Executive Staff
Nancy Birdsall, President
president@cgdev.org
Nancy Birdsall is the founding President of the Center for Global Development. Prior to launching the Center, Birdsall served for three years as Senior Associate and Director of the Economic Reform Project at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Her work at Carnegie focused on issues of globalization and inequality, as well as on the reform of the international financial institutions. From 1993 to 1998, Birdsall was Executive Vice-President of the Inter-American Development Bank, the largest of the regional development banks, where she oversaw a $30 billion public and private loan portfolio. Before joining the Inter-American Development Bank, Birdsall spent 14 years in research, policy, and management positions at the World Bank, most recently as Director of the Policy Research Department.
Ms. Birdsall is the author, co-author, or editor of more than a dozen books and monographs, including, most recently, Delivering on Debt Relief: From IMF Gold to a New Aid Architecture, Population Matters: Demographic Change, Economic Growth and Poverty in the Developing World, Washington Contentious: Economic Policies for Social Equity in Latin America, and New Markets, New Opportunities? Economic and Social Mobility in a Changing World. She has also written more than 75 articles for books and scholarly journals published in English and Spanish. Shorter pieces of her writing have appeared in dozens of U.S. and Latin American newspapers and periodicals.
Full CV
Sarah Marchal Murray, Director of Institutional Advancement
smmurray@cgdev.org
Sarah Marchal Murray is Director of Institutional Advancement. In this role she is the point person, collaborating with senior staff and board members, on initiatives aimed at engaging the philanthropic community; including individuals, corporations, foundations, and organizations interested in the work of and supporting CGD’s mission. Marchal Murray brings to the Center over ten years of experience working with economic and social development organizations, in both the corporate and nonprofit sectors, most recently as Director of Development for WaterAid America. In this capacity she lead the institutional development and capacity building, as well as communications and marketing strategy for the development of U.S. operations. Marchal Murray was formerly an Executive Director with Community Counselling Service (CCS), an international fundraising consulting and management firm. While at CCS, her client work included conducting planning studies and assessments and designing and managing campaigns for clients in the healthcare, education, international service, and cultural arenas. Former clients include; The Center for Autistic Children, Fundación Vamos México, Jewish Home and Hospital Healthcare System, Jardín Sur Foundation, The Diocese of Brooklyn and The Drawing Center; amongst others. Early in her career she worked as a media and political consultant. Marchal Murray is a former United States Peace Corps volunteer in Guyana, and is a graduate of Villanova University. She earned her Master's degree at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA).
Dana Alsen, Executive Assistant
dalsen@cgdev.org
Dana is the Executive Assistant to the President Nancy Birdsall. Originally from Illinois, Dana attended Emory University where she graduated with a BA in political science. While pursuing her undergraduate degree she focused primarily on global public policy and studied abroad at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. Dana moved to Washington, DC for an internship with the Immigrant Women Program at Legal Momentum.
Peter Gardner, Special Assistant to the President
pgardner@cgdev.org
Peter provides Nancy Birdsall with programmatic, logistical, and research support. Peter holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Swarthmore College. Prior to joining CGD, Peter provided research support at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in their Division of International Security Studies. He also interned at the Scottish Parliament researching United Kingdom nuclear deterrence policies.
Ayah Mahgoub, Program Coordinator to the President
amahgoub@cgdev.org
Ayah provides Nancy Birdsall with programmatic and research support. She joined the Center in August 2008 after completing a public interest fellowship at Phipps Community Development Corporation. Previously, she worked on the Economics of Education Program at the National Bureau of Economic Research, and on peace-building projects in Sudan. Ayah received a BA in Economics from Harvard University.
Casey Otto, Special Assistant to the Executive Office
cotto@cgdev.org
Casey joined the Executive Staff in November, 2008. Originally from Evanston, IL, he is a recent graduate of Wesleyan University where he received a B.A. in East Asian Studies. Casey took time off from school to work for Sen. Barack Obama’s Senatorial campaign and Sen. John Kerry’s Presidential campaign, and also served as Office Manager for the Independent Voters of Illinois-Independent Precinct Organization.
Emily Paul, Institutional Advancement Assistant
epaul@cgdev.org
Emily supports the Center’s fundraising efforts. Emily first joined the Center as an intern working with Liliana Rojas-Suarez on access to financial services. She graduated from Emory University in 2007 with a B.A. in Economics and International Studies and spent a year working at UBS investment bank in London before returning to her hometown of Washington, DC to pursue her interest in international development.
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Communications and Outreach Staff
Lawrence MacDonald, Vice President, Communications and Policy Outreach
lmacdonald@cgdev.org
Lawrence works to increase the policy impact of CGD's research and analysis by leading an integrated communications program that includes publications, media relations, government and NGO outreach, events, and online engagement. Before joining the Center in October 2004 he was a senior communications officer at the World Bank where he provided strategic communications advice to chief economists, coordinated the preparation of research publications and created the World Bank Research web site. He was founding editor of the Bank's Policy Research Report series and launched two innovative yet enduring web tools: the Bank's Online Media Briefing Center and the International AIDS Economic Network (IAEN), a virtual community. Prior to that he worked in East and Southeast Asia for 15 years as a reporter and editor for The Asian Wall Street Journal, Agence France Presse, and Asiaweek Magazine.
Sarah Jane Staats, Director of Policy Outreach
sjstaats@cgdev.org
Sarah Jane is responsible for engaging the development policy community—especially senior staff in the U.S. Congress, the administration and policy experts in leading development advocacy NGOs—in the Center’s research and other programs. She ensures that the Center’s research and analysis is readily available to these and other influential audiences to increase CGD’s impact and influence. Sarah Jane also regularly briefs the Center’s experts on policy opportunities and ideas from the development policy community and helps shape the Center’s products so they are timely and relevant to current policy debates. She facilitates congressional testimony from the Center’s experts and supports the Center’s communications team in reaching other external audiences through an innovative online presence. Sarah Jane previously worked at the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO); at InterAction, a coalition of 160 U.S.-based development and humanitarian NGOs; and with the ONE Campaign.
Ben Edwards, Media Relations Coordinator
bedwards@cgdev.org
Ben supports the communications team with on-line communications and media relations. He earned a BA in English from Franklin and Marshall College. While pursuing his undergraduate degree, Ben studied Czech culture in Prague for a semester. He is currently pursuing an MA in Communications from Johns Hopkins University. Prior to CGD, Ben worked with International Arts and Artists, where he assisted with marketing and communications.
Kaci Farrell, Outreach and Policy Assistant
kfarrell@cgdev.org
Kaci Farrell is the Outreach and Policy Assistant for the Center for Global Development, focusing primarily on migration, climate and trade portfolios. Prior to assuming this position, Kaci worked as an associate with APCO Worldwide, a public affairs firm specializing in strategic communications. While at APCO, she contributed to projects in media relations, issue management, grassroots advocacy and stakeholder engagement. Kaci has also worked at Wexler & Walker Public Policy Associates, a bipartisan lobbying firm, and the Rose Institute of State and Local Government, a public policy research organization. Kaci graduated magna cum laude from Claremont McKenna College with a bachelor’s degree in government, including an emphasis in women’s studies.
Heather Haines, Events Manager
hhaines@cgdev.org
Heather is responsible for managing seminars and events for the Center as part of the communications team. Before joining CGD, she worked with Barnes & Noble promoting community outreach and author events, as well as with Miramax Films. Heather received her Master’s degree in literature from the University of North Texas and holds a B.A. in English from the University of Oklahoma.
John Osterman, Publications Coordinator
josterman@cgdev.org
John Osterman oversees the production of the Center's books, working papers, briefs, and other publications. A native of the metropolitan area, John holds an M.A. in Anthropology from the University of Virginia and a B.A. from the University of Mary Washington. Prior to his graduate studies, he was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Mauritania, spent time studying the archaeology of the mid-Atlantic and South Africa, and worked as a Communications Associate for a D.C.-based non-profit.
Steve Perlow, Web Technology Manager
sperlow@cgdev.org
Steve is the Web Technology Manager for the Center for Global Development. He has experience designing and developing numerous web sites and web applications. Steve has a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Georgetown University and received his MBA from the University of Texas at Austin.
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Finance and Administration Staff
Ellen Mackenzie, Director of Finance and Operations
emackenzie@cgdev.org
Ellen Mackenzie is the Center's Director of Finance. She manages and leads administrative, business planning, accounting, budgeting, human resource, and information technology efforts of the organization. Most recently, Ellen was the director of finance and operations at the Global Fund for Children (GFC). Prior to joining GFC, Ellen was the budget director at the Advocacy Institute and ran the global population project at the Communications Consortium Media Center. In 2000, Ellen was awarded a grant to explore how technology can be used to increase organizational effectiveness. Her research plans were acquired by a venture philanthropy organization. She brings with her more than ten years of experience working with nonprofit organizations. Ellen has a bachelor's degree in business management from New York University.
Luke Easley, Finance and Human Resource Manager
leasley@cgdev.org
Luke Easley joined the Center in 2007 and serves as the Finance and Human Resources Manager. He has over eight years experience in business operations and human resources, and recently obtained a Professional in Human Resources (PHR) Certification for the Society for Human Resources Management. He is also a member of the HR Association of the National Capital Area.
Jeff Garland, Information Technology Manager
jgarland@cgdev.org
Jeff Garland is the Information Technology Manager. He has an educational background in Computer Electronics. He worked as a consultant for numerous DOD migrations and upgrade projects. He worked on the network design team with propriety software installs on Capitol Hill traveling to representative’s district offices. He has since held System Engineering positions for multiple nonprofits. Prior to joining CGD, Jeff was the IT team lead responsible for supporting the network infrastructure for a local nonprofit with five international field offices. Jeff is a certified Systems Engineer and ITIL certified.
Aaron Hoffmeyer, Database and Constituent Coordinator
ahoffmeyer@cgdev.org
Aaron joined CGD in July, 2009. Originally from Lansing, MI, he is a recent graduate of the University of Nebraska where he earned a B.S.B.A. in Economics. Aaron has spent time studying abroad at Massey University in Auckland, New Zealand, and at Gesamtschule Hungen, in Hesse, Germany. His previous work experience includes working in financial aid assessment and bank management.
Andy Phan, Office Manager
aphan@cgdev.org
Andy joined CGD in August 2009. He is studying Business Administration at Strayer University. Andy volunteers with Food for All – an organization that seeks to provide food for DC’s neediest residents. Andy also likes to run 5k races to help raise money for charities.
Sam Reyes, Systems Administrator
sreyes@cgdev.org
Sam worked for 8 years as a systems administrator in a nonprofit organization in Northern Virginia. Before joining CGD he spent a year teaching in El Salvador. Sam has bachelor’s degree in communication from George Mason University and is currently working on his Masters in Management Information Systems. Sam also volunteers his time working with At-Risk youths in Northern Virginia.
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Program Staff
Nandini Oomman, Director, HIV/AIDS Monitor, and Senior Program Associate
noomman@cgdev.org
Nandini Oomman joined CGD in March 2006 as the director of the HIV/AIDS Monitor, which tracks the effectiveness of the three main aid responses to the epidemic: the Global Fund, the HIV/AIDS Africa MAP program of the World Bank, and the U.S. President’s Emergency Program For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Nandini manages the initiative and oversees much of the research program that underpins it. She has more than 15 years of public health research, program and policy experience, with emphasis on population, reproductive health and HIV/AIDS.
Rachel Nugent, Deputy Director, Global Health Program
rnugent@cgdev.org
Rachel is a senior associate in CGD’s Global Health Programs. She provides economic and policy expertise to support HPRN Working Groups, manages CGD programs on Population and Economic Development, and conducts research on other global health topics. She has 25 years of experience as a development economist, managing and carrying out research and policy analysis in the fields of health, agriculture and the environment. Prior to joining CGD, Rachel worked at the Population Reference Bureau, the Fogarty International Center of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. She also served as associate professor and chair of the economics department at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington. Rachel’s publications include a range of topics, from the cost-effectiveness of non-communicable disease interventions and health impacts of fiscal policies to impacts of microcredit on the environment in developing countries and economic impacts of transboundary diseases and pests.
Katherine Douglas, Program Coordinator
KDouglas@cgdev.org
Katherine began working at CGD in January 2010 and works with the global health policy team. Prior to joining the Center, Katherine completed a Master of Public Policy with a concentration in International Development at Georgetown University. Her thesis evaluated the impact of access to credit and microloans on household schooling decisions in Hyderabad, India. Her experience includes interning for the Legislative and Public Affairs department at the Millennium Challenge Corporation and working for the Equity, Poverty and the Environment Initiative at the World Resources Institute. Katherine graduated with a BA in Public Policy and a minor in Psychology from Duke University.
Christina Droggitis, Program Coordinator
CDroggitis@cgdev.org
Christina joined the Center in April 2009. She is a graduate of New York University with a B.A. in Comparative Politics. Before joining the center, she spent two years in Tanzania with the Clinton Foundation HIV/AIDS Initiative, where she worked collaboratively to strengthen the health care system and expand access to care and treatment programs for people living with HIV/AIDS. As an undergraduate, Christina studied in both Ghana and Spain, and also gained conflict assessment research experience as an intern with the Fund for Peace. At the Center, Christina works with the HIV/AIDS Monitor team.
Robin Kraft, Program Coordinator
rkraft@cgdev.org
Robin works with David Wheeler on issues related to climate change, and is co-architect of Forest Monitoring for Action (FORMA), a deforestation alert system for the tropics based on satellite data. He joined CGD in August 2007 after completing a Masters in Development Economics at Sciences Po Paris. His thesis evaluated the economic impact of temporary Colombian migration to Spain and was supported by the International Organization for Migration in Bogotá and the Universidad Externado de Colombia, where he taught for a semester. Robin received a BA from UC Berkeley in History, focusing on the Cold War and the USSR, and subsequently worked as a freelance journalist and editor in San Francisco and Paris.
Cindy Prieto, Program Coordinator
cprieto@cgdev.org
Cindy works with David Roodman on the Commitment to Development Index as well as supporting Nora Lustig’s work on the effect of the current financial crisis on developing countries. Cindy joined the Center in July 2007, assisting Liliana Rojas-Suarez with a workshop on improving access to financial services. Prior to joining CGD, Cindy served as the Managing Director of FACE AIDS, a national, student-run non-profit dedicated to raising student awareness about HIV/AIDS, and has interned at the Office of Management and Budget and the U.S. Small Business Administration. Cindy holds a B.A. in Economics with a minor in Political Science from Stanford University.
Katie Stein, Program Coordinator
kstein@cgdev.org
Katie joined CGD in November 2009 and works with the global health policy team. Before joining the Center, Katie led operations for a social venture group that identifies, invests and operates businesses in Rwanda. Prior to that, Katie worked for the Earth Institute in the Center for Global Health and Economic Development and spent two years in Rwanda where she managed the Millennium Villages and Access projects. Katie graduated from Barnard College with a B.A. in Urban Studies.
Sandy Stonesifer, Program Coordinator
sstonesifer@cgdev.org
Sandy works with the global health team on issues related to adolescent girls' health. Prior to coming to CGD, Sandy worked at Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health (ANSIRH), a program of the University of California, San Francisco. In that position she was responsible for managing all aspects of a twenty-six site study designed to describe the socioeconomic and health effects of unintended pregnancy on women and their families. In addition, Sandy writes a weekly column appearing on Slate.com, My Goodness, providing common sense advice on daily do-gooding quandaries. Sandy graduated from Brown University with a B.A. in Biomedical Ethics.
David Wendt, Policy Analyst
dwendt@cgdev.org
David joined the Center in June. He is working with the rest of the HIV/AIDS Monitor team to conduct comparative analysis on the effectiveness of The U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the World Bank’s Multi-Country HIV/AIDS Program (MAP), and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Prior to joining the Center in June 2008, David worked as the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer and a Research Team Manager with the Knowledge Services at the Institute of Development Studies in Brighton, UK. In both roles he conducted research and analysis around how processes of research communication could better inform development policy. David also has project experience working with the United Way in Philadelphia and with a variety of local NGOs in Uganda. He received a BA from NYU and an MPhil from the Institute of Development Studies.
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Research Assistants
Paolo Abarcar, Research Assistant
pabarcar@cgdev.org
Paolo Abarcar supports the research efforts of Michael Clemens and David Roodman. Prior to joining CGD, he studied at the Ateneo de Manila University in the Philippines where he graduated with a degree in Economics (Honors) and Development Studies. His experience includes interning at the National Economic Development Authority in Manila to work on issues related to population and health. Before moving to the US, Paolo also taught part-time at the Economics Department of the Ateneo and was a research assistant.
Julia Barmeier, Research Assistant
jbarmeier@cgdev.org
Julia Barmeier supports the research of Senior Fellow Vijaya Ramachandran and Visiting Fellow Satish Chand on fragile states. Julia joins CGD from the Peace Corps where she spent two years working in Peru with women textile producers to improve their business practices. She graduated cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania with a BA in International Relations and Hispanic Studies. Her other experience includes leading development projects in Mexico and Honduras with the organization Amigos de las Americas and serving as an editor for academic and news publications at UPenn.
Caroline Decker, Research Assistant
cdecker@cgdev.org
Caroline Decker supports the research of visiting fellows Nuhu Ribadu and Julius Kiiza. Before joining CGD, Caroline worked as a Peace Corps volunteer in Lesotho with women-owned weaving groups to improve their businesses and managed PEPFAR-funded HIV Prevention and Diversity camps for youth. She graduated from Tufts University with a BA in International Relations. She has also worked for Reinvest South Africa on business development in the townships of Cape Town and has interned on the Hill and at the UN Foundation.
Casey Dunning, Program & Research Assistant
cdunning@cgdev.org
Casey Dunning supports the dialogue and analysis on U.S. foreign assistance innovations and reform in the Rethinking U.S. Foreign Assistance Program. Prior to joining CGD, Casey worked on gender and rule of law programs in Liberia with Emory University’s Institute for Developing Nations. She has interned as a research assistant with The Carter Center and the International Rescue Committee and has studied at Oxford University and Trinity College, Dublin. Casey graduated summa cum laude from Emory University in International Studies with a specialization in political economy.
Veronica Gonzales, Research Assistant
vgonzales@cgdev.org
Veronica Gonzales supports the research of senior fellow, Liliana Rojas-Suarez. Prior to joining CGD, Veronica was a research assistant in the Centro de Investigacion de la Universidad del Pacifico on issues related to education, and has worked on projects on health and rural youth. She was also a teaching assistant in econometrics II, microeconomics II and private project evaluation at the Universidad del Pacifico. Veronica studied Economics at the Universidad del Pacifico (Lima-Peru) and graduated seventh in her class in 2008.
Dan Hammer, Research Assistant
dhammer@cgdev.org
Dan works with Nancy Birdsall, Arvind Subramanian, and David Wheeler, supporting their research on issues relating to climate change in developing countries. Dan joined the Center after a one-year adventure in the South Pacific, studying the interaction of canoe culture and development as a Thomas J. Watson fellow. He graduated from Swarthmore College in 2007, receiving high honors in economics and mathematics. Dan is currently pursuing a Masters degree from the University of Maryland in Geographic Information Systems, where he is specializing in spatial econometrics.
Matt Hoffman, Research Assistant
mhoffman@cgdev.org
Matt works with Senior Fellow David Wheeler researching climate change and global innovation policy. Before CGD, he received a B.S. in Economics and Mathematics at Duke University. While at Duke, Matt founded Project Waves, a program that seeks to educate students about coastal environments through surfing, sailing, and kayaking expeditions. He has also assisted efforts to survey and protect the coral reefs of Honduras's Bay Islands.
Owen McCarthy, Research Assistant
mmccarthy@cgdev.org
Owen McCarthy works with Senior Fellows Mead Over and Vijaya Ramachandran, on HIV/AIDS policy and African private sector development, respectively. Before arriving at CGD, he was a student at Boston University where he graduated with a B.A Political Science and a minor in economics. While at BU, he was a research assistant for a number of projects, dealing variously with the determinants of British colonialism and the economics of rural Bengali potato markets.
Lauren Young, Research Assistant
lyoung@cgdev.org
Lauren Young supports the research and institutional advancement efforts of Senior Fellow Todd Moss. Lauren joins CGD from Monrovia where she worked for the past year in Liberia facilitating projects related to returnee reintegration as a Grants Manager for the American Refugee Committee. She graduated from Stanford University with a BA in International Relations and honors in International Security Studies. Her other experience includes interning with an MCA threshold program in Tanzania, volunteering in a Congolese refugee camp in Zambia, and helping to launch a fundraising and awareness campaign called FACE AIDS.
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Interns
Graham Bocking is a 2nd year MA student at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), specializing in international finance and Western Hemisphere studies. He is currently researching the impact of proposed international financial regulation on developing countries with Senior Fellow Liliana Rojas-Suarez. Prior to coming to CGD he worked for a government sponsored investment fund for the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development and Trade. Originally from Peterborough, Ontario, he is a graduate of Queens University where he majored in history and has spent many of his summers at Camp Ponacka, a summer camp in rural Ontario.
Wren Elhai assists Nancy Birdsall with research on the quality and effectiveness of foreign aid. He also supports the work of the Communications team, focusing on new media applications. Wren is a graduate of Swarthmore College, where he majored in Political Science and Russian Studies. At Swarthmore, he helped to create a radio program called War News Radio that covers the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan by airing the stories of Iraqi and Afghan civilians. After graduating, he spent a year traveling the world as a Thomas J. Watson Fellow, living and studying with traditional vocalists in Tuva (Russian Federation), India, South Africa, and Europe. He has interned with the US State Department in Moscow and for Brookings Institution Senior Fellow Homi Kharas.
Olivia Jones is a Communications Intern. She graduated from Davidson College in 2009 with a B.A. in Political Science. Olivia previously interned at the American Society of International Law and at the World Affairs Council of Charlotte. At Davidson, Olivia studied abroad in Peru, where she volunteered at a women’s textile micro-enterprise and took classes in Anthropology and History at the Universidad Nacional de San Agustin de Arequipa.
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