Staff

Francisco Bozzano-Barnes

Francisco Bolzano-Barnes

Director International Programs Francisco

Francisco Bozzano-Barnes holds a Masters degree in Environmental Studies from York University with concentration on New Perspectives for International Development. He has worked for three decades as Conference Interpreter, Translator, and Reviser. With a background in sustainable urban and rural development and a focus on land tenure, energy and food production and access, Francisco speaks major international languages fluently including Spanish, English, French, Italian, and German. His studies on the impacts of world dynamics on development in urban/rural settings, provides an enriching international context and experience to his local activities, which in the last years have been focused on Africa.

Director, Finance & Administration: Rashida Bright

Rashida Bright

Director, Finance & Administration

Rashida Bright is a dedicated and accomplished professional with more than 20 years experience in key leadership roles with various international organizations (WHO, UNDP, UNEP, UNICEF, UNHCR, UNTAC). Highly skilled at fostering relationships with diverse peoples and communities, Rashida has special talent in building intra-organizational consensus. With a Master’s Degree in International Relations from Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts and Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, Rashida specializes in Political Affairs, Governance, Management of Electoral Process, Humanitarian Assistance/Refugees, Gender Issue, Administration and Case Management.

 

Carole Marchal

Carole Marchal

Director, Asia-Pacific Region

Carole Marchal has a background in International Relations and Diplomacy, and completed a double Masters in International Relations / Diplomacy, specialising in peace and conflict resolution, at the Australian National University (ANU). After graduating top of her class, Carole joined the United Nations Information Centre where she worked as a Public Affairs Officer. Carole also worked, prior to her Masters, in a similar position at the French Embassy in Australia.

Besides her experience in public information, Carole also had experience as a media practitioner, working for a local French newspaper, La Marseillaise and later for Australian Defence Business Review. Carole studied journalism at the University of Canberra (UC) before moving on to a career in the public service. Carole’s areas of expertise are gender, peace and conflict, development and international human rights law.

Director, Africa Bureau

Bureau

Director, Africa

With a Master of Science degree in Mass Communication from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from University of Lagos, Nigeria, Ernest Kwabena Opong is an outstanding writer with bright mind. He was the Publisher/Editor-In-Chief, Amandla Newspaper, based in New York. In that capacity he managed and supervised a number of media practitioners including online social media personnel in the US and overseas stringers and correspondents. Mr. Opong also taught journalism classes in the Department of Communication Studies, Borough of Manhattan Community College (City University of New York CUNY) and also worked as Legal Proofreader at the global law firm, White & Case LLP, New York where he engaged in editing and proofreading of legal documents.

Associate Director,Research & Mediation: Yvan Yenda Ilunga

Yvan Yenda Ilunga

Associate Director,Research & Mediation

A brilliant Internationalist, peace building analyst, social and economic development strategist, Yvan Yenda Ilunga has committed his life to being a change agent, empowering lives and working toward promoting of human security. Raised above all social and economic structural limitations, Yvan is a living testimony for what he calls “the narrow way to greatness” and works hard to communicate to the world a “possible Mind-set”.He holds a BSoc (Honours) in International Relations and BA (Honours) in Development Studies and a Masters Degree in Social Development.Yvan has worked with many decision makers on issues such as ethics in investment, strategies for investment during peace and conflict period, corporate social responsibilities and conflict resolution mechanisms.He is also a talented public speaker and well experienced researcher with interest in political economy related to natural resources. He was a speaker at the TEDxNJIT at New Jersey Institute of Technology in 2013 and worked as research fellow at the New Jersey Institute of Technology.Yvan speaks fluently English, French and Swahili.

Senior Writer: Zoe Gorma

Zoe Gorma

Senior Writer

A graduate of political science from Yale University joins the Center for Media & Peace Initiatives as writer and contributor.Ms. Gorman has a stellar background of writing and reporting for different news organizations and brings to CMPI an outstanding perspective on conflict and peace journalism. She has reported from Mali and Ghana and experienced several conflicts in West African country.Among the news organizations where Ms. Gorman worked include The Washington Spectator, Yale Daily News, and Forbes.com.Named a Yale Journalism Scholar, Ms. Gorman was one of the 30 students to achieve such status through courses and published work. As part of her academic thesis on Mali conflict, Gorman interviewed government, military and UN officials in Mali about political nuances and future stability of the crisis-prone West African country.Gorman has also interned in the office of Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York where she helped with administrative duties, legislative research and tours of the Capitol.

Senior writer:Lauren M H Parks

Lauren M H Parks

Senior writer

An outstanding social entrepreneur, Lauren M H Parks has dedicated her life to demonstrating how every person can truly contribute to social change. Armed with diverse global perspectives on what motivates people to get involved in social change as well as the roles of individuals, nonprofit organizations, government, and the media, Lauren is a solution provider committed to leveraging knowledge to address society’s challenges.A graduate of political science from University of Philippines and graduate student of International Relations at Saint John’s University, Queens, New York, Lauren worked with leading politicians and political organizations in Philippines and United States.She worked as public school teacher with New York Department of Education and Learning Leaders, and served as advocate, and researcher for several nonprofit organizations.Lauren Parks is a recipient of several awards including Manuel L. Roxas Leadership Award, Zonta Club International Leadership Award, and candidate for the British Chevening Scholarships Awards Scheme.

Research & Outreach Coordinator: Husseini Yushau Baba AlWaiz

Husseini Yushau Baba AlWaiz

Research & Outreach Coordinator

Husseini Yushau Baba AlWaiz graduated in Journalism and Mass Communications in the late nineties in Ghana and was the Parliamentary and Presidential Press Corps correspondent for the Business & Financial Times, Ghana’s leading business newspapers, owners of the Business in African magazine. He has a diploma in Arabic & Islamic Studies.  He is a member of the African Muslim Council, committed to bridging the cross-cultural gap between the American and African Muslim Community in New York.He authored three books, the first one, Paradise under Mother’s Feet, a discourse about parental obedience, reviewed by the New York Beacon newspaper, and Not good without God, a rebuttal against an atheist from Harvard University. The third book (forthcoming) is entitled, ISLAM: A Faith that Promotes Tolerance & Prohibits Terrorism, aimed at educating the Muslim youth about the real teachings of Islam about religious tolerance. Mr. AlWaiz was former editor of Diasporan newspaper-the leading African newspaper within the tri-states area-New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Prior to joining CMPI, ALWaiz was Director of Media and Marketing by the Energy Services Solutions-an energy solution consultancy firm in New York.

 

Intern: KentaroFunayama

Kentaro Funayama

Intern

KentaroFunayama is a law student at Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan. A resourceful and intellectually minded young man, Kentaro is interested in Anglo-America law. He has a passion for social media and its capability in reinforcing integration of different demographics and also building bridges among different societies. His experience is mainly in advertising where he worked briefly for SukiAitaiYabai, a famous creative agency in Tokyo, Japan. Kentaro speaks Japanese, English, and French.

Yanjun Xu

Yanjun Xu

ICT Support Executive

Yanjun Xu is an international graduate student of digital media and storytelling at Loyola University Chicago. She is from China. Yanjun is good at video editing and graphic design. She is interested in new media and using those resources to tell story. And she is also like the web content management, has creative ideas and skills about design and storytelling. Her experience is mainly about documentary production and also website editor in a media company. She speaks Chinese and English.

Chigozie Madu

Chigozie Madu

Marketing Communications Teacher

Chigozie Madu teaches Marketing Communications. He is a graduate of Marketing from Institute of Management & Technology, Enugu. A community organizer, Madu has devoted his time to civic engagement of the youth towards effective democratic governance. As an effective youth leader, Madu has an excellent rapport with people of all ages with unique communication skills, both written and verbal.

Jiyeong Kang (Public Relations Intern)

Ji yeong

Ingenious and Cooperative Person

Ji yeong is a student who is majoring in Media Studies & Broadcasting and English at Dongseo University. She has experience working at a Media Organization, Korea Media Rating Board. Also she has experience working as a public ambassador of many cultural organizations requiring pouring her creative talent into making promotional projects with co-workers so she is considered an ingenious and cooperative person.

Shohei Okamoto

Shohei Okamoto

Research Assistant

Shohei Okamoto is a student who is majoring in Economics at Keio Graduate School of Economics. He has experience working at Keio University and Diet (National Parliament) member’s office as a Research Assistant.

Hyewon

Hyewon

Research Assistant

Hyewon is a student who is majoring in Journalism & Media at Kyonggi University. She has experience working at Omni Networks and Research21 as a Research Assistant. Also she has experience working as a supporters.

Diandian Jiang

Diandian Jiang

Senior Research Officer

Shohei Okamoto is a student who is majoring in Economics at Keio Graduate School of Economics. He has experience working at Keio University and Diet (National Parliament) member’s office as a Research Assistant.

Hyewon

Hyewon

Research Assistant

Hyewon is a student who is majoring in Journalism & Media at Kyonggi University. She has experience working at Omni Networks and Research21 as a Research Assistant. Also she has experience working as a supporters.