International Fellows Alumni

Mr. Alexey Khlebnikov most recently worked as a consultant for the Executive Office of the Russian President in Nizhni Novgorod. He was previously the assistant to the Foreign Languages Chair in the International Relations department at Nizhni Novgorod State University. He earned his master and bachelor degrees in International Relations from the Lobachevsky State University of Nizni Novgorod in Russia. His area of interest and research is Middle Eastern politics and great power policies towards this region. During his studies, Mr. Khlebnikov interned in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Consulate Department, and made several research stays and internships in the Middle East (Syria, Israel, Egypt). He is doing his PhD, which is focused on Egyptian and Syrian foreign policy.

Mr. Jun Kim has been a police officer for more than 15 years and has had a variety of leadership experiences in the field of law enforcement. He is the Chief of Beo-rang Police Station in the Gwa-Cheon Police Department, where he has established a crime control center, analyzes crime patterns and provides safety information to local government branches, schools and opinion leaders in order to bolster their voluntary efforts in community crime prevention. He has recently turned his focus to the prevention of crimes against children, which are on the rise nationally in Korea. Mr. Kim believes that the National Police Agency’s relatively young policies on crimes against children are in great need of improvement. He earned a bachelor degree in public administration from Korean National Police University (Yong In City, Geong Gi Do). During his fellowship year Mr. Kim will focus on strategies for crime prevention, child protection laws and policies, and public policy formulation.

Mr. Yoon-Taik Kim currently works at the National Human Rights Commission of Korea, as a human rights officer that investigates discriminatory practices and complaints, and handles international
cooperation with foreign human rights institutions. Previous to this, he worked for the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family of Korea, formulating policies and programs to support (marriage) immigrant’s families' sustainable adaptation and inclusion in the community. During the fellowship year, he will focus on human rights issues related to immigrants, business, and pursue a master degree in public administration.

Dr. Veerendra Mishra is a senior police officer with more than 18 years of experience in India and Assistant Inspector General of the Crime Investigation Department for the Madhya Pradesh State Police. He has also worked in challenging situations for upholding human rights and peace building, serving as part of the UN Peacekeeping Missions in Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as on a study visit to East Timor. He earned a doctorate in psychology and a master degree in sociology from Barkatullah Vishwavidyalaya (Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh). He completed a bachelor degree from Guru Nanak Dev University (Amritsar). He has authored two books; in particular, his book on community policing has received rave reviews. During his fellowship year Dr. Mishra will focus on the rule of law, human rights, human trafficking, conflict resolution, media management and good governance.

Mr. Thulani Mkhaliphi has served local government in Swaziland for more than 18 years. He is the Director of Decentralization for the Swazi government’s Ministry of Tinkhundla in Mbabane, where he provides policy development support and handles issues of governance at a local level, particularly as it relates to Swaziland’s traditional form of government led by local chiefs. He regularly interacts with traditional authorities, urban local authorities, members of parliament, government Ministers and Swazi citizens to lead the process of decentralizing government in his country. He earned a master degree in public and development management from the University of Witwatersrand (Johannesburg, South Africa) and a bachelor degree in public administration from the University of Swaziland (Manzini). During his fellowship year Mr. Mkhaliphi will focus on local governance, policy development and implementation, and citizen participation.

Mr. Navjuvonov works as a National Program Coordinator at the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Tajikistan. He serves as an advisor to the Chief of Mission (COM) on program development matters and on new trends and policies in the field of migration. He also has developed several project proposals including, “Combating Trafficking in Persons in Central Asia,” which received funding from USAID in 2010, and “An Assessment of the Exploitation of Children and Students in the Cotton Fields of Tajikistan.” Mr. Navjuvonov holds a M.A. in International Journalism and Mass Communication from the Kazakhstan Institute of Management, Economics, and Strategic Research in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Given his significant experience in various anti-trafficking efforts and research projects, he wishes to receive training at a professional level in order to gain additional insight into topics such as mobilizing faith-based and community organizations in preventing trafficking in persons; organizing information and advocacy campaigns against stigmatization of victims of trafficking; coverage of trafficking in persons’ issues in mass media; and provision of medical and psychological assistance to victims and their social adaptation.

Dr. Huong Nguyen is the Director of the Macroeconomics and Strategy Department of Development Strategy Institute, a national think tank in Vietnam. She is responsible for formulating projects on national socio-economic development strategies and doing macro-economic analysis and forecasts. She earned a doctorate in development economics from the Development Strategy Institute and a master degree in development economics from a joint program by the Institute of Social Sciences (Netherlands) and the National Economics University (Hanoi). She also has a bachelor degree in banking and finance from NEU. During her fellowship year Dr. Nguyen will focus on public investment and political and economic development.

Mr. Phuntsho Norbu currently works as the First Secretary/Senior Desk Officer in the Department of Bilateral Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Royal Government of Bhutan. Prior to this, he served for three and half years as the First Secretary at the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Bhutan to the United Nations in Geneva and other international organizations during which time he was responsible for, among others, the Human Rights Council, the World Health Organization and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees. He has a master degree in international studies (peace and conflict resolution) from the University of Queensland (Australia) and post-graduate certificates in advanced security cooperation from the Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies (Hawai’i), international trade from Sogang University (Seoul, South Korea), and human rights and international humanitarian law from National Law School of India University (Bangalore, India). He completed his bachelor degree in geography (honors) from Sherubtse College (Bhutan). During his fellowship year he will focus on international relations, human rights and law.

Dr. Hari Paudel is the Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare in the Government of Nepal. He is responsible for initiating and coordinating the formulation of policies and plans to combat human trafficking as well as the formulation and implementation of policies related to women and children. He has a total of 25 years of experience in the government sector and has worked in diverse areas from public sector reform to development strategies. He earned a doctorate in development studies from University of Bonn (Germany) and a master degree in public administration from the University of Bergen (Norway). Additionally, he has master degrees in political science and public administration and a bachelor degree in law and education from Tribhuvan University (Kathmandu, Nepal). During his fellowship year Dr. Paudel will focus on trafficking in persons, policy and prevention.

Ms. Quintero is a Law Professor and Director of the Human Rights Clinic at Universidad Icesi in Cali, Colombia. Besides her academic responsibilities teaching Law and developing the academic curriculum for undergraduate students, she writes interventions for the Colombian Constitutional Court about the right to equality and the right to health, as well as writes amicus curiae for supporting local human rights organizations. She received her J.D. from the Universidad Externado de Colombia, and both her master’s degree in philosophy and a certificate in Ethics and Human Rights from Universidad del Valle. Since she has been working in education, Ms. Quintero has been focused on the promoting and monitoring of economic, social and cultural rights. She would like to focus on the right to health and on education for the conservation and promotion of environmental care. Although she has already studied the legal frameworks of the Inter-American System of Human Rights and the UN System, she wishes to gain more practical experience in the process of presenting a case. She would also like to attend seminars where the challenges of universal access to proper healthcare are discussed, as well as meetings with experts in the field.

Mr. Priya Ranjan is currently the Assistant Inspector General of Forests, in the Ministry of Environment and Forests in New Delhi, India. He coordinates forestry research in India with a special focus on sharing research findings with the public. He is also responsible for the capacity building of various cadres in the forestry sector in India, particularly through planning and conducting mid-career and other training for officers. Previously, he served as an officer of the Indian Forest Service in various capacities, working in the areas of Protection, Conservation of Wildlife and Forests, and Watershed Management and Associated Natural Resources. He has a special interest in working with communities and involving them in the process of natural resource conservation. He earned a master in Science and Philosophy from Delhi University in Delhi, India. During his fellowship year, Mr. Ranjan will pursue a master of Public Affairs degree.

Ms. Rosilda Robinson Vega is the Legal Counsel for the Caja de Seguro Social (CSS) in Panama, where she has been working for the last 12 years. CSS is a government institution in charge of providing social security protection to the Panamanian population. She is responsible for providing legal opinions and concepts regarding the interpretation of CSS law; its rulings regarding health services, pensions, subsidies, government procurement; and national and international agreements. She earned her bachelor degree in law and political science from University of Panama and diplomas in criminal law from the Universidad Panamericana (Panama), public financial administration from Universidad Nacional del Litoral (Argentina), and senior citizen social protection from CIESS y OAS in (Mexico). During her fellowship year she is interested to learn about the challenges relating to public strategic planning, public management, and policy making and budgeting.

Mr. Shyama Prasad Royis currently the Deputy Secretary of the Cabinet Secretariat in the Government of India. He completed his Post Graduate D in Modern Indian History and a bachelor degree in History from Delhi University in Delhi, India. He has been a part of policy formulation relating to water management and taxation policy. He has worked in vigilance and administrative divisions in different Ministries in the Government of India.

Ms. Kalpana Shrestha is the Under-Secretary for the Ministry of Commerce and Supplies for the Government of Nepal. She is responsible for dealing with trade related issues, especially in regards to India and China in order to facilitate trade promotion and policy formation. Previously she worked in the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare and in the Ministry of General Administration. Her main goal is to include the concerns of citizens in public policy and to lessen the gap between policy and implementation. She earned her master degrees in international studies (development cooperation) from Ewha Womans University (Seoul, Korea), and in public administration from Public Administration Campus and in sociology from Tri-Chandra Multiple Campus, both part of Tribhuvan University (Kathmandu, Nepal). During her fellowship year, Ms. Shrestha will focus on public policy analysis and policy formulation using the perspective of women’s empowerment, gender equality, and social inclusion. She also will focus on human resource management.

Dr. Magteld Smith is a medical-social researcher, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of the Free State, Republic of South Africa. She has 19 years of experience in the field of disabilities and the founder of  various community projects. Her research compares the cost effectiveness of rehabilitation programs for persons with disabling hearing impairment, including multiple disabilities associated with hearing impairment, making it possible for more people to have access to a wider array of rehabilitation options. She is a doctoral candidate in development studies, Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, and she holds a master degree in governance and political transformation and a master degree in development studies, all from the University of the Free State (Bloemfontein, South Africa). During her fellowship year Ms. Smith will focus on public health policy management.

Mr. Uckuyu is a Senior Administrative Inspector at the Ministry of the Interior in Turkey. In this capacity, he evaluates human rights practices, standards of basic health services, compulsory education, and local institutions’ effects on the environment as part of inspecting local governorships. He inspects all bodies (such as governorships, municipalities, police, gendarmerie) under the Ministry of Interior and investigates allegations and complaints about their personnel on behalf of Minister. He is also a Resident Twinning Advisor-Counter Part and Coordinator for European Union Projects on human rights and political criteria. Mr. Uckuyu holds a master’s degree in Security Management and Strategies from the Institute of the Security Science, a master’s degree in Public Administration from the Institute of Middle East and Turkey of Public Administration, and a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the University of Ankara in Turkey. As a new Humphrey Fellow, he is interested in learning the U.S. perspective on human rights, civilian oversight, the prevention of torture and ill-treatment, the prevention of domestic violence, and the protection of threatened people.

Mr. Zeb works as a District Police Officer in Kohat, Pakistan, and is responsible for the observance of human rights standards in police work. He also helps to manage infrastructure development and staff welfare programs. In addition, he is in charge of the preparation, execution, supervision, and implementation of the Annual Policing Plan that sets out performance targets for the maintenance of public order, security, crime management, human rights protection, community policing, road safety, staff training, general law enforcement, and development. Mr. Zeb received his L.L.M. degree in Criminal Justice from the London School of Economics in the United Kingdom, and his M.A. in Political Science, his M.A. in English Literature, and his B.A. in English literature and Political Science from University of Peshawar in Pakistan. As a Humphrey Fellow, he would like to work with U.S. police to learn how they have integrated human rights standards into their policy and practice and how the same can be replicated in his country.

Ms. Fadia Afashe is a women’s rights activist. She is currently the Director of the Minister of Culture’s Private Office in Damascus, Syria with the responsibility of managing all administrative aspects of the Ministry. She has a passionate commitment to human rights issues with a goal to become an effective decision-maker in Syria and change the perception of women’s roles in her society. She received a Master in Administration Science from the French-Syrian institute (INA) in Damascus and a Bachelors degree in Criminal Law from Damascus University School of Law. In addition, she is a professional artist. During her fellowship year, Ms. Afashe will focus on, public policy, international affairs, community development, women’s rights, and human rights.

Mr. Ali is the Assistant Director at the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in Islamabad, Pakistan. In this position, he worked closely with INTERPOL in facilitating matters dealing with extradition, legal assistance, the transfer of criminals, crime prevention and the protection of witnesses and victims. He has also worked for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and for the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) in Pakistan as Program Manager. Mr. Ali holds an MBA in Finance from Allama Iqbal Open University in Islamabad, Pakistan. In addition, he has studied Commerce at the University of Karachi, Social Enterprise Management at Lahore University of Management Science, and Democracy, Rule of Law & Security at the University of Birmingham. This year, he would like to work on issues related to the trafficking of human beings. He hopes to further explore how law enforcement agencies prevent and combat human trafficking. Moreover, he wants to examine institutions imparting specialized education regarding this issue and look at how NGOs are implementing anti-human trafficking measures.

Ms. Arias is a Legal Advisor for the General Inspector of the Ecuadorian Air Force. Her work involves developing legal reports and acting as legal counsel in disciplinary and administrative proceedings. She is responsible for supervising the creation of legal contracts and tracking procedural claims that involve both military and civilian personnel. Ms. Arias has a Doctorate in Law from Sek University in Quito, Ecuador. During her Humphrey Fellowship year, she would like to gain more knowledge in the field of human rights in order to apply it to the Ecuadorian Armed Forces, particularly the Air Force. She wishes to design a program that includes a focus on Human Rights Law. She will examine how human rights have been implemented in the United States Armed Forces. Ms. Arias hopes to participate in a Professional Affiliation with one of the U.S. Courts’ Armed Forces academies. She also wishes to gain professional experience with the UN in order to further understand how to approach legal issues pertaining to human rights cases.