Hometown:
Newark, New Jersey
Why did you choose Brown for your Master of Public Affairs?
I especially liked that the program is accelerated, and would allow me to enter the job market quickly. Brown attracts top-quality faculty, and the small size of the program allowed me to really get to know both my professors and classmates, and build strong relationships that continue today. Lastly, Brown has a collaborative culture that encourages study across disciplines. As a result, I was able to take an urban education policy class and doctoral-level sociology course.
Where did you work for your consultancy and what did you gain from that experience?
I worked at Human Rights Watch, West Africa Division in Washington D.C. At Human Rights Watch, I was the first person to research human rights violations by Boko Haram in Northern Cameroon. The fact that it was an ongoing international crisis made my project all the more urgent. My consultancy combined research, international human rights, policy analysis, advocacy, and knowledge of French (I’m a native speaker, having grown up in Cameroon).
Over the course of the consultancy, I became adept at understanding international human rights law and policy. I studied the international rights charters of the United Nations, U.S., France, and Cameroon and used what I learned in my policy analysis course to distinguish what actions clearly constituted human rights violations. An important lesson I learned in the MPA program is the politics of public policy and the power of advocacy. A policy analyst can produce a well-researched, well-written report, but how do you persuade political actors to care about the issue, and act? I used what I learned about the politics of policy to create a compelling case for Human Rights Watch to take action, and my recommendations were included as part of a larger report for an international delegation sent to Cameroon.
How does your work serve the Common Good?
I really feel fortunate to be able to combine my love for public policy and management. I know my work has a direct impact on the wellbeing of our troops, strengthening our national security, and protecting American lives both abroad and at home. For example, much of my time is spent verifying that federal agencies including the Department of Defense and FEMA strategize and implement policy correctly. As a I learned in the MPA program, a policy that is not well implemented is ineffective.