Program Updates
Fellows Volunteer at Boston Community Organization Cradles to Crayons
On Friday, March 16th, the Fellows and coordinators volunteered to sort donated clothing at the Cradles to Crayons Giving Factory. Cradles to Crayons gathers donated clothes and toys and distributes them to families in need around the Boston community.
The organization’s culture is molded by a shared vision: a world where all kids can access what they need to reach their potential. With the help of partner agencies and volunteers, Cradles to Crayons serves over 1,200,000 children.
During the volunteer shift, the Fellows got a hands-on look at the incredible work done by Cradles to Crayons in order to prepare donations for distribution. In cooperation with the other volunteers, we managed to sort enough donations to give to over 800 children! This excursion was part of the Fellow's commitment to community service and giving back to the Boston community as part of their Fellowship year.
Fellows Meet Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon
“Leaders must look beyond our boundaries… and have both passion and compassion.” - Ban Ki-moon, 8th Secretary-General of the UN
On February 28th, our Fellows had the honor of hearing 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon speak at the inaugural ceremony for the Global Development Policy Center (GDP Center) at the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies.
In his opening remarks, Kevin Gallagher, Director of the GDP Center and Pardee School Professor of Global Development Policy, made special mention of the Boston University Humphrey Fellowship Program as an integral relationship and key element of the GDP Center’s work. BU HHHP Director Jack McCarthy is a member of the Faculty Steering Committee for the GDP. Gallagher also announced that former BU Humphrey Fellow Mr. Jin Liqun, the President of the Asian Infrastructure Bank will be the keynote speaker at the GDP’s next event on April 18th in Washington DC.
As a global leader, Secretary-General Ban embodies the values fostered by the Humphrey Fellowship Program. In his keynote, Secretary-General Ban discussed the most pressing and immediate challenges in international development. In his address, Ban mentions that global poverty has dropped, but inequality and divisiveness continues to grow between nations. He encouraged the audience to adopt a global mindset in their work noting “global citizens identify themselves not as a citizen of a particular country but as a citizen of the world.”
Secretary-General Ban went on to emphasize the importance of working together in the face of adversity especially in a world so heavily divided, commenting “despite the challenges we currently face, if we join together in partnership we can work together for a better world.” His view of global leadership, that it must look beyond borders, is at the core of the mission of the Humphrey Fellowship Program. To further motivate the audience to act as agents of change, he quoted the legendary Celtics player Larry Bird who said that “we must keep pushing and don’t give an inch until the final buzzer sounds.”
After the empowering speech our Fellows had the honor of speaking with the secretary-general and were humbled by Ban’s graciousness and innate ability to motivate others. Our Fellows were reminded of their responsibility to the world as Humphrey Fellows to continue their work as global leaders and citizens to help create a better, more inclusive global society for all.
Fellows Present at GDP Center on Central Bank Diplomacy and Financial Crisis Mitigation
On February 27th, three of our Fellows (Milena Vučinić, Collen Masunda, and Sergiu Bulbaș) were invited to present at the Global Development Policy Center (GDP) at Boston University. The presentation topic was central bank diplomacy and actions intended to prevent and mitigate financial crises. The event was moderated by Kevin Gallagher, Professor of Global Development Policy and Director of the GDP Center.
The Global Development Policy (GDP) Center is a University-wide center in partnership with the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies. The GDP Center’s mission is to advance policy-oriented research for financial stability, human well-being, and environmental sustainability. The Fellows had the chance to attend the inaugural ceremony for the GDP Center, featuring a keynote speech by former Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
As demonstrated by the 2007-2008 financial crisis, central banks around the world play an essential role in responding to financial crisis. Bringing in their diverse perspectives from their home countries, Milena, Collen and Sergiu began their presentation by introducing the history of central bank diplomacy before giving an in-depth analysis of the current status of central banks in their home countries Montenegro (Milena), Zimbabwe (Collen), and Moldova (Sergiu).
To conclude, the Fellows presented next steps for how central banks can better mitigate and respond to crisis, as well the opportunities and limits they face. After the presentation, there was an engaging and passionate discussion between the Fellows and the audience. In attendance were many graduate students and PHD candidates in the field of global development. It was an engaging and insightful experience and we look forward to working with the GDP Center in the future.
Fellows Celebrate the Annual Winter Host Family Gathering
On Saturday, February 17th, the Fellows gathered for our annual winter host family gathering. It was a wonderful time for them to catch up with their host families, and to share their plans for the rest of the Humphrey year. We would like to thank Doris Kellom, the coordinator of the BU HHHP host family network this year, for helping to organize this event. We were pleased and honored to see former BU HHH Director Dr. Ksenya Khinchuk and her husband Gregory Khinchuk, as well as Adjunct Assistant Professor of Organizational Behavior Dr. Tom Anastasi.
We surprised Cyrus Konstantinakos, HHH Assistant Director who is leaving the program with a gift to say farewell. We'd like to thank Cyrus for his many years devoted to the Humphrey Fellowship Program and wish him the best with his future endeavors.
Fellows Travel to Bunker Hill Community College
On Monday, February 12, the Fellows traveled to Bunker Hill Community College, a partner of the BU Humphrey Program under the Associate Campus Partnership - an initiative launched by the U.S. Department of State in 2007 with the aim of extending the international perspectives of the Humphrey Program to a broader range of U.S. higher educational institutions and local communities. There, they spoke with Dr. Kathleen O'Neal, the Director of Single Stop USA at BHCC, to learn about how the program has helped shape the Boston community, and discuss ways the Fellows could promote similar activity in their home countries. Single Stop USA is a major initiative at Bunker Hill Community College, which connects students to state and federal financial resources and local community services. The goal is to help students surmount economic barriers, continue with their education, and move towards economic mobility with the ultimate goal toward ending cycles of poverty. One of the notable observations Dr. O'Neal made is the need to reduce the stigma against asking for financial assistance. Through the Single Stop program, she wants to create an environment where asking for help is no longer seen as taboo.
The Fellows and coordinators then joined Assistant Professor Tendai Nyakurimwa, Associate Professor Wissal Nouchrif and their finance and business students to discuss topics regarding financial literacy, financial inclusion, and entrepreneurship. Fellows gave advice to students who had questions regarding proposed business models, finding the funding for their entrepreneurial goals, and the best methods for investing in the stock market. It was encouraging for the Fellows to hear ideas from the bright young minds that are at work at Bunker Hill Community College.
A Visit from Darby Hobbs – An Expert on Social Entrepreneurship & Social Impact Investing
On February 5th, Ms. Darby Hobbs, Lecturer in Strategy and Innovation at the Questrom School of Business stopped by the second seminar of the Spring semester to speak to the Fellows about a book she is currently writing on social impact and financial inclusion.
As a social innovator, educator, motivational speaker, change agent, marketing strategist and visionary, Professor Hobbs has participated in leading global platforms to educate and motivate senior managers in CSR/SRI/ESG and Impact Investing as well as branding, innovation and creative thinking. She is also an author in the area of business social responsibility and consumer sustainability value drivers. She is the CEO and founder of SOCIAL3 which cultivates the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), Impact Investing and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) storylines and helps ensure that a firm’s vision and strategy align with its marketplace engagement.
Professor Hobbs spoke to Fellows about her background, research and upcoming book. There is a great potential for Fellows to contribute to Prof. Hobbs’s book on social impact and financial inclusion by writing articles, case studies or other project profiles. We are very excited by this possibly wonderful opportunity to collaborate with Prof. Hobbs on this very valuable project and we look forward to discussing the project with Professor Hobbs further.
Seminar Series on Leadership and Professional Development Continues
On February 5th, the Fellows and coordinators gathered for a continuation of the series of Leadership and Professional Development workshops organized by HHHP Director and Associate Professor of Organizational Behavior Jack McCarthy. Adjunct Assistant Professor of Organizational Behavior Dr. Tom Anastasi joined Dr. McCarthy again and led a workshop on networking, informational interviews, email correspondence and appropriate business etiquette in the U.S.
Professor Anastasi had the Fellows participate in an exercise on career values. Each Fellow was asked to organize a collection of cards with different values, from what they valued most to least in their careers. It was insightful and interesting to see how values varied. Some Fellows decided to keep the value cards for a week to see what new patterns emerge.
The Fellows were also introduced to a system called Questrom Connect, which allows for current BU students to connect with alumni around the world. The program is a fantastic resource for building networks. Each Fellow created a profile on the system which we hope Fellows can utilize beyond their fellowship year.
Spring Seminar Begins with Session on Leadership and Professional Development
On January 22nd, the Fellows and coordinators gathered for the first seminar session of the spring semester. After a delicious lunch, each Fellow described his or her experiences over the winter break and their plans for the remainder of the Fellowship year.
HHHP Director and Associate Professor of Organizational Behavior Jack McCarthy then led the next session of his continuing series on leadership development. In addition to delivering a lecture, Dr. McCarthy led the Fellows in beginning to craft and discuss their personal mission statements.
Questrom School of Business Professor Tom Anastasi then introduced Career Development resources at BU—both those offered at Questrom and others made available to the entire student population at BU. Professor Anastasi promises to return soon to work more with the Fellows on their professional development goals.
Mendieta, Konstantinakos & Others Complete “Culture and Climate Change in Nicaragua”
In January 2018, Assistant Director Cyrus Konstantinakos and 2013–2014 BU HHHP Alumnus Ricardo Mendieta completed a bilingual photo-essay book entitled Culture and Climate Change in Nicaragua with students and faculty at the National Autonomous University of Nicaragua at Managua, Peace Corps Volunteers, BU HHHP student interns, and members of the Hubert H. Humphrey Family.
This project is part of Our Global Cultures (OGC)—an initiative of the BU HHHP that aims to raise awareness of Fellows' home cultures. OGC was brought to life by two Public Diplomacy Grants from the U.S. Department of State, funds from National Geographic Learning (where Ricardo completed a Professional Affiliation), and individual donations. Peace Corps and the National Autonomous University of Nicaragua, Managua also provided logistical and other support.
Nicaraguan students who participated in this project have learned to promote global awareness of their culture using English and digital media. The book, now in press, is scheduled for classroom use by these entities:
- Boston Public Schools (ELL and Dual Language Programs)
- Nicaraguan Ministry of Education (public schools nationwide)
- U.S. Embassy in Nicaragua (English Access Microscholarship and College Horizons Outreach Program)
- Peace Corps Nicaragua
- National Autonomous University of Nicaragua
Culture and Climate Change in Nicaragua has been featured by the Nicaraguan news outlets La Prensa, Metro and El Nuevo Diario and by Peace Corps and BU's Pardee School of Global Studies.
Many Humphrey Fellows have supported and participated in OGC since 2010:
| Syeda Nail Batool (2013–14, Pakistan/BU) | Julio César Canelo Castillo (2007–08, Nicaragua/BU) |
| Amara Moussa Doumbia (2013–14, Mali/BU) | Arwa Eshaq (2011–12, Yemen/BU) |
| Agnes Igoye (2010–11, Uganda/U. Minnesota) | Dilorom Mirsaliyeva (2011–12, Kazakhstan/BU) |
| Lubna Mohammed (2014–15, Yemen/BU) | Tatiana Momoldaeva (2013–14, Kalmykia, Russia/BU) |
| P. W. Anusha Nishanti (2014–15, Sri Lanka/BU) | Melanie Noguera Carrillo (2008–09, Nicaragua/BU) |
| Ganga Ray Gautam (2010–11, Nepal/BU) | Siany Gordon (2010–11, Costa Rica/BU) |
| JC Rivera Mendieta (2014–15, Panama/BU) | Samira Moussaoui (2010–11, Algeria/BU) |
| Shanta Nagendram (1987–88, Malaysia/Tufts U.) | Eva Ramos (2012–13, Panama/BU) |
| Juvaria Shahid (2011–12, Pakistan/BU) | Sujeev Shakya (2002–03, Nepal/BU) |
| Jovita Tamosaityte (2013–14, Lithuania/BU) | Nada Tarradah (2014–15, Bahrain/BU) |
| Fermin Vallecillo Moreno (1990–91, Nicaragua/BU) | Deki Yangzom (2011–12, Bhutan/BU) |
| Reema Zarough (2010–11, Libya/BU) |
Several BU HHHP student interns have also contributed:
| Megan Antonellis, International Relations, 2016 | Alex Babcock, International Relations, 2015 |
| Joy Cohen, International Relations, 2016 | Alec Lynde, International Relations, 2016 |
| Jasmine Miller, Int'l Relations & Economics, 2016 | Kathleen Nave, International Relations, 2016 |
| Montana Rispoli, Communication, 2017 | Katie Teran, International Relations, 2016 |
| Haley Wiebel, International Relations, 2016 | Vanessa Zarba, Communication, 2016 |
OGC is advised by Dr. Ksenya Khinchuk, former Director of the BU HHHP, Anne L. Howard-Tristani, Humphrey Family Representative to the Humphrey Fellowship Program, Dr. Philip M. Tate, Professor at the BU School of Education, and Dr. Kristi Rudelius-Palmer, former HHHP Director at the University of Minnesota.
A second book project is currently underway in Uganda with Agnes Igoye (2010–2011, Uganda/University of Minnesota) and Jovita Tamosaityte (2013–2014, Lithuania/Michigan State), with support from the U.S. Embassy, Peace Corps, and alumni of the Young African Leaders Initiative—another exchange program under the U.S. Department of State.
Al Petras and former Durgin Park Chef Host Christmas Eve Dinner
On December 24th, Al Petras, a BU HHHP seminar speaker, host family member, BU alumnus and former Senior Vice President of Bank of America hosted several Fellows, their families and friends, and Assistant Director Cyrus Konstantinakos and his family for a special Christmas Eve dinner at his home in Milton, Massachusetts.
Al prepared the dinner with Mr. Paul George, a longtime friend and former chef at the storied downtown Boston restaurant, Durgin Park among other Boston-area restaurants.
Al and Paul pulled together a diverse and exquisite menu that included fresh beef from Pennsylvania Amish country and spiral baked ham from Virginia. Each guest brought foods from their cultures as well; for example, Waqas Munir and his family brought Pakistani rice pudding, and Aziza Pulotova, Milena Vucinic and their families brought homemade sweets from Tajikistan and Montenegro. Here is the mouth-watering menu that Al prepared:
We thank Al and Paul for making Christmas Eve a warm, memorable night for several members of the cohort and their families who were spending the holiday break in Boston.
