Meet the IRC-Zolberg Fellows for Fall 2018 and Spring 2019

Through the Zolberg-IRC Fellows Program, supported by the Arnhold Foundation, master’s and doctoral students at The New School have the opportunity to contribute to design and research projects at the IRC. They lead and contribute to projects at IRC headquarters and in the field. Learn more about the fellowship here.

Alik Mikaelian, MFA Transdisciplinary Design, Parsons School of Design

Alik is a strategic designer and researcher, currently completing her MFA in Transdisciplinary Design. She holds a BA in Product Design. Previously, Alik worked as a multi-disciplinary designer in Egypt, and co-founded her own design business. Alik works collaboratively to design thoughtful interventions, using a combination of design-led research, systems thinking, three dimensional and visual design, and most importantly a genuine intention for deep understanding. In summer 2018, Alik worked with IRC’s community-driven Mahali Lab in Amman, looking at how clients navigate a confusing healthcare system. Alik is joining IRC this semester to work on a gamified approach to improving gender equality in the workplace.

Danni Peng, MFA Transdisciplinary Design, Parsons School of Design

Danni is a service designer and a strategist, currently pursuing a master degree. Her background is in graphic design, with interest in illustration, graphic to digital design. With the vision of tackling complex social issues and promoting positive social and behavioral change through design, she is passionate about conducting research and creating design strategies for community-based and socially engaged projects. At IRC, she is leading on various Organizational Research Priority, Best Use of Resources, and Evidence to Action visual design projects. She is working to develop visual strategies that effectively communicate research findings with various departments, stakeholders groups, founders, and investors.

Emma Pulido, MA International Affairs, Studley Graduate Programs in International Affairs

Emma is an International Affairs student from Brooklyn. While at the New School, she has completed projects on urban violence in Brazil and Colombia, migration management in Greece and Italy, and how externalization policy has “recreated” “crisis” in the Europe Union’s major hosting states. She is interested in issues surrounding cities, multiculturalism, conflict resolution, identity, and cultural heritage. Previously, she worked in Communications, Marketing and Public Relations roles at non-profits, start-ups and think tanks, and served as a volunteer coordinator in Rio de Janeiro. Emma is joining IRC this semester to work on a gamified approach to improving gender equality in the workplace.

Katja Starc-Card, PhD Public and Urban Policy, Studley Graduate Programs in International Affairs

Katja is an urbanist, researcher, and interdisciplinary designer. Her doctoral research explores the relationship between the state and society at the city level, focusing on responsive and inclusive municipal governance in fragile and limited capacity contexts. She has international experience in post-conflict reconstruction, local governance, design, and community-driven slum upgrading. While pursuing her Masters at UCL’s Development Planning Unit in London, Katja participated in the assessment of the Baan Mankong Collective Housing program for low-income communities in Thailand. She spent several years in Afghanistan, working as a researcher and monitoring and evaluation professional. At IRC, Katja is focusing on the adaptation of humanitarian response to urban contexts. She will be working with the Kampala Capital City Authority to meet the needs of its displaced and marginalized residents.

Kendall A Pfeffer, MA Clinical Psychology, New School for Social Research

Kendall received her M.Ed. in Mental Health Counseling from the University of Houston in 2018. Kendall’s current research is focused on biopsychosocial risk and resilience factors following trauma and chronic stress exposure. She is currently working on an experimental study examining the interaction between coping self-efficacy beliefs and event controllability. Kendall hopes to contribute to our understanding of the mechanisms underlying effective intervention for refugees and other vulnerable and under-served populations. Previous clinical and research experience includes work with firefighters and EMS personnel. At IRC, Kendall will be helping to think through Mental Health interventions to support crisis-affected populations.

Marina Maiboroda, MA International Affairs, Studley Graduate Programs in International Affairs

Marina has held positions with various international organizations and UN agencies working in humanitarian aid, international development, global health, sustainability, and education. Her work currently focuses on health and displacement. She is particularly interested in international refugee law and durable solutions to displacement. Marina holds a master’s degree in Communications, and has experience in research, program coordination, as well as grant and data management. She has been recognized for her work problem-solving, organizational improvement and building relationships between governments, civil society and the private sector. She is fluent in English, Ukrainian and Russian, and also speaks French and Polish. At the IRC, Marina will be working on policy communications for the Great Lakes Region.

Rania Salem Manganaro, MA International Affairs, Studley Graduate Programs in International Affairs

Rania is a second-year graduate student focusing on migration, particularly in relation to Lebanon and Jordan. She grew up in both New Jersey and Beirut, and has carried out research in Lebanon on the intersection between migrant domestic workers’ rights and Syrian refugees’ rights under the country’s sponsorship system. Her previous work experience is in the arts, as a professional actor, artist, and filmmaker. Most of her work focuses on seeking social and environmental justice, mostly in the context of indigenous, low-income, and communities of color. Currently, she works in the office of IRC’s President, David Miliband, providing key policy and communications support.

Amanda Porter, Daniel Smyth, Jenny Liu, Yuxin Cheng joined as IRC-Zolberg Fellows in early 2018. They are continuing their fellowships into 2019.