Rebecca Kelly | Conference, Co-chair
Rebecca is a second-year MALD student studying gender and human security with a focus on women building peace, gender-based violence, and migration.
At Fletcher, Rebecca is a research assistant for the Leir Institute and graduate assistant in the Office of Admissions. She also organizes French table and is a member of Fletcher Writing Club.
Rebecca received an undergraduate degree in international relations from Tulane University in 2019. She worked for Congress for four years in constituent services, with focuses in immigration, Department of State, and Social Security matters. This summer, she interned with The Asia Foundation’s Women Empowerment Program and spent several weeks at Corrymeela in Northern Ireland learning about community peace building.
In her spare time, she enjoys reading, ice skating, swimming, cooking, and dismantling the patriarchy.
Annie Levy | Conference, Co-chair
Annie is a second year MALD student focusing on humanitarian affairs, and gender and intersectional analysis. Her interests include the gendered impacts of armed conflict, livelihoods and education in emergencies, and humanitarian response. Annie is a Research Assistant on the Gender Apartheid in Afghanistan program, as well as a Research Assistant in Tufts’ Department of History.
Prior to graduate school, Annie worked across communications, campaigns and program management within humanitarian, international development and refugee resettlement organizations. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International History and Politics from the University of Leeds, for which she focused on humanitarian response and decolonization in South Asia.
In her free time Annie enjoys bouldering, swimming, reading and listening to podcasts.
Sitara Srinivas | Content Co-Chair
Sitara is a second year MALD student focusing on International Security, and Technology and International Affairs.
At the Fletcher School, Sitara also works for the Fletcher Russia and Eurasia Program, and is Senior Editor at The Fletcher Forum. Previously, she worked for the Observer Research Foundation – initially in the president’s office and later as a Junior Fellow in the Strategic Studies vertical.
Sitara holds a BA Honours degree in Political Science and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Conflict Transformation and Peace-Building (where her dissertation focused on gender and sexuality in the realist world) from the University of Delhi.
In her free time (a rarity in graduate school), Sitara reads, tries to embroider, and wonders why ships have a gender.
Vidhi Rupal | Content Co-Chair
Vidhi is a second-year MALD candidate at the Fletcher School, Tufts University, specializing in international business and international legal studies. She has experience working in the development sector, focusing on women’s empowerment and financial inclusion.
At Fletcher, Vidhi has taken on leadership roles including serving as a Business Associate for Events and Outreach at the Fletcher Forum. Additionally, she worked with the U.S. Development Finance Corporation through the Fletcher Social Investment Group. This summer, Vidhi interned with the Wagner Foundation, focusing on global health financing and health equity programs addressing health challenges in low-and middle-income countries.
Vidhi holds a Bachelor’s degree in Politics and International Relations from the University of Bath, UK, and a Diploma in International Trade Management from the Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai
In her free time, Vidhi can be found in a cafe with an iced latte and a good book. She loves to explore libraries, cafes, and restaurants.
Sarah Haviland | Content Co- Chair
Sarah Haviland is a second-year MALD student studying human security, conflict resolution, and gender and intersectional analysis. She currently assists with research related to gender apartheid in Afghanistan and is a Senior Editor at PRAXIS – The Fletcher Journal of Human Security, and her capstone will address reproductive violence in conflict settings. She hopes to work at the intersection of conflict, gender, and human rights, possibly in the protection, conflict-related sexual violence, or children and armed conflict domains.
Sarah graduated from Haverford College with a BA in Political Science and a concentration in Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies. Prior to Fletcher, she supported research focused on women’s involvement in and treatment within insurgent groups; contributed to publications on the U.S.–Ethiopia and U.S.–Nigeria security partnerships and the protection of civilians; and supported programs concerning human rights and access to justice in Benin, Burkina Faso, and Niger. This summer, she was the Advocacy Intern for Nonviolent Peaceforce, an organization that uses unarmed civilian protection (UCP) methods to prevent, mitigate, and resolve violence and protect civilians affected by conflict.
In her free time, Sarah enjoys hanging out with her family dogs and horses, going for long walks, and trying new chocolate desserts.
Courtney Rosani | Content Co-Chair
Courtney is a second year MALD studying Human Security and Gender and Intersectional Analysis. Her specific interests are reproductive and obstetric violence in armed conflict. She is currently a research assistant on the gender apartheid in Afghanistan project and hopes to continue to provide an intersectional analysis to the junction of health, armed conflict, and humanitarian programming.
Prior to Fletcher she worked in refugee resettlement at the International Institute of New England where she supported newly arrived refugees, asylees, and immigrants from their initial job placement to long term career and financial planning.
Courtney graduated from Trinity College with a BA in Political Science and International Studies, with concentrations in Middle Eastern Studies and Arabic. While at Trinity she was also captain on the varsity rowing team.
In her free time she enjoys running, swimming, and cycling in addition to trying new recipes with her sourdough.
Emily Phipps | Operations Chair
Emily is a second year MALD student focusing on Human Security, International Development and Environmental Policy through a gendered and intersectional analysis lens. She is especially interested in how conflict, climate change, and disaster impact livelihoods and in developing protection mechanisms for those rendered most vulnerable and at risk.
As a research assistant at the Feinstein International Center, Emily is studying the gendered impact of climate migration on the health and well-being of youth in Uganda. She is involved in Fletcher Students for Justice in Palestine and is an advocate for human rights. Prior to Fletcher, Emily worked in international education, fostering intercultural understanding and global awareness through experiential learning.
Emily graduated from Pitzer College with a BA in International Intercultural Studies and Media Studies with a focus on power and social change, development, and global justice. During a year abroad in Nepal, Emily conducted research on the Dalit Social movement and prevention of caste based discrimination. Emily returned to Nepal to assist in relief efforts after the earthquake.
In her free time, Emily enjoys yoga, gardening, cooking, hiking/camping, and long walks on the beach with her dog.
Kelsey Henquinet | Fundraising Chair
Kelsey Henquinet is a graduate student at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy focusing on Human Security and Humanitarian Affairs.
Kelsey is a Research Assistant on a famine prevention project at the Feinstein International Center at Tufts University and is the Communications Assistant at the World Peace Foundation associated with Fletcher. Kelsey is also the Program Manager for Fellowships at the Center for European Policy Analysis, a Washington-based foreign policy think tank. Previously, Kelsey worked at the Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab (DFRLab), AmeriCorps VISTA, and Alight (American Refugee Committee).
During her undergraduate studies, Kelsey interned for the US Department of Defense and the American Refugee Committee and studied in Amman, Jordan and Masaya, Nicaragua. Kelsey holds a bachelor’s degree in History and Political Science with a concentration in Middle Eastern Studies from St. Olaf College.
Kristina Mlynarova | Marketing Chair
Kristina is a December 2025 MALD candidate with a specialization in Human Security and Global Governance, with a regional emphasis on sub-Saharan Africa. She is passionate about empowering women and other marginalized groups through education to drive positive change in their communities and organizations.
Kristina is currently a Graduate Assistant for Undergraduate Orientation at Tufts’ Student Life Office. Starting in August, she will also be a Graduate Writing Consultant at the StAAR Center. Additionally, she serves as a Staff Editor at the Fletcher Forum and as the Januarian Representative on Fletcher’s Student Council. Last summer, she interned at the Slovak Mission to the UN, focusing on reforming peacekeeping operation mandates discussed in the Security Council.
Kristina holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations & History from Stony Brook University. She enjoys reading fantasy novels, listening to Taylor Swift, and trying new sushi and bubble tea places.
Olivia Harvey | Volunteer Chair
Olivia is a second-semester MALD specializing in International Legal Studies and Human Security & Humanitarian Affairs. She was first drawn to CGIA during a prospective student event at Fletcher in the fall, and is thrilled to get to work with CGIA this year!
Prior to her graduate scholarship, Olivia worked as a full-time caseworker for refugees in the Metrowest Boston area, assisting with the influx of parolee and OIM cases to Massachusetts.
Olivia is an alumna of Denison University, where she majored in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics and minored in Spanish. Her research background involves ethics of care and economic development, particularly in the North Africa/Mediterranean region—and always with a critical gender theoretical approach.
If you are interested in getting involved and volunteering with the conference, reach out! See you there 😊
Emily Ruhm | Outreach Chair
Emily is a first year PhD student. Her research focuses on violence experienced by vulnerable groups that inhibits their humanitarian access in sub-Saharan African crises and conflicts; her advisor is Dr. Dyan Mazurana. She holds a Master of Public Policy in International Development & Policy from the College of William & Mary and a Graduate Certificate in Global Gender Policy from George Washington University.
Emily Ruhm has a robust background in international development and humanitarian assistance, having worked with the United Nations World Food Programme and multiple U.S. government organizations, including the Millennium Challenge Corporation, the Peace Corps, USDA Foreign Agriculture Service, and USAID. In reverse chronological order, she has worked in Nigeria, Zambia, Lesotho, Malawi, Senegal, China, and Germany as well as studied abroad in Singapore.
In her free time, Emily loves to read, draw, paint, and kickbox. Emily loves music and is a regular concert attendee. Her cat, Roha, has joined her on her assignments and has lived on three continents (so far).
Aarshia Jain | Administrative Chair
Aarshia is a first year GBA student focusing on global health policy. She is especially interested in allocative health policy in the United States vs India and the differences in priorities when it comes to women’s reproductive health between the countries.
She holds bachelor degrees in Psychology, Public Policy, and Healthcare Management from Case Western Reserve University and a Culinary Arts degree from the Cambridge School of Culinary Arts.
Prior to graduate school, Aarshia worked in the private sector of healthcare consulting before having a coming to god moment where she realized she could not go on helping private healthcare insurance companies find loopholes in the federal healthcare system and decided to switch teams. She also started and led the Pan-Asian Employee Resource Group in her previous role, focusing on implementing a series of POC women led panels.
In her free time she enjoys reading, baking, cooking, running, and riling up her pet cat Nazar.
