Meet the 2019-2020 Admissions Graduate Assistants

With both the academic and admissions year well underway, it’s a good time to introduce (and re-introduce) our Admissions Graduate Assistants. These Fletcher students are crucial all our operations, and in many cases will be the first person with whom prospective students correspond and visitors meet upon their arrival. We’re so happy to have John and Madhuri (our second-year returnees) back, and to welcome Dani to our team, as well.

Dani: Hi everyone! My name is Dani, and I’m a first-year MALD student focusing on Human Security and Global Migration at Fletcher. I’m originally from Croton-on-Hudson, NY, and attended the University of Rochester in Rochester, NY where I majored in International Relations and Anthropology. During my undergraduate, I had the opportunity to study and live in Morocco, working on journalism and ethnographic research.

Since graduating from college, I’ve delved into education and social work to support immigrant communities. In Denver, Colorado, I served as an AmeriCorps member with City Year, where I worked in a 7th grade English as a Second Language classroom. After a year, I moved back to Rochester to join the New York State Migrant Education Program, providing advocacy and educational support to the families of migrant farmworkers. Because I was admitted to Fletcher as a part of the Map Your Future Program, I was grateful to have the opportunity to become deeply involved in community work before starting my studies of broader international systems.

I’m excited to be a part of the Fletcher community, and am involved with research at the Feinstein International Center, Los Fletcheros (Fletcher’s super fun cover band), and Praxis, The Fletcher Journal of Human Security. Looking forward to meeting you and answering your questions!

Madhuri: Hello! I’m Madhuri, a second year MIB student from India focusing on Development Economics and Business for Social Impact. Originally from New Delhi where I completed my BA in Economics from University of Delhi, then did my MBA, and later lived in Bangalore and Mumbai and worked in investment banking. Over the last couple of years I have also been involved as a volunteer teacher and mentor with several non-profit organizations in India, focusing mainly on providing better access to quality education to children (especially girls) from historically underrepresented sections of society. I have had the opportunity to travel extensively across Asia and Western Europe and see first-hand how similar problems are dealt with in different societies and political systems. These experiences coalesced together and drove my decision to come to Fletcher to understand how the private sector can step in and help governments provide better access to services and infrastructure.

Last year I was a part of Fletcher MIINT (MBA Impact Investing Network & Training) team and this year I am co-leading the Fletcher Social Investment Group. This past summer I worked in Nairobi, Kenya with Dalberg Advisors within the healthcare space. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience and felt I could utilize a lot of learnings and skills I’d built here at Fletcher. I look forward to connecting with you and answering any questions you have about the admissions process and life at Fletcher!

John: Hello future Fletcherites! I am a second-year MALD student, pursuing the International Security Studies, as well as the International Political Economy Fields of Study. Originally from Reading, PA (same hometown as Taylor Swift), I moved to Pittsburgh, PA to attend Duquesne University, where I studied History and International Relations, focusing on U.S. foreign policy and security studies.

After completing my bachelor’s degree, I committed to Fletcher’s Map Your Future Program (shameless plug), where I had the opportunity to acquire real-world work experience before starting at Fletcher! I started working at the U.S. Department of State’s National Foreign Affairs Training Center, supporting the Ambassadorial Seminar in the Leadership and Management School. After a year, I moved over to the policy side of the State Department and worked as Regional Coordinator for the Office of Weapons of Mass Destruction Terrorism. In this role I was involved in projects in Africa and Southeast Asia. After earning all my air miles and working overseas, I developed an interest in the U.S. Foreign Service. In 2018, I was selected as a Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Fellow. As a Rangel Fellow, I will join the U.S. Foreign Service as a Political Officer in summer 2020. I look forward to representing and serving my country overseas at U.S. embassies! This past summer, I was a fellow in the Political Section at the U.S. Mission to NATO in Brussels. Without a doubt, a few of my Fletcher courses provided me the tools needed to succeed at NATO.

At Fletcher, I am excited to be a part of this team at the Office of Admissions and look forward to answering any questions you may have to help you navigate through the graduate school research and application process! Cheers!