Institute.  She worked as an English Teacher at School N20 in Vanadzor, Armenia.  Ms. Apinyan has been an English Language Instructor for the Evrica Plus Training Center and the NGO, Education for All.  During her Muskie Fellowship, she will be studying technology use in the classroom, developing online resources, and educational technology leadership.       

Hovhannes Avetisyan
Armenia
Public Policy
Georgia State University

Hovhannes Avetisyan obtained his diploma in economics from Armenian State University of Economics and an advanced certificate in public policy and administration from Tufts University, Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.  He has worked for Armenia’s Ministry of Economy as a Head of the Investment Policy Department and Deputy Head of the International Cooperation Department at the Ministry of Finance. He has also held positions with the Ministry of Defense and the National Statistic Service. Mr. Avetisyan was awarded the title of First Class Adviser of Civil Service of Armenia for his more than ten years of experience in the public sector of Armenia.  As a Muskie fellow, he will be studying public financial policy.

Hamlet Gasoyan
Armenia
Public Health
University of South Florida

Hamlet Gasoyan received his doctor of stomatology and prosthodontist degrees from Yerevan State Medical University.  He was a clinical resident at the Central Clinical Military Hospital and a dentist the Art Classic Dent clinic.  Mr. Gasoyan has worked as a facilitator and program adviser for the Training of Trainers' Conference, organized by the U.S. Peace Corps and the Armenian Red Cross Society.  He had also served as an adviser and volunteer trainer for "SMS informational helpline on HIV/AIDS issues" a program organized by the Armenian Red Cross Society and the U.S. Peace Corps.  During his Muskie fellowship, he will pursue a master of public health, focusing on health care organizations and management.

Hasmik Hayrapetyan
Armenia
Public Administration
University of Massachusetts-Amherst

Hasmik Hayrapetyan received her master's degree from Yerevan State Linguistic University with a double major in English and French Language.  Most recently she has worked in the UNICEF Armenia office.  Ms. Hayrapetyan was an active volunteer with the Women’s Resource Center where she taught English to victims of domestic violence, refugee women, and vulnerable families.  She was a member of the Coalition to Stop Violence against Women in Armenia and the member of the Gender Theme Group of United Nations in Armenia.  During her Muskie Fellowship, she will study public policy and administration with a focus on gender issues.

Lilit Hovhannisyan
Armenia
Environmental Management
Miami University-Ohio

Lilit Hovhannisyan received her MBA from the American University of Armenia and a bachelor’s in sociology from Yerevan State University.  She was the manager of the environmental/social component of the Mott MacDonald and VISTAA Plus Consortium.  Ms. Hovhannisyan has a wide array of experience in environmental management and has served as a gender specialist for the Water to Market Activity as part of the Millennium Challenge Account, a program manager for the Armenia Tree project, and a team leader and specialist for the Natural Resource Management and Poverty Reduction  Project, to name a few.  During her Muskie fellowship, she will continue her studies in environmental management.

Arsen Stepanyan
Armenia
Public Administration
SUNY-Binghamton

Arsen Stepanyan earned a master’s degree from both the American University of Armenia and Yerevan State Institute of Economics. He has worked with many governmental and non-governmental agencies on constituency relations, public participation and transparency of decision making processes, and other civil society related matters. On the national level, Mr. Stepanyan worked with the Armenian Parliament, Ombudsman’s office, various executive branch ministries and local government institutions, as well as media, national advocacy NGOs and coalitions. He served as constituency relations expert for the Armenian Legislative Strengthening Program for four years. Some of the international organizations with which Mr. Stepanyan has worked include UNDP, OSCE, USAID, and EU-TACIS.  During his Muskie fellowship, he will pursue his master of public administration. 

AZERBAIJAN

Isa Aliyev
Azerbaijan
Public Administration
Portland State University

Isa Aliyev received both a bachelor’s and master’s degree from the Azerbaijan University of Languages.  He also earned a master of public policy from Central European University in Budapest, Hungary.  He served as the deputy director for the Project Implementation Unit of the Azerbaijan Health Sector Reform Project with the Ministry of Health.  Prior that that, Mr. Aliyev worked as an economist at the Budget Forecasting and Projects Department of the Azerbaijan State Oil Fund, a policy analysis specialist at the Health Policy and Planning Unit of the Ministry of Health, and as a program development officer at the Support for Economic Initiatives Public Union.  He is a winner of the Fiscal Decentralization Initiative Scholarship from the Open Society Institute.  During his Muskie fellowship, Mr. Aliyev will be studying healthcare finance in order to apply relevant mechanisms to reform healthcare financing in Azerbaijan.

Razim Aliyev
Azerbaijan
Library and Information Sciences
University of Oklahoma

Razim Aliyev studied at Ganja State University and was a mathematics and informatics teacher at the Duyerli village school.  During his Muskie fellowship, he will be studying instructional technology and design.   

Oktay Alishov
Azerbaijan
Public Administration
Northern Illinois University

Oktay Alishov received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Baku State University.  He holds a certificate from Université Montesquieu-Bordeaux IV in France and a certificate from Università per Stranieri di Perugia in Italy.  He served as the head of the Organizational Development Department at "Silk Way" Holding, LLC.  Mr. Alishov has also volunteered for The International Committee of the Red Cross.  During his time as a Muskie fellow, he will be studying public administration and leadership.

Vafa Huseyinli
Azerbaijan
Business Administration
University of Wisconsin-Green Bay

Vafa Huseyinli earned her bachelor’s degree in philology faculty and Arabic language and literature from Qafqaz University.   She studied education at the University of Alabama in Huntsville as an exchange program participant.  Ms. Huseyinli has worked as a specialist in the human resources department of the Central Bank of Azerbaijan Republic and as a projects manager with Hilfswerk Austria International.  Her achievements include:  the 2010 AAA Alumni Award for “Achievements in Community Service” and winning two grants. During her time as a Muskie fellow, she will study human resources management, financial management, and human assets management and valuation.

Gulshan Huseynli
Azerbaijan
Education
St. Cloud State University

Gulshan Huseynli received her bachelor’s degree from the Azerbaijan Institute of Teachers- Mingachevir branch..  She has worked as an English language teacher with Sahib Mammadov Lyceuum, a language and cultural facilitator and a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) Program Assistant with the U.S. Peace Corps.  Ms. Huseynli belongs to the Mingachevir Branch of Azerbaijan English Teachers Association (AZETA) and serves as the manager assistant.  She received the first prize in a competition held by the AZETA English Global Products Promotion Project in 2011 and certificate of first place in the Professionals category the 2011 Writing Olympics.  She also initiated and organized the "My Microphone" project in Mingachevir in 2012.  During her fellowship, she will study the impact of after school activities on student’s personal development and the impact of school and outside organization cooperation on effective education.

Gurban Karimbayli
Azerbaijan
Public Administration
New Mexico State University

Gurban Karimbayli received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Baku State University where he studied history and law.  He worked as a project manager for the United Nations Development Program.  He has also worked with the Azerbaijan Youth Foundation, Save the Children Country Office, the Eurasia Partnership Foundation’s Youth Initiatives, and the Youth Affairs Department in the Ministry of Youth and Sport of Azerbaijan Republic.  Mr. Karimbayli received an honorary diploma from the Ministry of Youth and Sports for active participation in youth policy implementation  and an honorary diploma from the local office of Council of Europe for active participation in the implementation of  the “All equal-All different” European Youth Campaign.  During his fellowship, he will be studying public budgeting, public policy analysis, and decentralized governance.

Rashid Mammadov
Azerbaijan
Business Administration
Ohio State University

Rashid Mammadov received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Finance from Azerbaijan State Economic University.  He has worked for the Central Bank of Azerbaijan as the senior specialist of the Strategic Management Department.  He also delivered lectures on corporate finance for bachelor students at Azerbaijan State Economic University.  During his Muskie fellowship, Mr. Mammadov will study investment, risk management, and financial market regulation.

BELARUS
 

Tatsiana Bialiayeva
Belarus
Law
Pepperdine University

Tatsiana Bialiayeva completed her bachelor’s in political science from Belarusian State University and obtained her master’s in law from European Humanities University.  She has worked as a lawyer for Urspectr, LLC, a legal consultant for International Finance Corporation, and a lecturer Belarussian State University.  Ms. Bialiayeva has also served as a volunteer mediator for Belarusian economic state courts.  She was issued a medal and letter of honor for mediation development in Belarus by the High Economic Court of the Republic of Belarus.  During her Muskie fellowship, she will study mediation and business negotiation.

Maryna Charnyshova
Belarus
Environmental Management
SUNY ESF

Maryna Charnyshova received her bachelor’s degree with honors in psychology from the Belarusian State Pedagogical University and her masters of science in development studies from Lund University in Sweden.  Ms. Charynshova was an exchange student at Tilburg University in the Netherlands.  She interned at the United Nations High Commission for Refugees in 2009. Her most recent involvement has been with United Nations Development Programme) as a project coordinator.  She has also worked for UNIHELP as deputy chair of the board.  Ms. Charnyshova has volunteered in Minsk with the Rotary International youth program and the Special Olympic Games.  During her Muskie fellowship, she will be studying environmental management.

Liudmila Dabyshuk
Belarus
Business Administration
University of Missouri-St. Louis

Liudmila Dabyshuk earned her degree from Minsk State Linguistic University.  She most recently worked as senior sales manager at private garment factory, JLLC "Company Nelva".  Prior to this, she held other positions at JCC “Nelva” as head of the commercial department and head of the procurement department.  During her Muskie fellowship, she will be studying supply chain management, operation management, and marketing with a focus on the fashion field.

Mikalai Shchatsko
Belarus
Journalism and Mass Communications
University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill

Mikalai Shchatsko earned a bachelor’s degree in Radioinformatics from Belarusian State University of Informatics and Radioelectronics.  He was a contributing editor of the technology section for the largest Belarusian online media - TUT.BY and has worked in Belarusian print and online media business for more than 10 years.  Mr. Shchatsko received the "Golden keyboard: best IT-journalist in Belarus" award in 2010 and won second place in the Belarusian "IT Marketing Challenge” in 2006.  During his fellowship, he will study how the Internet is changing journalism and businesses across the globe and how state-of-the-art technology advances affect people and the media.

GEORGIA
 

Konstantine Chanturia
Georgia
Business Administration
University of Texas-Arlington

Konstantine Chanturia received both his bachelor’s (with honors) and master’s degrees in economics from Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University.  He worked as the head of SME Loan division of Bank Constanta.  Prior to that, he worked with the Bank Republic Societe Generale Group, the Bank of Georgia; and the Georgian Leasing Company (a subsidiary of Bank of Georgia).  During his Muskie fellowship, he will pursue an MBA and specialize in financial management.

Shorena Dolaberidze
Georgia
Education
St. Cloud State University

Shorena Dolaberidze holds a master’s in anglistics and a certificate in social work from Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University.  She has been a teacher with the English Teaching Center and a lecturer for the Education Fund at Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University.  Prior to this, Ms. Doaberidze worked as a coordinator for the "LIFE" project with World Vision Georgia and as a coordinator for the U.S. Embassy and Batumi Public Library joint project, “American Corner". During her Muskie fellowship, she will study educational administration and leadership.

Nino Ghvinadze
Georgia
International Affairs
University of Kentucky

Nino Ghvinadze received her bachelor’s degree from Tbilisi State University in international relations and studied transition studies at the University of Tartu.  She was a program coordinator for the East West Management Institute, Inc. in policy, advocacy, and civil society development in Georgia.  Ms. Ghvinadze has also worked as a program assistant for the National Democratic Institute.  During her Muskie fellowship, she will study security studies with a focus on national defense.

Nodar Kereselidze
Georgia
Public Policy
University of Massachusetts-Amherst

Nodar Kereselidze studied at Tbilisi State University and received a bachelor's degree in economics and a diploma of law.  He later earned a master’s degree in European studies from Danube University Krems in Austria.  Mr. Kereselidze served the Ministry of Agriculture of Georgia as the head of the International Relations Department.  Prior to this, he worked as the head of the Marketing Research and Strategic Development Division and as an adviser to the Minister.  He was the director of the graduate studies department at Caucasus University and a researcher for the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs.  Mr. Kereselidze received the Order of Honor awarded by the President of Georgia.  During his Muskie fellowship, he will study public policy, public management, and nonprofit governance.

Natalia Tsivadze
Georgia
Economics
Georgia State University

Natalia Tsivadze graduated as salutatorian of her master’s class from the International School of Economics (ISET) at Tbilisi State University  where she concentrated in international trade and economic integration.  She received her bachelor’s in business administration from the Caucasus Academic Centre.  She worked as a specialist at the National Bank of Georgia.  Ms. Tsivadze has been an invited lecturer at Tbilisi State University, a date expert at CASE – Georgia, and as a teaching assistant at the International School of Economics at TSU.  She has won the Outstanding Teaching Performance award, Certificate of Achievement, and the Best Thesis Prize at ISET.  She was also a winner of the Alliance of France competition, “VISION D’EUROPE”.  During her Muskie fellowship, she will study financial economics.

Tamila Vatcharadze
Georgia
Education
Middle Tennessee State University

Tamila Vatcharadze holds a bachelor’s in international telecommunication from Georgian Technical University and a master’s in public policy from Georgian Institute of Public Affairs.  She has worked as a program coordinator for the American Councils for International Education.  Ms. Vatcharadze is a Rotary Club member and a big sister in a youth program administered by the Ministry of Justice of Georgia.  She has received funding from the U.S. Department of State and American Councils for five self-directed youth education projects.  During her Muskie fellowship, she will be studying higher education in the United States.

KAZAKHSTAN
 

Dina Amrisheva
Kazakhstan
Public Administration
Cornell University

Dina Amrisheva received an honors diploma in French from the Eurasian National University and a diploma in economics from Karaganda State University.  She worked as a senior investment projects manager at the State Financial Development Institution - Investment Fund of Kazakhstan JSC and received the “Employee of the Year” award in 2010.  She has volunteered for and sponsored the Oncology & Hematology Center of the Kazakhstani Research Institute of Oncology and Radiology and the First Children Hospice in Kazakhstan.  Ms. Amrisheva served as a state representative at shareholder meetings in numerous urban planning projects in Kazakhstan and is a member of the Board of Directors of investment projects located in Russia, the Almaty International Women's Club, and the Governmental Commission for Development of Cooperation between Russia and Kazakhstan.  As a Muskie fellow, she will study public administration focusing on implementing socially valuable projects with government participation.

Madina Assangaliyeva
Kazakhstan
Library and Information Science
Kent State University

Madina Assangaliyeva received a bachelor’s degree in international relations from East Kazakhstan State University.  She worked as the chief librarian for the East Kazakhstan Pushkin Library International Resource Center.  She has also worked as an IT instructor for the English Access Microscholarship Program and as a youth service project assistant for the Public Library Innovation Program.  She received a “Best Lesson Plan” award for the Regional Competition for EFL teachers.  During her Muskie fellowship, Ms. Assangaliyeva will study management for public libraries, project design and management, information technology, and digital libraries.

Natalya Bogapova
Kazakhstan
Education
University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Natalya Bogapova received her bachelor’s degree in teaching English from the Kokshetau Teachers' Training Institute.  She has worked as an English teacher at Kokshetau Humanitarian-Technical Lyceum-School.  Additionally, she has served as a technical and cultural facilitator for the U.S. Peace Corps, and as the vice-president of the city English Teachers' Association.  Ms. Bogapova was awarded the title of Honorary Citizen of the city of Lincoln.  She won a small grant for the implementation of the project "Making the Right Effective Moves in Teaching and Learning Development".  During her time as a Muskie fellow, she will study education administration.

Gulnaz Kelekeyeva
Kazakhstan
Public Policy
Duquesne University

Gulnaz Kelekeyeva received her bachelor’s degree from the Eurasian National University and a master’s degree in business administration from Michigan International University.  She held the positions of National Advocacy Advisor and National Family Strengthening Advisor at SOS Children’s Villages Kazakhstan.  Prior to her advisory positions, she worked at the UN Children’s Fund and the UN Development Programme on programs focused on child protection, social policy development, HIV/AIDS, and young people’s health and development.  Ms. Kelekeyeva is the co-author of the “Training Manual on Monitoring of Child Rights and Responding to Child Complaints”.  During her Muskie fellowship, she will be studying social and public policy analysis and administration.  

Andrey Khomutovskiy
Kazakhstan
Education
University of South Dakota

Andrey Khomutovskiy received his bachelor’s degree in education from North Kazakhstan State University and attended Murray State University in 2008 as a Global UGRAD exchange program participant.  He has worked for the Academy "Kokshe" as an international relations specialist and also participated in the North Kazakhstan Archaeological Expedition as an interpreter for an international team of archaeologists in the summer of 2011.  Mr. Khomutovskiy received both the “Student of the Year” award in 2010 and the “Graduate of the Year” award in 2011 from North Kazakhstan State University.  As a Muskie fellow, he will study education policy and leadership, and international education standards.

Nadezhda Tsoy
Kazakhstan
Business Administration
University of South Dakota

Nadezhda Tsoy received her bachelor of science in business administration and accounting from the Kazakhstan Institute of Management, Economics and Strategic Research (KIMEP).  She participated in the KIMEP Exchange program at Korea University Business School.  Ms. Tsoy has worked as an audit senior supervisor with KPMG and has also interned with the U.S. Commercial Service and Shell Kazakhstan.  She is currently in process of receiving her Association of Chartered Certified Accountants qualification.  During her Muskie fellowship, she will be studying investment and portfolio management.      

KYRGYSTAN

Nodirbek Ismailov
Kyrgyzstan
International Affairs
Kent State University

Nodirbek Ismailov received his first bachelor’s degree from Osh State University’s Faculty of World Languages.  He then earned a second bachelor’s with honors from Dronten Professional Agricultural University in international rural innovations and development.  He served as an interpreter and assistant to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.  Mr. Ismailov also founded and interpreted for “Golden Goal”, a youth union.  During his Muskie fellowship, he will be studying peace-building in post-conflict countries.

Cholpon Kasymbek kyzy
Kyrgyzstan
Public Policy
Missouri State University

Cholpon Kasymbek kyzy earned her bachelors in English language instruction from Kyrgyz State University.  She then attended Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University in Oita, Japan where she obtained her master of science in international cooperation policy.  Ms. Kasymbek kyzy participated in the Kyrgyzstan Parliament Strengthening Program as an information and communication officer.  She has also worked as an official representative of the Kyrgyz Ministry of Culture’s Law – Information Centre.  During her Muskie fellowship, she will be studying public personnel administration.

Olga Koldasova
Kyrgyzstan
Law
University of the Pacific

Olga Koldasova received her diploma in higher education from Kyrgyz State National University.  She worked as a legal adviser for the International Finance Corporation and for USAID projects on regulatory reforms, trade and commercial law.  She has also worked for the "Chaarat Zaav" joint stock company.  During her Muskie fellowship, she will study international public and trade laws and mediation.                 

Fatima Koshokova
Kyrgyzstan
Public Health
Missouri State University

Fatima Koshokova received a bachelor’s degree in English from Osh State University and a bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Russian State Social University.  She served as the director of Info-center Rainbow (NGO) in Osh city.  Prior to that, Ms. Koshokova was a lecturer at Osh State University and the International University of Kyrgyzstan.  She has also worked as an HIV/STI program coordinator assistant for Doctors Without Borders – France.  During her Muskie fellowship, she will be studying health behavior and environmental health.

Almaz Sazbakov
Kyrgyzstan
Public Policy
George Mason University

Almaz Sazbakov received his bachelor’s in business administration from the American University in Kyrgyzstan.  He has served as a head of department for investments for the Ministry of Economy of Kyrgyzstan.  During his Muskie fellowship, he will study state-building and policy formation.

MOLDOVA

Veaceslav Driglov
Moldova
Business Administration
Winston-Salem State University

Veaceslav Driglov received his economics degree from Pridnestrovie State University, specializing in finance and credit.  He was the director of the Breeze-Group, ltd and was also chairman for the Agency for Investment Attraction and Trade Promotion.  He has served as the vice president of the Lions Club Tiraspol and the deputy of the Tiraspol Municipal Council.  Mr. Driglov has received the John Smith Memorial Trust Fellowship Scholarship for democracy and good governance among civil society and political leaders.  During his time as a Muskie fellow, he will study marketing.

Sorina Macrinici
Moldova
Law
University of Notre Dame

Sorina Macrinici earned her law degree and an LL.M. in Private Law from Free International University of Moldova. She was a researcher and a member of the Legal Resources Centre from Moldova. In this capacity, she was engaged in research and advocacy for improving the Moldovan justice sector. She is also member of the Moldovan Bar. Ms. Macrinici has substantial experience working on human rights issues. Since 2006, she has been involved in human rights litigation domestically and before the European Court of Human Rights. In 2011, Ms. Macrinici was actively involved in reporting human rights violations and advocacy of NGO reports within the Universal Periodic Review of Moldova. During her Muskie fellowship, she will study International Human Rights Law.

Angela Trubceac
Moldova
Education
Miami University-Ohio

Angela Trubceac studied education at the Moldova State University and specialized in history and social science.  She has worked for the Moldovan Ministry of Education as a high school history teacher, and later as a vice principal.  She has received her first professional pedagogical degree.  During her time as a Muskie fellow, she will study American history, European studies, and educational leadership.

RUSSIA

Alina Iankovskaia
Russia
Public Administration
University of Illinois-Springfield

Alina Iankovskaia received her bachelor’s in economic theory from Perm State University where she specialized in economic and legal analysis.  She worked as an expert researcher with the regional think tank Civic Analysis and Independent Research Center (GRANI Center).  Ms. Iankovskaia held several leadership roles at her university including:  head of the PR Department and Volunteering Department, captain of the Perm State University team of fitness aerobics an swimming team.  She also volunteered with the Jewish youth center, Hillel Perm and served as head of the organizational committee for the student business plan competition “Global Idea.”  She won first prize at the regional scientific-practical conference of young scientists and frequently participated in scientific seminars.  During her fellowship, she will study supply growth in the non-for-profit sector and evaluation methods of NGO efficiency.

Evgeniya Kalenykh
Russia
Business Administration
University of California-Berkeley

Evgeniya Kalenykh received her bachelor’s degree in business from the Omsk State University.  She worked for Unilever RUB as the head of the project management office.  Prior to this, she worked for ITPremium, managing the department of marketing and quality assurance.    She was awarded the V. Potanin scholarship for academic excellence and leadership 2007 and 2008, as well as the Omsk City Governor Scholarship in 2008.  Over her academic career, she has had eight research papers published in country, regional and city economic editions.  During her Muskie fellowship, she will study innovation management, ethics and corporate social responsibility, and financial, environmental and social aspects of sustainability.

Aleksei Khlebnikov
Russia
Public Policy
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Aleksei Khlebnikov attended Lobachevsky State University of Nizhni Novgorod where he received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in international relations with a focus on Middle Eastern studies.  He was a research fellow for the Moshe Dayan Center for Middle Eastern and African Studies of Tel Aviv University and for Central European University.  He has also worked for the Office of the Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy in the Volga federal district as a consultant to the domestic policy department.  Mr. Khlebnikov is a 2009 Oxford Russian Fund scholarship winner.  As a Muskie fellow, he will study the U.S. foreign policy elaboration process towards Russia and the Middle East and the implications of Arab upheavals on U.S. foreign policy.

 
Alena Kolbatova
Russia
Economics
University of Missouri-Columbia

Alena Kolbatova obtained a specialist diploma in international economics from Siberian Federal University and studied abroad for a summer in New York City.  She worked as a foreign economic activity manager with RK Export, LLC.  She has also interned with Krasnoyarsk Metallurgical Plant in the Export Sales Department and with Module-M Agency, LLC as a financial analyst associate.  Ms. Kolbatova won a scholarship for a basic academic course of English at one of the Education First School Centers.  She has participated in the Interregional Scientific and Practical Conferences, the Regional Business English Olympiads, and the International Conference "Marketing in Russia".  She has also participated in the nationwide competition by the International League of Youth Diplomacy in Russia and the Russian Youth Competition "Russia & NATO: partnership or rivalry?"  During her Muskie fellowship, she will be studying financial economics, international economic policy, and advanced money and banking.
 

Alexander Matsenov
Russia
Business Administration
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Alexander Matsenov obtained his master of science from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology.  During his Muskie fellowship, he will be studying debt capital markets and venture capital markets.

Aleksandra Mikhailova
Russia
Law
Tulane University

Aleksandra Mikhailova graduated with high honors from Nizhniy Novgorod Law Academy and received a bachelor of law with emphasis in international private law and international commercial contract.  She has worked for the Organization of Arbitration Managers as legal counsel in bankruptcy proceedings.  Ms. Mikhailova has also worked for Chuvash National Lawyers Company and volunteered attorney services for the International Youth Voluntary Center, Sodrujestvo.  Ms. Mikhailova’s article, “International Commercial Contract: Advice for Businessmen”, was published in the Nizhniy Novgorod Law Academy Law Review in 2010.   During her Muskie fellowship, she will pursue a master of law in international and comparative law emphasizing international bankruptcy and cross border insolvencies, international business transactions, international sale of goods, and alternative dispute resolutions.

Gani Nurmukhametov
Russia
Economics
St. Cloud State University

Gani Nurmukhametov completed his bachelor’s studies in international relations at Kazan State University.  He received his master’s degree in chemical engineering in petrochemisty with honors from Kazan National Research Technological University.  He has also completed post-graduate studies in economics at the Academy of Science of the Republic of Tatarstan.  Mr. Nurmukhametov worked as an expert for the Special Economic Zone "Alabuga", Investor Relations Department.  He received the “Talented Youth Scholars” Award from the Russian Federation Ministry for Education.  During his Muskie fellowship, he will be studying regional economy and economic development programs.
 

Anastasia Petukova
Russia
Law
University of Connecticut

Anastasia Petukhova attended Mari State University where she earned her degree in jurisprudence.  She became an assistant judge with the Arbitration court of the Mari El Republic.  Ms. Petukhova has also served as a paralegal and as a lecturer with Mari State University.

Kirill Zagurskiy
Russia
Economics
Kent State University

Kirill Zagurskiy received his diploma with honors from Kuban State University in economics and translation and interpretation.  He worked with the Department of Investments and Project Support in the Krasnodar region.  There he served as the principal consultant of strategic development of investment in the Reforms and Development Division.  His awards include:  2011 Prize of the Krasnodar Major for talented young people; 2010 Laureate of the National social contest; 2009 and 2011 Grant holder of the Russian Government; and 2009 and 2011 Grant holder of the Oxford Russia Fund.  He was also a member of the Russian Volunteer Team at the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Vancouver in 2010.  During his Muskie fellowship, he will study hedge funds and risk-management of innovative enterprises.

 TAJIKISTAN

Farida Mamadaslamova
Tajikistan
Economics
Western Illinois University

Farida Mamadaslamova earned her bachelor’s degree in economics from the Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University (KRSU) and completed two years of study of management and marketing with Khorog State University.  Employed by OJSC "Pamir Energy Company", she worked as a budget manager, customer service center manager, and credit manager.  She was also the training coordination for the Focus Humanitarian Assistance NGO.  Ms. Mamadaslamova received the Aga Khan Foundation Scholarship for four-year study at KRSU.  During her Muskie fellowship, she will be studying the determination and analysis of developmental projects as supported and managed by public and private sectors in the U.S.  She would like to investigate their interactions with each other and their impact on the development of the socio-economic sphere.

Shodigul Mamadyorbekova
Tajikistan
Environmental Management
Northern Arizona Unversity

Shodigul Mamadyorbekova received her bachelor's degree in history and law from Khorog State University.  She was a tourism coordinator and community mobilizer at the NGO, “Nature Protection Team”.  She has also worked on the community-based conservation project for the management of mountain ungulates in Tajikistan, the conservation initiative in the Tajik Pamirs, and for the Wildlife Conservation Society.  Additionally, Ms. Mamadyorbekova has experience as a researcher and translator.  During her Muskie fellowship, she will be studying trans-boundary water management initiatives in Central Asia.

Farhod Rahmatov
Tajikistan
Journalism and Mass Communications
University of Nebraska-Omaha

Farhod Rahmatov received his bachelor’s degree in Finance from the Technological University of Tajikistan- Khujand Branch.  He worked as the Director of the TV Exchange project for Tajikistan’s Internews Network.  He has also worked for the OSCE Educational Summer Camp, the Soros Foundation’s Summer School of Human Rights, and the NGO GIV – Accent.  In 2004, Mr. Rahmatov received a grant to produce the show “To 2004 with Rights Knowing” with the private TV station, Jahonoro.  In 2007 his TV program, “Road Life” won an award from the Internews Network. During his Muskie fellowship, he will be studying United States mass media transition to the Internet.

TURKMENISTAN
 

Shemshat Atayeva
Turkmenistan
Education
University of Alabama

Shemshat Atayeva holds an associate in arts from the Teachers' Training School and a bachelor of arts from the International Turkmen-Turkish University where she won the Best Student of the Department award.  She was an English teacher with the Bashkent Educational Center.  She has also taught kindergarten and elementary school, and at schools for physically-challenged children.  During her Muskie fellowship, she will be studying advanced educational psychology.
 

Arslan Jumajanov
Turkmenistan
Business Administration
South Carolina State University

Arslan Jumajanov completed his bachelor's degree in law from the Institute of External Economic Links, Economy and Law in Saint-Petersburg, Russia.  He worked as a supply chain manager with Weatherford International, one of the largest international oil field service companies.  As a Muskie fellow, Mr. Jumajanov will study marketing, corporate entrepreneurship, venture capital and private finance.
 

Batyr Kochumov
Turkmenistan
Public Health
St. Louis University

Batyr Kochumov obtained his medical doctorate in surgery from The State Medical Institute of Turkmenistan.  He received a bachelor’s degree in international relations from Diplomatic Academy in Moscow, Russia.  He was a program manager for the Project HOPE Tuberculosis Program, a USAID-Quality Health Care Project in Turkmenistan.  He was also employed at the Treatment Counseling Center of Turkmenistan as a surgeon.  During his Muskie fellowship, Mr. Kochumov will study public health.
 

UKRAINE
 

Oleksandr Iakymenko
Ukraine
Public Policy
Western Illinois University

Oleksandr Iakymenko received his bachelor’s degree from the National Academy of Public Administration, Office of the President of Ukraine.  He completed his masters of pedagogy from Zhytomyr State University.  Mr. Iakymenko worked as senior specialist for the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine.  Prior to this, he served as the head of the division at Rayon Administration.  During his Muskie fellowship, he will be studying international relations and political behavior.

Andrii Kruglashov
Ukraine
Public Policy
Georgia State University

Andrii Kruglashov attended Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University where he received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in political science and psychology.  He is close to obtaining his PhD in political science at the same university, specializing in “Political Institutions and Processes”.  Mr. Kruglashov has held many roles within political campaigns including: analyst of political processes for the Ukrainian presidential election in 2010; rsearcher for IMA Group, and consultant for the Niccolo M, Center of Political Consulting. He has served as consultant for the Socialist Party of Ukraine, the United Democratic Party, and the New Democratic Party.  In 2009, he was awarded with an annual scholarship by the V. Pinchuk Foundation Zavtra, and was a first place winner in the National Scientific Work Competition in Political Science.  He was also a 2007 winner in the national Olympiad in Political Science in the Ukraine.  During his time as a Muskie fellow, he will be studying public deliberation in the policy-making process.
 

Mykola Novak
Ukraine
Business Administration
New Mexico State University

Mykola Novak received a master’s degree in electro-mechanical engineering and automated production systems design from the National Mining University of Ukraine.  He was a plant productivity leader for Bunge Limited, a leading global soybean exporter and food processing company.  He has also worked as the engineering project leader for Procter & Gamble.  Mr. Novak is a member of AIESEC, a global youth organization that develops leadership capabilities.   He received the Pinchuk Fund scholarship in 2006 and has held several personal photography exhibitions in Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine.  As a Muskie fellow, he will study applying business management systems and Lean 6 Sigma tools to appropriate businesses.

Volodymyr Shemayev
Ukraine
Economics
University of Montana

Volodymyr Shemayev received both his bachelor’s and master’s in finance, with excellence, from Kharkiv National University of Economics.  He served as an analyst with the Economic Reform Coordination Center of Ukraine from 2011 to 2012.  Mr. Shemayev has also been employed as an advisor to the minister for the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine.  Additionally, he served as a senior specialist in the Department of International Technical Assistance and Cooperation, a program manager with the United Nations Population Fund, and volunteered for the All-Ukrainian Student Council under the Ministry of Education and Science.  In 2011, he was selected through an open competition to the Presidential Cadre Reserve to complete a management and leadership program at Harvard Kennedy School.  During his Muskie fellowship, he will be studying economic development and export financing instruments.

Svitlana Vodyanyk
Ukraine
Law
University of Miami

Svitlana Vodyanyk received her specialist degree from the Yaroslav Mudry National Law Academy of Ukraine.  She was an adviser for the Confederation of Employers of Ukraine and a senior specialist for the Consortium Industrial Group.  She has also worked as a legal adviser for Consulting Group Prudens and Siemens Ukraine.  Ms. Vodyanyk received the Diploma for Active Work at the Draft Law on Public-Private Partnership on behalf of the Parliament of Ukraine.  During her Muskie fellowship, she will be studying commercial law and international business law.

Andriy Zinchuk
Ukraine
Business Administration
Murray State University

Andriy Zinchuk earned a bachelor’s with honors in management of foreign economic activities from Ternopil National Economic University and he also received a master’s with honors in international investment from the British Columbia Institute of Technology.  He also holds a Certificate of Accomplishment in International Student Exchange Program in Business Administration.  Mr. Zinchuk served as head of the department of energy efficiency for the International Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine.  He was a regional project manager for Osnova, LLC and assistant to the head of trade and economics with the Consulate General of Ukraine for the Canada-Ukraine Trade and Economic Mission of 2009.  During his fellowship, he will study dynamic changes impacting industrial attractiveness and competitiveness.         
 

UZBEKISTAN
 

Otabek Abduqodirov
Uzbekistan
Economics
University of Texas-Arlington

Otabek Abduqodirov received his bachelor's degree in accounting and audit from Tashkent State Agrarian University.  He served as chief accountant at Foreign Enterprise.  Mr. Abduqodirov is an internationally Certified Accounting Practitioner and belongs to the Eurasian Council for Certified Accountants and Auditors. During his Muskie fellowship, he will be studying microeconomics.

Nargiza Fuzailova
Uzbekistan
Public Health
University of Southern Maine

Nargiza Fuzailova graduated from Tashkent State Medical Institute as an ObGyn with three years of internship and residency in the Research-Scientific Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology.  She worked with UNICEF Uzbekistan for four years; first, as a health officer for the "Improvement of Mother and Child Health" program, and later as a program officer on Child Rights Monitoring.  She served as an Ombudsman and as a peer support volunteer during her time with UNICEF Uzbekistan.  While a Muskie fellow, Ms. Fuzailova will study public health with a focus in health management.

Sarvar Gulyamov
Uzbekistan
Economics
Western Michigan University

Sarvar Gulyamov attended Tashkent State University where he received his bachelor’s in economics.  He served the United Nations Development Programme in Uzbekistan as an aid coordination specialist.  Prior to that, he was a finance manager for the U.S. Peace Corps.  Mr. Gulyamov spearheaded project finding activities for the Japan International Cooperation Agency and worked on major investment projects in the oil and gas industry in Uzbekistan.  He is a Franklin Award recipient.  During his time as a Muskie fellow, he will study development economics with a focus on industrial policy and monetary policy liberalization.

Khulkar Kayumova
Uzbekistan
Education
University of Utah

Khulkar Kayumova received her Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism from Andijan State University.  She has worked as an English teacher at NGOs and Asaka Pedagogical College in Andijan.  Prior to her fellowship, she has also coordinated the English Access Microscholarship Program in her region.  During her Muskie fellowship, Ms. Kayumova will major in special education focusing on identifying students with learning disabilities, assessment and early interventions.

Dariya Kudabaeva
Uzbekistan
Public Policy
University of Texas-Arlington

Dariya Kudabaeva received her bachelor's degree in International Economic Relations in the University of World Economy and Diplomacy in Tashkent.  She served as the Deputy Chief of Division in the Republican Center for Market Conjuncture Research and Appraisal of Investment Projects and Programs under the Uzbekistan Ministry of Economy.  She also coordinated Turkish-Uzbek workshops as the Coordinator of Public Affairs in the Republican Center of Market Conjuncture Research.  During her Muskie fellowship, Ms. Kudabaeva will be studying urban affairs, public private partnership, and private sector ethical responsibilities in city development.

Kamoliddin Rustamov
Uzbekistan
Business Administration
North Dakota State University

Kamoliddin Rustamov earned his bachelor’s in economics from the Andijan Institute of Engineering and Economics and also studied at the Minnesota State University-Mankato as an exchange program participant.  He has worked as the material follow up manager of the Global Supply Chain for General Motors Uzbekistan.  Mr. Rustamov has also worked with the Uzbek Commodity Exchange as a commodities broker.  During his Muskie fellowship, he will be studying techniques of increasing logistics and supply chain efficiency.