McCarthy Anum-Addo was born and raised in Accra, Ghana and sent abroad as a boy to study. Over the years, he has made numerous trips; some business and some personal, to various areas of the world (including 48 of the 50 States, most parts of Europe and Africa, and beyond). His educational background is in Aerospace Engineering, Space Physics and Applied Maths from The George Washington University, D.C. He works for the U.S. Dept of Navy as a Maritime Technologies Analyst. With a goal of entering management in the near future, he believes the S-CAR Programme will give him the necessary skills to react to conflict situations and the causes of conflict, and how to create an open climate for analysis and dissemination of interests between conflicting parties.
Evanthia Apostolaki is Greek born and United States citizen. She received a Bachelor’s degree from State University of New York (Daemen College) in Spanish with a focus in International Relations. In 2010 she was a scholar recipient for the North America & Mexico motilities program that Daemen College offered. She spent a year in Mexico City, Mexico working on an education project for children in orphanages and how to better their lives. She is currently working at the World Bank Group as a Corporate Travel Officer. She was drawn to the Conflict Analysis and Resolution program because of its focus on research and its global awareness. Also, she is interested in contributing into development projects such as promoting peace in countries, as well as working on Gender Issues and Education.
Jennifer Edwards is transitioning to the academic world after serving over 20 years in the US Air Force. After dealing with conflict in the most extreme sense, she is eager to learn ways to solve issues before it gets to the point where violence seems to be the last option. Edwards is coming into the program with an open mind and an eagerness to learn all the facets in which conflict resolution can be applied.
Jayme Halfhill just moved to the DC Metro area from Pittsburgh, Pa. She is a huge Pittsburgh Penguins fan and hopes to use the knowledge garnered from S-CAR to help end the strife between herself and Washington Capitals fans. Halfhill earned her B.A in Political Science and World History from the University of Pittsburgh. She had the opportunity to study abroad in South Africa. It was here that she realized she wanted to focus on International Relations, and more importantly, areas where conflict seems constant. She looks forward to meeting and working with her fellow classmates and faculty who are as passionate about and eager to discuss this subject as she, mostly so she spares her long suffering family and friends.
After obtaining her B.A. in History at the University of Connecticut in Storrs, CT, Carla Humprhey was employed by an investment services firm for two years before joining Peace Corps in 2012. While serving in Ukraine, she developed her Russian language skills, taught English to a wide range of learners and became better acquainted with Eastern European culture. Although her assignment ended prematurely due to the political climate of February 2014, Carla is now even more dedicated to studying patterns of conflict in post-Soviet states and to finding a career in international conflict prevention and human rights. When not working or at school, she usually spends her time overindulging in cookies while reading, crafting or traveling.
Nadeem Jafri was born in Pakistan. He started his career as Reporter for Foreign Affairs and War Reporter. He has written extensively on regional and international issues including Islamic radicalism, particularly conflicts related to Pakistan, Afghanistan and India. He was rewarded the position of “Group Chief Reporter” in the second leading media group of Pakistan. During his career, Mr. Jafri has visited more than 20 countries and also got the opportunity to visit the US on the invitation of U.S. Department of State under the “International Leadership Program” in 2008. Today, when Pakistan, Afghanistan and India have multi-faceted conflicts including the internal challenge of terrorism, this program of study will help him to preserve what is the best about humanity and reduce what is the worst in relation to the world and help him be able to keep alive the legacy of human service.
Giulia Manno
Deborah Marconda is originally from Redondo Beach, California, and would desperately love to move back to the ocean and warm California sun – or, frankly, any place with an average temperature above 76 degrees. She has spent the last 22 years moving from military base to military base throughout the States and in Asia with her husband and many, many “fur” kids. She believes in picking up a stray or two wherever she lives because animals need homes too. Marconda has a background in education and law. Most recently, she was one of three education assessment personnel for DoD Voluntary Education programs that assessed the quality of degree granting and vocational institutions interested in working with the United States military. She is interested in the program as a way to enhance her communication and negotiation skills.
Danielle McHarris is from Blossvale, NY and graduated from Saint John Fisher College in Rochester, NY with a bachelor’s degree in legal studies and sociology, and a minor in psychology. She played varsity soccer all four years of college and continues to play on recreational leagues throughout the year. McHarris has always lived in upstate New York, so moving to Fairfax, VA is a huge change for her. The reason she found interest in the S-CAR master’s program at Mason was because in college she observed a divorce mediator and found a great passion for the career. Divorce is not always the most enjoyable occupation, but within today’s society it is something that will always exist. Mediation is the more civil and appropriate way to handle a divorce. She feels that learning how to deal with this dominant conflict in society and being able to resolve it peacefully among the parties will make her profession very beneficial.
Chimalang Ngu is an American born citizen of Cameroonian parentage. He grew up in Cameroon and Ethiopia. After high school, he returned to the U.S. to pursue his college degree and enrolled at Howard University where he majored in international Relations and earned a B.A. in Political Science and a minor in African-American Studies. Growing up in Africa, in which poverty and the lack of good governance are prevalent; he was always aware and informed of the conflict and human rights issues occurring in different countries on the continent. He became devastated reading about innocent people dying and lack of resources because of on-going conflict, and the impact it left behind. Ngu is genuinely interested in how these problems of conflict could be attended to and resolved.
Brandon Norris is a native of Virginia and grew up in King and Queen and Westmoreland Counties. From 2001-2005 he served with 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines out of Camp Pendleton, Ca. completing two tours of duty in Iraq. After his enlistment he completed his bachelor’s degree in Political Science with a concentration in International Relations and a minor in History graduating Cum Laude from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA. Brandon came to SCAR because he felt the high level of education provided by George Mason would provide the needed tools to help him accomplish his professional goals. His main interests lie in nation building and sectarianism and finding ways to alleviate the violence while continuing to help build or rebuild societies that are experiencing a post war phase or are currently in the midst of some form of conflict.
Kashoro Nyenyezi is originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and is currently living in Harrisonburg, Virginia, but will be moving to Northern Virginia. She holds a BA from the State University of New York at Oneonta, NY and a MPA from Strayer University at Washington, DC. Kashoro’s previous research was based on a study of the HIV epidemic among Congolese women in the eastern region of Democratic Republic of Congo from 1996 to 2011. She witnessed and learned how conflict in the Congo destroyed the lives of men by raping women and children and destroyed the country’s infrastructure. From there she felt ready to do more research on how to effectively solve conflict in such places and prevent it from happening to other countries if possible, and to empower women and girls through education with knowledge, skills and self-confidence.
Based on her experience with underprivileged children, Heather Payne has developed an understanding of the challenges they face on a daily basis. S-CAR was the only program she was interested in because it supported her vision in research and her interest in working with children and youth in conflict. The Peace Corps is an important aspect of the program because it will allow her to apply her education and knowledge internationally. She is from Oklahoma and will be the first person in her family to go to graduate school. She enjoys painting with watercolor, backcountry hiking, and spending time outdoors with her dog Doug.
Rachel Perry is originally from Connecticut, and currently resides in Virginia Beach, VA. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Capital University in Columbus OH and served as an Equal Opportunity Subject Matter Expert with a career spanning over 20-years in the state, federal, and private-sector. Rachel’s past positions include Deputy Director of Diversity and EEO at the U.S. Peace Corps, Boars Head, NASA-HQ, State of Ohio’s Office of the Governor, and the Commonwealth of Virginia. Rachel has also served her country proudly as U.S. Army Military Police during the Gulf War. After traveling abroad for many years, her interest in pursuing a graduate degree in Conflict Analysis and Dispute Resolution transformed from her personal and career experiences as well as her daughter’s participation in Ferguson MO as an advocate for awareness. She has three children and a loyal Redskins and UCONN fan.
Jad Rahal is a twenty-five year old philosophy major aspiring for a graduate education in conflict analysis and resolution. Originally born in Lebanon, Jad emigrated at age fifteen with the goal of completing his education in the United States of America. Jad’s interest in this field stems from his personal experiences growing up in a small country with many large conflicts. Volunteering with the Lebanese Red Cross has allowed Jad to experience the plight of refugees, both Palestinian and Syrian, on a personal level. Additionally, Lebanon’s multiethnic fabric has allowed Jad to appreciate the value of interaction between religions and sects. This has pushed Jad in the direction of conflict analysis in the hope of being able to research the topic and help in providing some answers to the struggles that plague people in that part of the world. Jad hopes to continue beyond a master’s degree and complete a doctorate.
Kayla Story is a recent graduate of George Mason University, where she majored in anthropology. During her undergraduate studies, she completed independent research through GMU’s Undergraduate Research Scholars Program; her project verified her passion for the research process and encouraged her to pursue a master’s degree in conflict analysis and resolution. She hopes to contribute to S-CAR’s marriage of anthropology and conflict analysis during her studies, and to research cultural conflicts through that lens.
Francesca Watson
After receiving his bachelor’s degree in communication from George Mason University, Christopher Wiprud worked in retail management while seeking out what he wanted to do next. Christopher realized that his favorite part of his organization and management team was attempting to resolve the internal and external conflicts that occur within them. Christopher is still narrowing exactly which direction he would like to go with the degree, but is most interested in uses of conflict resolution in business settings.
Laura Collins was born and raised in Scotland and attended Aberdeen University, graduating with a Joint BA (Honours) in French and International Relations in 2