Meet the New IDS Graduate Students!

Katie Schlaudt, a Holland, Michigan native, graduated in 2010 from Ohio Wesleyan University with majors in French and Spanish and a minor in Latin American Studies.  Her experiences abroad include semesters in both Spain and Cameroon, and a research experience in Mexico.  She hopes to pursue a Certificate in African Community Health along with her IDS degree.  Future career plans include any job with an international element that focuses on creating an environment of encouragement, health and motivation so that people are able to achieve a more favorable state of living.

Originally from Westfield, NJ, Christine Pirot found her passion African development while studying abroad in South Africa as a freshman at Clemson University.  Determined to make a difference, Christine transferred to Penn State in 2005 to take advantage of the African Studies Department.  While at Penn State, she supplemented her education with a nine-month internship in the Office of African Regional Security Affairs at the U.S. State Department.  In addition to Christine's interest in African development, she also has an ingrained love for music and theater.  In 2008, Christine joined the North American tour of Walking With Dinosaurs, an arena tour starring life-size, animatronic dinosaurs, and spent two years traveling across Mexico, the United States and Canada.  Christine is honored to attend Ohio University as a Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellow studying the Ghanaian language, Akan.   After graduating, she hopes to do consulting work for an oil company operating in West Africa.

Kate Hargis is from Louisville, Kentucky where she earned a BA in Anthropology as well as a BS in Sociology at the University of Louisville.  During her undergrad, she worked with non-profit organizations in at-risk youth programs and community development. She has also spent time in Europe studying history and anthropology. Following graduation, she became employed with a local refugee resettlement agency, which helped further her interest in development studies.  Here at OU, Kate plans to focus on Gender and Development issues in Central and East Africa.

Susan Pomar-Queirolo  was born in Lima, Peru where she grew up and obtained her basic education. In 1999, Susan came to the United States unaware that her future would take a different path. Although she could not speak English when she first arrived, Susan managed to learn it and few months later she was able to communicate. A few years later, she decided to attend college, this would help to improve her English as well as change her worldview. Susan says "During my educational transition and work experiences, my interest for the world’s accomplishments and predicaments became stronger".  She eventually finished her undergraduate education at Kent State University with a double major in International Relations and Spanish. Currently, she is pursuing my master’s degree in International Development program in order to obtain the instruction she needs to become a proactive global citizen. After graduation,Susan would like to work with an international organization that focuses on development in underprivileged regions in the world, particularly in Latin America.   

Moriah Shiddat is from Lansing,Michigan. She graduated from Michigan State University in 2010 with a BA in International Studies with a minor in Anthropology.  Moriah is a former Ronald E.McNair scholar were she conducted research on the impacts of global climate change on alternative livelihoods among the Maasai of southern Kenya.  In 2008 Moriah worked at  The Lansing Refugee Development Center  as student volunteer.  While pursuing her masters in the IDS program Moriah is studying Kiswahili in hopes of continuing her research on rural livelhoods and land use dynamics in East Africa.  In the future Moriah Shiddat aspires to obtain her PHD in Geography.

Jerimiah Wildermuth is from Sidney, Ohio . He graduated from Ohio University in 2001 with a BA in Political Science and History.  After graduation Jerimiah  joined the U.S. Army, where he served for the past 9 years as a communications officer.  He spent most of those years in Germany.  Jerimiah has been deployed to Kosovo and Iraq.  He chose the IDS program to gain a better understanding of policies that can lead to better lives for people in both a rich or poor countries.  In addition Jerimiah states, “ I love the fact that the program has such a diverse group of students, from all corners of the globe”.  After graduation he will continue his service in the Army and he hopes to be able to put the skills that he has learned at Ohio University to use.

Tatiana Puscasu and is from Moldova. Tatiana states "Growing up, my passion was English thus I pursued an undergraduate degree in English Language and Literature. I fulfilled my dream of being an English teacher for two years and a translator at times but changed my professional direction into the NGO sector ". Before coming to Ohio,Tatiana has worked for The Academy for Educational Development -a project dealing with strengthening Moldovan civil society monitoring capacity as
well as in a small rural NGOs for sustainable community development." I'm happy to be in Athens and enjoy my two years in the IDS program at Ohio University"she states. She further hopes  to acquire skills from OU professors and share development practices with herfellow IDS colleagues in order to apply them into Moldova's path to development.

Matthew Biddulph served four years in the US Army airborne infantry with the 82nd Airborne Division. He served two combat tours in Afghanistan plus an additional tour in Iraq. Matthew attended The Ohio State University, graduating summa cum laude with a BA in International Studies and a philosophy minor. After earning his undergraduate degree, Matthew worked in the private sector as an analyst doing automated text analysis at Social Science Automation. His main areas of interest are counterinsurgency strategy and US national security. With the knowledge he will acquire in the IDS program, Matthew hopes to one day assist American military efforts in third world nations facing insurgencies by using development theories and practices to strengthen governance and separate insurgents from their base of support within local populations. 

Sein Lin is a Fulbright student from Myanmar (Burma), studying a master degree in International Development Studies (2010-2012) at Ohio University. He received a bachelor’s degree in Physics from University of Distance Education, Yangon, Myanmar in 1998. He also received a post graduate diploma in management and administration from University of Economics, Yangon, Myanmar in 2002. He served as a business development manager at private pharmaceuticals company in Myanmar from 1992 to 2000. From 2002 to 2009, he worked for World Vision International. He held a position as a livelihood technical support officer for anti-human trafficking project from 2002 – 2003.  He served as a design, monitoring and evaluation officer for integrated community based sustainable area development program and other sector projects, from 2003-2006. He has held a position of country program coordinator at World Vision Australia from 2006-2007, managing Australia funded (both government and private) projects for Myanmar. Later, he served as a design, monitoring and evaluation coordinator for World Vision Myanmar from 2007-2008. Sein was also a program support manager for Category III, Level III emergency response and recovery program for Cyclone Nargis from 2008 – 2009. Sein states that he is dedicated to facilitating new and innovative development programs that covers advocacy, development and humanitarian emergency affairs, to effectively meet the needs of vulnerable people, utilize knowledge and experiences in building local capacity to develop human resources in the community development area. Furthermore he hopes to develop higher level management and leadership skills in implementation of development, advocacy and relief assistance programs.

Mame Seyni Dieye but preferably (Nini), came to  Ohio University after recieving her undergraduate degree in Political Science from Ohio State University, after working for 3 years in a private university as
a research analyst.  A native of  Dakar, Senegal, Nini states," ...I always knew that I wanted to learn the skills that would contribute to reducing poverty in Africa and assist the continent in reaching its growth potential. The Masters in International Development Studies program at Ohio University gives me the chance to analyze critically the most current international development theories and policies. The curriculum is well designed by integrating both theory and practice. I am confident that the multidisciplinary course of study offered will help me do my part in contributing to positive, creative, African sustainable development." Nini is also  fluent in Wolof, French and English.

Hanh Nguyen is a Fulbright student from Vietnam. She recieved a BA in English Language Teaching and MA in English Linguistics at Vietnam National University. She worked as a university lecturer of English in Hanoi before she completely focused on the area of international development. Her job at a Danida environment program in Vietnam during three years before she came to Ohio University gave her opportunities for on-the-job training and practical experience in the field of environment and development. She realized that only by furthering her education in development studies with a focus on environmental sustainability could she fulfill her career. The 2009 International Courses at United Nations University for which Hanh was granted a full fellowship to attend further motivated her to pursue the master’s degree in international development studies. She wants to be able to apply the knowledge and skills she has learned from the IDS program to the context of her country. She hopes to work for the United Nations or an international organization in environmental sustainability in the future. 

Betty Ackah is a native of Ghana. She is currently pursuing a dual master’s degree in International Development Studies and Spanish. Betty received her undergraduate degree in Spanish and Political Science from the University of Ghana, Legon.  Upon graduating she worked in a number of organizations, two of which she states, have been instrumental in her career focus.  She has also been an instructor of beginners' and Intermediate Spanish in the University of Ghana. Betty believes the experience opened her eyes to the Ghanaian educational system and its influence on national progress. While working for the Embassy of Spain in Accra, Betty mentions that the experience deepened her knowledge of international relations and the effects that foreign policy has on a nation's developmental goals. She states” I expect my MA degree to equip me with adequate knowledge on how to contribute meaningfully in both these areas, from the grassroots level of the social ladder. With this focus, my area of interest is primarily in cultural studies especially through literature and pertinent mediums of communication, as well as how it ties in with progressive social and human development.”

Prince Adu was born and raised in Ghana where he obtained a BA degree in Psychology with a Russian language minor. He found his passion for international development during a community outreach program he engaged in during his undergraduate studies. Subsequently, working with the Millennium Development Authority and Streetwise Project Ghana motivated him to pursue higher education in the field of development. Hoping to pursue the African Community Health Certificate alongside the IDS degree, Prince hopes to work with a health oriented international organization. He loves to try bits of everything. Apart from English, he speaks Twi (Native Language), some French and Russian. He has a great passion for soccer,  music and loves learning about other cultures.