Conference Organizers
Jerusha Simmons
Jerusha (she/her/hers) is pursuing a Masters of Arts in Law and Diplomacy at the Fletcher School, focusing on International Security Studies and Gender Analysis. Prior to Fletcher, she served as an Agriculture Extension Agent in Peace Corps The Gambia, where she worked to strengthen food security for children under five and young mothers. She also spent time as a research analyst at Glass Lewis & Co., where she worked on issues surrounding corporate governance and executive compensation. Most recently, Jerusha was a Tisch College of Civic Life Summer Fellow and worked with Analytic Innovation Lab at the Office of the Secretary of Defense’s Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation directorate in The Pentagon. Jerusha holds a B.A. in International Relations and Psychology from Washington University in St. Louis.
Caroline Hayes
Caroline Hayes (she/her/hers) is a master’s student at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy (Tufts University) studying gender and security. She has recently worked with the Women and Foreign Policy program at the Council on Foreign Relations and in the Sports Diplomacy Division at the U.S. Department of State. Previously, she served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Morocco and spent two years in DC at Vital Voices Global Partnership, an international women’s leadership NGO. In 2015, she received her bachelor’s degree from Trinity College (CT) with a double major in Middle East Studies and Women, Gender, and Sexuality, and a minor in Arabic.
Shereen Shah
Shereen Shah (she/her/hers) is pursuing a Masters of Arts in Law and Diplomacy at the Fletcher School, focusing on Gender Analysis and Human Security. Prior to Fletcher, Shereen worked as a Program Assistant on the Human Rights team at Vital Voices Global Partnership where she worked on projects geared towards ending gender-based violence in Iraqi Kurdistan. Most recently, she is a Tisch Summer Fellow at The Asia Foundation on the Women’s Empowerment Team working on grants and projects dedicated to increasing women and girls’ rights in all sectors across Asia. Shereen holds a BA in International Relations and Religion from Centre College in Danville, Kentucky.
Katy Constantinides
Katy (she/they) is pursuing a Master of Arts in Law Diplomacy at the Fletcher School, focusing on Gender Analysis and Human security. Prior to Fletcher, Katy worked as the Gender Equality Fellow at the Center for Community Engagement at the University of Denver and was an intern for the International Rescue Committee. Currently, they are the Miles-Mulcahy Gender Equality Fellow at Save the Children, as well as a representative on Fletcher’s DEI committee and a leader of Pride at Fletcher. They are passionate about using feminist and queer theory to analyze and subvert international norms and systems of power and have a focus on the importance of bringing local community perspectives to the study and practice of International Relations. Katy holds a BA in International Studies and a BA in Gender and Women’s Studies from the University of Denver.
Paola Silva
Paola (she/hers/hers) is pursuing a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy at the Fletcher School, focusing on Gender and Intersectional Analysis and International Security Studies. Prior to Fletcher, she was the Political Liaison Officer for the Secretary for Women in Bogota, D.C. She is the co-founder and writer for SietePolas, a collective feminist blog in Spanish exploring gender issues from different perspectives and experiences. For the past three years, she has specialized in writing and building activism on women’s political participation in Colombia and the positions of power women occupy in society. Paola holds a degree in Economics and a Master’s in Public Policy from Universidad de Los Andes, Colombia.
Juliana Rordorf
Juliana Rordorf (she/her/hers) is pursuing a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy at the Fletcher School, focusing on International Political Economy and the Gulf. Prior to Fletcher, Juliana worked in foreign exchange derivatives before transitioning to the ACLU. Most recently, Juliana worked on the Biden-Harris Presidential Transition Team and at Alright Stonebridge Group on the Middle East team. Juliana holds a B.A. in Islamic Studies and Arabic from New York University.
Sara Lodgen
Sara (she/her/hers) is pursuing a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy at the Fletcher School, focusing on Gender Analysis and Human Security with a focus on migration. Prior to Fletcher, she spent several years working in higher education, particularly in international university admissions, where she counseled students and their families from around the world through the U.S. admissions process. This summer, she interned with the International Institute of New England, undertaking case management for refugees and other recent immigrants, and with Verité, working on projects around forced labor and ethical recruitment. Sara holds a B.A. in Business and American Studies from Brandeis University.
Gabrielle Robertson
Gabrielle (she/her/hers) is pursuing a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy at the Fletcher School, focusing on Gender Analysis, International Environment and Resource Policy, and Development Economics. Prior to Fletcher, she worked as a wireless communications and machine learning engineer and volunteered locally in educational and environmental organizations and faith-based communities. Most recently, she’s researching sustainable construction policies and climate goals for the state of Massachusetts. Gabrielle holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from UCLA.
Shivi Thakur
Shivi (she/her/hers) is pursuing a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy at the Fletcher School, focusing on Gender Analysis and Development Economics. Prior to Fletcher, she worked in various NGO and CSO capacities across Nepal, Ecuador, and the USA, specializing in Women, Peace, and Security. Most recently, Shivi has been working as a programme management intern at the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism. She also worked with CARE USA’s Business Development team this summer. Shivi holds a BA in Liberal Arts with concentrations in International Studies and Social Sciences from Soka University of America, CA.