Voice After Exit: Diaspora Advocacy | Seminar #7

Kathleen Newland is Co-Founder of the Migration Policy Institute and directs MPI's programs on Migrants, Migration, and Development and Comprehensive Protection for Refugees. Ms. Newland is the lead author and editor for MPI’s publication titled Diasporas New Partners in Global Development Policy published in October 2010. Her work focuses on the relationship between migration and development, governance of international migration, and refugee protection. Previously, at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, she was a Senior Associate and then Co-Director of the International Migration Policy Program (1994-2001). She sits on the Board of the International Rescue Committee, and is a Chair Emerita of the Women's Commission for Refugee Women and Children. She is also on the Board of the Foundation for the Hague Process on Migrants and Refugees and Kids in Need of Defense (KIND).

Jennifer M. Brinkerhoff is Professor of Public Administration and International Affairs at the George Washington University. She holds a Ph.D. in public administration from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, and a MPA from the Monterey Institute of International Studies. She has expertise on public-private partnership, governance, NGOs, development management, and diasporas. She has provided policy advice to the US State Department on its diaspora engagement strategy and conducted diaspora-related commissioned research for the Asia Development Bank, the Migration Policy Institute, the Nordic Africa Institute, the United Nations, and the World Bank. She has delivered training related to diasporas and development to US State Department Foreign Service and Desk Officers, US Agency for International Development staff, international development consulting firms, and diaspora organizations and other government officials in the US, the Netherlands, and Sweden.

Nadia Roumani is the Co-Founder and Director of the American Muslim Civic Leadership Institute (AMCLI), a program housed at the University of Southern California that builds the human capital and leadership potential of emerging Muslim leaders in America. Roumani has worked with a wide range of organizations over the past decade to better understand the needs of Muslim communities across the United States, and develop strategic, structural solutions to address these needs.  In addition to her work with AMCLI, Roumani has been involved with research projects and initiatives with the University of Southern California, Chicago Council on Global Affairs, and the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations. Roumani is a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations. She received her master’s degree from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, and her bachelor’s degree in economics and international relations from Stanford University.

Aram Hamparian is the ANCA Executive Director, and also serves as the organization’s primary national representative to the Administration, Congress, the media, and the Washington DC foreign policy community.  In cooperation with regional offices, more than 50 local chapters, dozens of coalition partners, hundreds of community affiliates, and thousands of grassroots activists, Hamparian works on a broad range of legislative, policy, research, political, campaign, media, coalition, and community-related concerns.  Hamparian has testified before Congress, lectured at the National Defense University and the Foreign Service Institute, been quoted by the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, AP, and Reuters, and appeared on CNN, BBC, RT, Al Jazeera, and many other media outlets.