Chris Merriman

Chris Merriman currently serves as USAID’s Country Development Officer for Senegal, the Sahel Regional Office, Chad, The Gambia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone in the Bureau for Africa. Chris is a 2020 Presidential Management Fellow (PMF) who has completed rotations with USAID/Senegal’s Democracy, Human Rights, & Governance Office and the State Department’s Political Section in Dakar as well as a USAID/Kenya’s Office of Democratic Governance, Peace and Security. Chris graduated with honors from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in May 2020 with an MA in International Affairs and concentrations in International Economics and African Studies. At SAIS, Chris received the Christian A. Herter Award for the highest GPA in his graduating class and interned at the State Department’s Office of East African Affairs, the Fund for Peace, and for a renewable energy company and anti-corruption NGO in Abuja, Nigeria. He also served as a teaching assistant for International Trade Theory. He served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Guinea.

Christopher Kulukundis

Christopher Kulukundis is a Professional Staff Member for the House Foreign Affairs Committee where he focuses on sub-Saharan Africa and development finance for Chairman Michael McCaul. Prior to this role, Chris worked as a Senior Legislative Assistant in the U.S. House of Representatives and at the American Enterprise Institute. He holds an MA in International Relations and Modern History from the University of St Andrews, Scotland

Susan (“Suzie”) Zimmerman

Susan (“Suzie”) Zimmerman has served as John Deere’s Global Public Policy Manager since March 2021. Her primary focus areas include Africa, Middle East, and Asia, as well as partnership development with external stakeholders to drive capacity-building and access to mechanized farming where it is most needed. Prior to joining John Deere, Suzie served on the International Public Affairs team at United Parcel Service (UPS), covering their Indian Subcontinent / Middle East / Africa region. Additionally, she served on the team responsible for building partnerships with external stakeholders to advance UPS’s women’s empowerment programming, primarily with U.S. government entities such as USAID.  Her earliest jobs in DC were with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Democratic Institute. Suzie holds a BA in Near Eastern Languages & Cultures and Anthropology from Indiana University, and an MA in International Commerce & Policy from the Schar School at George Mason University. 

Israa Nour

Israa Nour is a Policy Analyst at Open Society Foundations (OSF). As part of the U.S. Foreign Policy team, Israa’s role involves advocacy, research, and grant making on issues related to Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East. Over the past four years, she has also co-led the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) in U.S. Foreign Policy Campaign that strives to build the capacity of under resourced and underrepresented groups and organizations in the field of national security and international affairs. Prior to joining OSF, Israa was an UNICEF Sudan volunteer. Fluent in Arabic, she conducted field surveys on issues of sexual gender-based violence in North Darfur and several states in the east of the country. Her research and findings supported programmatic planning and policy recommendations towards community programs and built up the people’s resilience and empowered them to demand critical services from their government. Before UNICEF, Israa served as a volunteer English lecturer at University of Khartoum. Israa graduated with a B.S. from Virginia Commonwealth University. She resides in Virginia with her husband and daughter.

Naisha Silva

Naisha Silva is a Haitian-American with over a decade of experience driving tech innovation for emerging markets. She brings expertise in strategy, operations and global program management across both the private and non-profit sectors. Currently, she serves as the Strategy & Operations Lead for Africa at Google where drives the multi-year strategy aimed at expanding Google’s user and revenue growth across the region while maximizing impact. A dedicated community leader, Naisha founded a community of Haitians at Google who mentor local founders and developers on Google tools and products. Prior to joining Google, she worked in Consulting at IBM where she advised Public Sector leaders on project management and change management. Passionate about mentorship, Naisha also runs a bootcamp to coach aspiring Program Managers. Fluent in English, French, and Haitian Creole, Naisha is energized by communities and opportunities to advance tech innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystems in emerging markets.

Brian Mushana Kwesiga

Brian Mushana Kwesiga is studying for a Masters in Global Business Administration at the Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy where he studied abroad in Athens, Greece. He holds a M.S. Systems Engineering, B.S. Electrical Engineering, and a B.A. International Studies from Southern Methodist University, participating in six months pioneering study abroad program at the Universidade Metodista de Piracicaba, São Paolo, Brazil to develop leadership in international engineering education related to the theme, ‘Cross-Cultural Engineering: Manufacturing for Global Security.’ Kwesiga was born in Uganda and moved to the U.S. at the age of 15 years, earning an associate degree from the Brookhaven Campus of what is now Dallas College which named him a 2020 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient. He is a former President and CEO of the Ugandan North American Association and has over 15 years of engineering experience in the Aerospace & Defense industry.

Cameron Evers

Cameron Evers is a Senior Analyst for Sub-Saharan Africa at Emergent Risk International (ERI), a US-based global intelligence firm. Prior to ERI, Cameron advised financial and healthcare multinationals on global risk, wrote for the South African report, Africa Conflict Monitor, and served as the 2019 Africa Fellow for Young Professionals in Foreign Policy. His analysis on Africa and global risk has been quoted by CNBC, Zawya, and The Daily Nation, referenced by the Wall Street Journal, and appeared in such publications as Small Wars Journal and The Week magazine. He has briefed the US Intelligence Community, Department of Defense, State Department, and private sector risk organizations.

Claire Hazbun

Claire Hazbun is a PhD Student in comparative politics at Georgetown University, with research interests in political violence and state fragility. Prior to starting her doctorate, she worked at the International Republican Institute, first on the Institute’s Ethiopia portfolio and later on applied research and program evaluation. She holds a B.S. in International Politics and a certificate in African Studies from Georgetown’s School of Foreign Service, where she focused her research on ethnoregional politics in Cameroon.

Eric Muthondu

Eric Muthondu currently serves as the Program Analyst for Prosper Africa, a White House national security initiative seeking to strengthen the strategic and economic relationship between the US and Africa. Previously, Eric worked as an investment banking analyst within the Palladium Group's Capital Advisory Services division. At Palladium, Eric designed a comprehensive landscape analysis for a sustainable food production fund across countries in Africa and Latin America, developed an intricate mapping of the agritech & fintech ecosystem in Eastern and Southern Africa, and contributed to the creation of a $100M global emerging markets fund-of-funds for first-time fund managers. Eric holds a Bachelor’s in Sociology with a minor in African American Studies from Harvard University. Eric enjoys exploring ethnic cuisines, traveling, discussing international affairs and African studies, appreciating menswear and its accoutrements, and mentoring students through the college admissions process.

Anjana Turner

Anjana Turner is a multilingual attorney licensed in NY, D.C., MD, and LA focusing on international, corporate, and energy project finance matters. Her practice spans U.S. and cross-border transactions, renewable energy transactions and finance, ESG, anti-money laundering/bribery/corruption (FCPA), and data privacy/AI governance in nearly 50 civil and common law jurisdictions worldwide. Her experience includes commercial and EPC contracts, power purchase agreements (PPAs), energy service agreements (ESAs), public-private partnerships, utilities regulatory compliance, and various finance agreements relating to decarbonization, energy efficiency projects, and innovative renewable energy technology (i.e. solar, geothermal, battery energy storage systems). She is skilled in drafting, negotiating, and reviewing complex agreements in Spanish, French, and Portuguese. Anjana is passionate about leveraging her background in government and large enterprise to empower entrepreneurs and small businesses. She is a proud South Louisiana native and Tulane grad who enjoys great food, fine wine, tennis, golf, and an occasional polo match.

Nani Detti

Nani Detti is a Research Associate at KRL International, where she supports U.S. private sector clients operating in sectors such as mining, energy, and education in Africa. Nani assists clients in building relationships with U.S. Government agencies and African governments, conducts research on U.S.-Africa policy, prepares analytical reports and memos, and monitors congressional hearings for relevant client issues. Nani previously interned at the International Forum on Sovereign Wealth Funds, the Clooney Foundation for Justice, and the Center for International Policy. In 2019, Nani Founded Misale Initiative, a non-profit in Ethiopia that provides mentorship and career development services to university students and graduates. Nani earned her Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School at Tufts University and her Bachelor's degree from St. John's College, where she studied philosophy and classical studies. Nani was born and raised in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and is passionate about all things Africa.

Harry Zixin Wang

Harry Zixin Wang is a recent graduate of the MPA in International Development program at Harvard Kennedy School of Government. At HKS, Harry worked with Professor Carmen Reinhart to analyze the impact of China’s investment on industrial policies in East Africa. Prior to Harvard, Harry has worked in Rwanda, Kenya and Ghana and served as an officer at United Nations in Beijing focusing on negotiations with Chinese government on South-south cooperation in Africa. Harry also holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and data science from New York University and a master’s in management from Schwarzman College of Tsinghua University. 

Liam Karr

Liam Karr is the Africa Team Lead for the Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute. He covers national security issues in sub-Saharan Africa and specializes in the Sahel and Somalia. Liam oversees and authors the Africa File, a weekly product providing updates and assessments on political and security developments in Africa. He also regularly produces maps and other graphics used by the media and US government and military decision-makers. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a B.A. in Political Science, History, and Arabic and an International Security Studies Certificate before joining the Critical Threats Project.

Oludele Folarin

Oludele Folarin is a consultant with International Finance Corporation, the private sector arm of the World Bank Group. He joined the institution through a highly competitive African Fellow designed for African with PhD or those that are about to complete their program. Currently, he supports the Syndications Department with research on ways to increase the flows of private capital to emerging markets. Prior to the joining the department, he worked in think tank in Nigeria, Centre for the Study of Economics of Africa (CSEA), and Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission. He worked on issues relating to macroeconomic management, human capital development, taxation, and industrialization. Oludele holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria with concentration in development finance. His research examines the importance of financial sector development in fostering economic development. In his free time, he enjoys visiting the museum. 

Toochi Ngwangwa

Toochi Ngwangwa is an international trade attorney who began her career in Nigeria. As a Nigerian American who was born and raised in NYC, I deliberately sought out opportunities to engage in Africa related opportunities and have been successful. Not only have interned at well-renowned law firms and PE firms, in the U.S. and China, I have also found opportunities to work directly on Africa related issues, including at GE where I actively participated in the Presidential Advisory Counsel on Doing Business In Africa or analyzing initiatives the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation when I worked at the UN. My most recent and greatest achievement has been supporting the Gambian interest when negotiating the African Continental Free Trade Agreement in 2018. Luckily, I have been active on both Africa policy and China policy, as it relates to the U.S. and sometimes these areas all intersect. Since Trump election, opportunities to engage in Africa related projects have dwindled in the U.S. As a result, my focus has been on China. I am hoping this APA will reconnect me back to the Africa landscape in the U.S., and allow me to contribute again to an area I am passionate about. As a passion project, unrelated to my career, I serve as the president for an NGO called Express Igbo that teaches Igbo to adults.

Femi Adedoyin

Femi Adedoyin is an Assistant General Counsel at the U.S. Trade and Development Agency where she advises on the agency’s Power Africa portfolio, focusing on energy infrastructure projects in sub-Saharan Africa. Prior to this role, Femi also worked as the Director of Contracts and a project manager for the Global Environment & Technology Foundation. There she advised executive leadership on law and compliance matters related to U.S. government and donor funded projects as well as managed rural and peri-urban water and sanitation (WASH) infrastructure projects in Nigeria, Ghana, Ethiopia and South Africa. Femi holds a J.D. from the Syracuse University College of Law, an M.A. in International Relations from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Policy (Syracuse University), and a Master’s in Public Administration and B.A. in English from the University of Delaware.

Ayodeji (Deji) Dabiri

Ayodeji (Deji) Dabiri is an ORISE Science & Technology Policy Fellow on the Manufacturing and Competitiveness team in the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO). In his role at SETO, Deji works with entrepreneurs and small businesses on commercializing their solar energy hardware and software innovations, with a programmatic focus on the American Made Solar Prize and a technology focus on Power Electronics. Prior to joining SETO, he gained experience in Nigeria as a sales engineer, performing energy audits and designing hybrid solar systems for companies with poor grid connectivity in Nigeria. He was also was a project manager for the construction of two 10-megawatt powerplants on behalf of the Lagos state government. He received his M.S. in electrical and electronic engineering with communications from University College London.

Rodney Kazibwe

Rodney Kazibwe is the Deputy Government Relations Director for the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, a bipartisan advocacy group that works across the United States to make development and diplomacy programs a keystone of American foreign policy. He joined the USGLC with bicameral and congressional leadership work experience. As an aide to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Rodney worked on a diverse set of legislative priorities including maintaining robust support for U.S. international development programs. Most recently, Rodney served as the Foreign Affairs Legislative Assistant to Representative Colin Allred, leading his work on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. In this role, Rodney worked to advance a legislative agenda focused on democracy building, global good governance, and humanitarian assistance. Born in Kampala, Uganda he holds a Master’s degree in International Economic Development from the George Washington University and a Bachelor’s in International Affairs from the University of Georgia.

Jared Goodman

Jared Goodman is a Senior Advisor for Climate, Energy, and Infrastructure at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, where he coordinates policies on development finance reform, private capital mobilization, and emerging markets investments and supply chains. Previously, Jared was an Assoicate Partner at McKinsey’s Public and Social Sector Practice, based in Nigeria and Washington, D.C. Jared has also served in the U.S. Department of State as an advisor to the Deputy Secretary and Counselor, focusing on African affairs, economic diplomacy, and development; a Project Finance Associate at Black Rhino Group in South Africa; and an Infrastructure Specialist at the AfDB in Kenya. Jared received a MBA from Harvard Business School (with distinction), a MPA-ID from Harvard Kennedy School, and a BS in economics and international relations from Duke University. He serves on the Board of Year Up and is a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations. 

Sophia Hays

Sophia Hays serves as Legislative Aide for National Security to U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH). Sophia supports the Senator’s work as a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations, Armed Services and Appropriations Committees, leading work on the Senator’s Africa policy portfolio and managing the annual National Defense Authorization Act and State and Foreign Operations and Defense Appropriations bills. Prior to her time on Capitol Hill, Sophia worked as a Program Associate at the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs focusing on democratic resilience in West and Central Africa. She received her Bachelor of Arts in International Studies and French and Francophone Studies from Macalester College.

Oluwasefunmi Obielodan

Oluwasefunmi Obielodan is a dynamic public health leader dedicated to empowering underserved communities through innovative programs and strategic partnerships. With extensive experience in program management, field operations, and public health, she has led impactful initiatives that promote health, economic empowerment, and sustainable development. She has successfully implemented programs across Africa with funding from major organizations, including the African Development Bank, Microsoft, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), UNDP, European Digital Innovation Hub, Afrilabs, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Through these initiatives, she has indirectly empowered over 500,000 individuals. A passionate advocate for women’s empowerment, gender equality, and health equity, Oluwasefunmi focuses on equipping individuals—particularly women—with the tools and resources needed to achieve financial independence and grow their businesses or livelihoods. Currently, she serves as a Contract/Procurement Specialist with the Maryland State Government, ensuring the efficient allocation of resources to support impactful initiatives. Oluwasefunmi holds a Master of Public Health (MPH) in Reproductive and Family Health from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. She is also a certified Community Health Worker and has presented her research at international conferences, contributing to global efforts in public health and women’s empowerment.

Nduulwa Kowa

Nduulwa Kowa is a Zambian-American social impact champion dedicated to unlocking opportunities for marginalized communities globally. As Associate Director at Agenda Global, she has led strategic communications for clients such as USAID, USDA, MCC Nepal and the New Mexico Environment Department. A strong advocate for gender equity, Nduulwa also consults for Emerging Public Leaders – advancing their women in leadership initiatives. Her experience as a 2021-2022 Princeton in Africa fellow in Ghana deepened her Afro-optimism and passion for learning. She founded and hosted the Dear Diaspora podcast, and continues to explore the role young people in Africa’s diaspora play in Africa’s development. Nduulwa earned her MBA and B.A. in International Studies from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. In her free time, she enjoys travel, live music, cooking and practicing wellness. 

Lisa Irambona

Lisa Irambona is a dynamic professional with a double bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication and Political Science. With experience in both federal government and NGOs, she brings a unique perspective to her roles. Currently an MBA candidate, Lisa serves as the Director of Events for Black Professionals in International Affairs (BPIA) and as the 2024-2025 Membership & Operations Fellow for Young Professionals in Foreign Policy (YPFP). Having studied at the Washington International Diplomatic Academy (WIDA) in the summer of 2024, she is committed to shaping the future of international diplomacy. Lisa is particularly passionate about enhancing international connectivity between Africa and the U.S., with her work and academic pursuits driven by a commitment to strengthening these vital transcontinental ties.

Kristen Stevens

Kristen Stevens joined The HALO Trust in 2017 and now serves as Head of Congressional Affairs and Strategic Engagement. Drawing from a background in political roles and the non-profit sector, Kristen leads HALO’s advocacy and public policy engagement in the U.S. She was instrumental in establishing the bipartisan Congressional UXO/Demining Caucus, and has overseen a significant increase in support for global humanitarian demining programs while at HALO. Before joining HALO, Kristen taught in the Communication Studies Department at Western Washington University and coached the university’s competitive debate team. Kristen holds a Master’s in Public Administration from American University and a B.A. in political science from Willamette University. 

Liz Grossman Kitoyi

Liz Grossman Kitoyi is an entrepreneur and communication strategist currently serving as the Senior Communications Advisor for Prosper Africa, a Presidential level national security initiative boosting trade and investment between the U.S. and Africa.. She has extensive experience building global partnerships and campaigns focused on international business and policy in Africa.  A proven advocate of the unifying power of digital solutions to enhance Africa's development and meet the demands of a global workforce, Liz co-founded Baobab Consulting, a leading Africa-focused social impact advisory firm. Liz has also worked for the African Development Bank, UN agencies, nonprofits, educational institutions and think tanks. She also served as Communications Director for the Joyce Banda Foundation. Liz holds a Master's in International Education Policy from Harvard University and a Bachelor's in Communications and International Studies from Northwestern. Fluent in French with over 18 years of experience in more than 20 African countries, she leverages her expertise in business and cross-cultural communication to promote collaboration with Africa.

Kellen Cody

Kellen Cody is a financial professional with expertise in managing intricate infrastructure and energy transactions within African markets and fostering public-private partnerships. He has worked on some of the most significant US-Africa deals in recent years, including the Guinea LNG Terminal and the Angola Southern Solar Project. Kellen joined industrial developer, AfricaGlobal Schaffer, in 2021, where he supports transaction structuring and project management, and serves as the primary company representative in Washington. Kellen holds an advisory position at Fyodor Biotechnologies, a medical device company specializing in disease diagnostics tailored for emerging markets. Prior to his current role, Kellen previously worked for Asset Management firm NR Capital Management, and the think tank IC2 Institute. He is a graduate of the University of Texas with a degree in Economics.

Nazneen Khan

Nazneen Khan is a Crisis Operations Specialist at USAID's Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI), bringing expertise in crisis response and conflict-affected environments. She manages critical program operations in Southern and East Africa aimed at enabling conditions for democratic transition, navigating complex, dynamic environments and facilitating coordination across interagency teams to implement effective, adaptive strategies. Before joining OTI, Nazneen managed programs on women's political participation and focused on community resilience programming in Pakistan. She has a strong interest in exploring contemporary security challenges, regionally in Africa and globally. She is passionate about sustainable solutions, emerging technologies, and building resilient communities. Nazneen holds a Masters in Public Administration and a Bachelors in International Relations. 

Nehemia Abel

Nehemia Abel is a Foreign Service Officer with USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance. Previously, he consulted for Jesuit Refugee Service to develop strategies for embedding gender responsiveness into livelihood programs in Kenya. Moreover, he worked at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, researching best business practices to reestablish America as Africa’s premier trade and investment partner. Nehemia holds a Master of Science in Global Human Development from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service where he obtained three certificates in Refugees and Humanitarian Crises, Social Innovation as well as African Studies. He received a Bachelor's degree in Marketing from the University of Mary Washington. In his spare time, he enjoys playing soccer and board games with family and friends.

Brooke Provinchain

Brooke Provinchain is a Foreign Affairs Officer in the State Department's Bureau of African Affairs, where she focuses on Nigeria, security, and diaspora affairs. She previously worked as an advisor in the Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations, where she designed stabilization and conflict prevention programming and policy. Before joining State, Brooke served a Presidential Management Fellow at U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command, where she helped grow the space security cooperation portfolio. Brooke received both her B.A. and M.A. from the University of Chicago. She is a Boren Fellowship alum and is proficient in Modern Standard Arabic. 

Reid Dobell

Reid Dobell is an economic analyst for North and sub-Saharan Africa at the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research. He regularly conducts analysis for and briefs senior policymakers from the Department on issues including debt sustainability, infrastructure development, macroeconomics, critical minerals, bilateral trade, and investment. He is a graduate of Johns Hopkins SAIS and the University of Toronto, where he studied economics and international relations respectively. Reid also served as a Peace Corps public health volunteer in the West Region of francophone Cameroon from 2016-2018. Outside of work, he climbs, bikes, and kayaks around the DMV.

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