EDUCATION
University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada (expected graduation 2012)
PhD candidate (ABD), Comparative Developing, Political Science; minor: public policy Collaborative with Women Studies and Gender Institute, University of Toronto
Dissertation: Politics of Microfinance: A Comparative Study of Jamaica, Guyana and Haiti
Preliminary field work: Jamaica (2007, 2008), Guyana (2008) and Haiti (2008)
Field work: Jamaica 2009, 11 months as Fulbright student, Caribbean Policy and Research Institute’s fellow www.capricaribbean.org and UWI/Mona graduate student. Jamaica-based advisors: John Rapley and Anthony Harriott 
Field work: Guyana 2010, 2 months, University of Guyana student through the Department of Government. Guyana-based advisors: Chairperson Kardasi Ceres and International development Studies program with Professor Clive Y. Thomas
Field work: Haiti 2010, 1 month, Research associate at the Inter-University Institute for Research and Development (INURED) www.inured.org/qui_en_text.html. Haiti advisor: Herns Louis Marcelin of the University of Miami and INURED’s Director.
Thesis Supervisor: Professor Judith Teichman
Thesis Committee members: Professors Louis Pauly and Njoki Wane Comprehensive Exams passed: Comparative Politics, May 2007

Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, US
Masters of Public Administration, May 1997
Thesis: Fundamentalism, Militarism & the Effects on Human Rights in the Sudan (1989-1997)
Field research and internship in Cairo, Egypt with the Arab Lawyers Union and London, England with the Sudanese Human Rights Organization (6 months, 1996)
Supervisors: Muna Ndulo, Salah Hassan, Arch Dotson
Coursework: Planning and Development, Globalization and Development (Beneria), African Law, Sudanese Politics, Economics, Algebra, Statistics, Regulations, Politics, Policy Admin

University of Kent at Canterbury, Canterbury, UK
Bachelor of Laws, honors, 1995
Coursework: Labor (Conaghan), property and equity, contracts, family, business
Internship in Kent Legal Clinic to low income people (2 years)

Saint Mary’s University, Halifax, NS, Canada – Bachelor of Laws, Honors, 1995
Bachelor of Arts, Political Science and Philosophy, 1993
Coursework: International development (Wein), economics, political thought, Canadian politics (Landes), Women and Politics (Arscott), Administration, Gender (Mount Saint Vincent)

HONORS AND FELLOWSHIPS
• Royal Bank of Canada scholarship 2010-2011 ($5,000)
• Ontario Graduate Scholarship 2010-2011 ($15, 000)
• School of Graduate Studies, Doctoral Field Research grant ($1,550)
• Frank Peers Graduate Research Scholarship 2009-2010 ($3,600) and 2010-2011 ($5,000)
• Val Duncan Award, Center for International Studies 2009-2010, MUNK center
• Le Centre d’études de la France et du monde Francophone 2009-2010 ($1,500)
• Fulbright Research Award, Kingston Jamaica research, 2008-2009 ($23, 000)
• Doctoral Fellowship, University of Toronto, 2006-2011 ($15-18, 000 annually)
• Best Incoming Graduate Student Award, Women and Gender Studies Institute, University of Toronto, 2006-2007 (Cash Award)
• Conference Travel Awards for 2008-10 from the following institutions: University of Toronto; WGSI; NCOBPS ; CALACS; CSA; CPSA and APSA
• PHD project Award, KPMJ, Chicago, IL, 2004
• Small Business and Management Scholarship, Bradley University, 2004
• Microfinance Training Scholarship and Travel Award, Boulder, Co, 2002
• Graduate Scholarship, Cornell University, 1995-1997 ($32, 000 annually)
• Mario Einaudi Travel Scholarship, Cornell University, 1996 ($8, 000)

TEACHING EXPERIENCE
• Lecturer, Economic Development Programs and Poverty in the Global South, 2011
• Teaching Assistant in Politics of Development, second year course, 2011
• Teaching and training professors at the Catholic University of Bukavu in qualitative methodologies workshop, June to September 2010 (The World Bank project)
• Teaching Assistant in Canada in Comparative Politics, at UTM campus, 2010
• Teaching Assistant in Politics of Development, second year course, 2009
• Training on qualitative research methodologies for NGO leaders in Central Asia, October to December 2008 (USAID project)
• Teaching Assistant in US Foreign Policy, at STG campus, third year course, 2008
• Teaching Assistant in Politics of Africa, at STG campus, third year course, 2008
• Teaching Assistant in the Politics of the Dispossessed in Latin America, at UTSC campus, 2008
• Teaching Assistant in Political Science, University of Toronto, 2006 to 2008
       • Conducted three years of tutorials in Politics of Development, includes grading, tutorials and invigilating final
          exams at UTSC
• Teaching Assistant in Basic Logic and Philosophy, Saint Mary’s University, 1991-1993
• Teaching Fundamentals Certificate, Teaching Assistant Training Program, 2007-2008

SERVICE
• Contribution to UNDP blog: http://www.jamaicapartnersforpeace.org/blogs
• 30 minute segment on “Topsy Turvy Microfinance in Downtown Kingston,” Right, Center Left show with Dennis Brooks, Nationwide Radio 90 FM
• Fundraising and coaching for Hope for Children Development Corporation, 2009
• High school outreach program in rural Linstead, Jamaica, October 2009
• Career advising for young professional entrants into the microfinance field, on-going
• Reference letters for Master programs and law school students;
• Mentor for Havergal College Alumni in non-profit sector, 2007-2008

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
13 years experience in enterprise development and international project management. Assignments carried out in at least 20 countries. 

Owner, Ebony Development Associates, work includes:

05.2010-09.2010	Gender and Informal trade specialist in DR Congo, Rwanda and Burundi.  Methodology trainer for the Catholic University at Bukavu. The World Bank.
06.2010-07.2010	Liberia–Market research and new business development. International Rescue Committee.
03.2010	Afghanistan– Review of an Institutional and Gender Audit tool. Creative Associates International.
12.2009	IFC Microfinance proposal for Jamaica.  Technical review, research and writing.  Shore Bank International.
08.2009 – 10.2009	Jamaica–Improving Financial Access Study.  IDB and Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) of Jamaica.
10.2008 - 12.2008	Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan – Baseline study/Gender analysis on the cross border shuttle trade; methodology training workshop. AECOM/Banyan Global.
04.2008 - 09.2008	Jordan and Rwanda – Research Director for multi-country entrepreneurship and impact study. Chemonics International/USAID
06.2008 – 09.2008	Nigeria – Market research for Banking on Health project with commercial sector
06.2008	Capitalization of Credit Unions in Ukraine, Canadian Cooperative Association
05.2008	Subject reviewer for training course, Making Cents International
04.2008	Project design and technical finance writing for youth MF project in Egypt; Morocco for corporate donor, MEDA
03.2008 – 04.2008	Haiti – Technical assistance to the largest MFI, DAI; Youth MF training to banks
01.2008 - 02.2008	Nigeria – Market research and down-scaling workshop to commercial banks, Banyan Global/Abt Associates
12.2007 - 01.2008	Gender equality review for Pakistan proposal – livelihood project design, Plan International
09.2007	Afghanistan rural enterprise development – project design, Women for Women International - research and technical writing
08.2007 - 09.2007	Gender and Environment – Tanzania project design, University of Toronto
07.2007 - 08.2007	Afghanistan – Livelihood project for Women, Women for Women International; based in Kabul and Parwan
05.2007 - 07.2007	Jamaican Loan Guarantee Fund and Legacy Fund, MEDA – in conjunction with corporate donor Alcan
06.2007	Curriculum Development for Professionals, Making Cents International
05.2007	Donor Mapping – global skills training, MasterCard Foundation
01.2007 - 02.2007	Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises study, Foundation for International Training
10.2006	Banking and health in Kenya – Equity Bank, Barclays Bank, Save the Children
09.2006	Governance on the Ground Workshop, CIDA-Jamaica, University of Toronto

RELATED WORK EXPERIENCE

10.2006 - present	Owner/Consultant, Ebony Development Associates www.ebonydevelopment.org Practice areas:gender, governance, enterprise and project management.  (see consulting assignments listed above)
01.2005 - 09.2006	Senior Microfinance Consultant, MEDA, Waterloo Canada Provided microfinance consulting services in the areas of new product development, business planning, operational support, gender and technical training. Managed Egypt youth MF project; consulting to Benin, Mozambique and DR Congo banks.
09.2004 - 01.2005	Consultant, OIC International, Philadelphia
01.2004 - 08.2004	Technical Program Manager, CRS Niger Managed a sustainable microfinance bank (receiving wholesale financing) in southern Niger with 4,000 clients.
07.2001 - 01.2004	Director of Entrepreneurship and Business, OIC International, Philadelphia Managed global microfinance network valued at US $1.6M with 16,000 clients. Non-formal education in Nigeria, Angola and Guinea. TA to village banks in Cote d’Ivoire, Niger, Ghana and Togo. Launched start-up bank for women in Tanzania.
02.2000 - 07.2001	Senior Program Officer, The Hunger Project, New York City Managed US $2M African Woman Food Farmer Initiative, loans & literacy to 14 000 clients. Expanded US $600,000 village banking to entrepreneurs in Uganda, Malawi, Mozambique.
09.1997 - 12.1999	Small Business Advisor, US Peace Corps and Government of Benin Developed training modules and led business planning for local enterprises and cooperatives. Assisted in disbursements and assisted in reporting for local government, CARDER under Japanese funded project.
04.1996 - 09.1996	Legal Researcher, Arab Lawyers Union, Cairo, Egypt Human rights and economic development research with Sudanese exiles in Egypt.

PUBLICATIONS
“Risky Business? Poor Women Food Traders in the Borderlands of Congo, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi.” World Bank report. October 2010.

“Perspectives Inna di Yard: Improving Access to Microfinance.” Inter-American Development Bank report. January 2010.

“Understanding the Impact of Employment, Entrepreneurship and Training Programs on Youth in Jordan and Rwanda,” microNOTE 52. www.microLINKS.org. USAID. Nov 2008.

“An Egyptian Case Study: Financial Services for Youth,” (co-authored Redfern and Carothers), International Journal of Emerging Markets. Vol 1 Issue 4: 329–340. NH: Southern New Hampshire University, October 2006.

“Thinking Outside the Islamic Box: Linking Context and Credit in Muslim West Africa,” Critical Half Journal. Washington DC: Women for Women. October 2004.

CONFERENCES
• The Politics of Hard times. “Going Local: Using Qualitative Methodologies in Complex Urban Settings.” 106th Annual Meetings American Political Science Association, September 2010. Washington, DC. Paper presented.
• Connected Understanding. “Partisan Politics and Tribalism in Microfinance: The Jamaican Case” and “Topsy Turvy Microfinance: Rethinking Gender and Identity in Downtown Kingston.” 82nd Canadian Political Science Association, June 2010. Congress, Montreal. Two papers presented.
• Seminar for Academic, Policy and Community Stakeholders. “Topsy Turvy Microfinance in Downtown Kingston.” Caribbean Policy Research Institute (CAPRI), UWI/Mona, Jamaica, 26 October 2009. (Fulbright student)
• Centering the Caribbean in the Caribbean. “How to use a Black feminist framework in Political Science research.” 34th Caribbean Studies Association, Kingston, Jamaica, June, 2009. Paper presented.
• At the Crossroads of Empire. “A Critical Review of Remittances in the Global Economy: Are gifts from abroad a part of the neoliberal agenda?” Congress, Vancouver, June 2008. CALACS. Paper presented.
• Sociological Perspectives: Thinking Beyond Borders/ Global Ideas and Global Values. “A View of a Political Scientist on Black Feminism in Development” Congress, Vancouver, June 2008. CSA. Paper presented.
• Identity Politics in the US and Abroad: Race, the Black Diaspora and Electoral Politics Conference. “How to use a Black Feminist framework in Comparative Politics,” National Conference of Black Political Scientists, Chicago IL, March 2008. Paper presented.
• Black Feminist Thought Conference. Paper delivered on “Black Feminism and Development,” University of Toronto, OISE, December 2007. Co-chair and conference organizer.
• UN International Year of Microfinance 2005 event. Paper delivered on “Building Inclusive Financial Systems.” Keynote speaker. Herb Gray Center for Non Profits and the University of Windsor. Canada, December 2005.
• Arab Sanabel Microfinance Network. Paper presented on “Innovation in non-financial services in the Arab World.” Morocco, Nov 2005.

ASSOCIATIONS
Women Advancing Microfinance, 2005
Canadian Association for International Development Consultants, 2005
Association of Women in Development, 2005-2011
Caribbean Graduate Students Association 2006
National Conference of Black Political Scientists 2007 – Graduate Assistance Program Award;
American Political Science Association 2007-2011
Canadian Political Science Association 2007-2011
Caribbean Studies Association 2009
National Association of Women 2007
Canadian Association for Latin American and the Caribbean 2007
Caribbean Studies Association 2009
Canadian Political Science Association, 2009