Curriculum Vitae

EDUCATION

Masters in Sociocultural Anthropology (ongoing)
Columbia University, New York

Masters in Development Studies (August 2008)
BRAC University, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Bachelor of Arts: (September 2006)
Double Major in Communication Arts and Management
Minor – International Economics
Hood College, Frederick, Maryland, USA

International Baccalaureate: (Class of 2002)
International School of Brussels (ISB), Brussels, Belgium

DISTINCTIONS
• Achievement Award (scholarship), Hood College, MD, USA (2002 to 2006)
• Key Leader Award, Hood College, Frederick, MD, USA (2004)
• Leadership in Peace Award, UNESCO, Frederick, MD, USA (2005)
• Peace Prize, American Community (2002)
Schools (ACS), London
• Excellence in writing award, International School of Brussels, (2002)
Belgium

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Social and Financial Empowerment of Adolescents (SoFEA), BRAC (January 2009 – present)
o Managing financial literacy, lifeskills training and community sensitization components
o Developing training modules
o Developing strategic social communication tools for rural youth advocacy

Faculty (Jan 2008 – Dec 2008)
Centre for Languages, BRAC University
o Taught English with focus on critical thinking and writing
o Facilitated creative writing workshops
o Taught development writing to BRAC managers (DEVPRO)
o Taught 3 week English crash courses to top tier SSC and HSC students from economically marginalized families (Medhabikash)

Research Assistant (Jan 2008 – Oct 2008)
EHG project on HIV/AIDS awareness in urban-local government

Research Assistant (Nov 2007 – Feb 2008)
Dr. Rogieh Dehghan, Kings College, UK
 Conducted a Needs Assessment for Palliative Care in Bangladesh
 Reviewed questionnaires to make them culturally appropriate and acceptable wherever necessary
 Interviewed staff involved with Palliative Care, recipients (patients), family members of recipients, and bereaved families
 Interpreted and analyzed responses
 Transcribed and translated the interviews

Communications, (Summer 2006) UNESCO Center for Peace, MD, USA
 Voices of Reason – creating a biographical database on Nobel Peace Laureates
 Created a general knowledge quiz database for middle school students
 Maintained liaison with other organizations
 Created Annual Report

Intern (Summer 2005)
IFC’s SouthAsia Enterprise Development Facility (SEDF)-a World Bank Chapter
 Researched regulatory reform of administrative barriers
 Prepared short essays on institutional reform approaches

Project Analysis and Field Communication (Summer 2004)
BRAC Advocacy and Human Rights Unit (BAHRU)
 Worked on designing a prevention method for sexual abuse of children
 Conducted field research in urban slums – FGD, in-depth interview and case studies

Feature Writer (Summer 2002, 2003)
News Today

English Teaching Assistant (2002)
Middle School, International School of Brussels
 Conducted joined as well as independent lectures

Interpreter/Translator, Frederick County Public Schools, MD, USA (Fall 2002 – Summer 2006)

ESL Teaching Assistant, summer school, ISB (Summer 2001)
 Taught English to children with special needs

Stagiare, World Customs’ Organization (WCO) Brusssels, Belgium (Summer 2001)
 Researched corruption in customs and tobacco smuggling

OTHER INVOLVEMENTS
 Columnist- “Herstory-Womyn’s Studies,” Popular Anthropology magazine
 General Secretary for Shimanto – a new and emerging NGO that will provide human rights education and legal aid services
 Freelance research and writing on gender, sexuality, children, social identity, etc.
 Freelance translation and interpretation

PREVIOUS INVOLVEMENTS

Students’ Rights Representative, Student Government (2003- 2006)
Association (SGA), Hood College
Feature Editor, Hood Today (2003 – 2004)
Vice President, International Club, Hood College (2003 – 2004)
Co- founder and President, Amnesty International, Hood College (2003 – 2006)
Staff Writer, Hood Today (college newspaper) (2002 – 2006)
Distribution Manager -Hood Today (2002 – 2003)
Submissions Manager – Wisteria (college literary magazine) (2002 – 2003)
Writer – Wisteria (literary magazine) (2002 – 2004)
Secretary, Amnesty International, International School of Brussels (ISB) (2001, 2002)
Coordinator, Freedom Writers’ Network, Amnesty International, ISB (2001, 2002)
Coordinator, Feeding the Homeless Project, ISB (2001, 2002)
Vice President, Social Awareness Committee, ISB (2002)
Coordinator, La Clarine fundraiser (2001, 2002) Coordinator, Project Safe Place, ISB (2000, 2001, 2002)
Writer and Assistant Editor, Zeitgeist (literary magazine), ISB