Exploring Careers in International Development

For the full playlist, visit our YouTube channel, where you will find all episodes and more series in our MIDDVantage collection.

Episode 8: The Work of Humanitarian NGOs Compared With International Development Organizations

• Guest: Trisha Bury ‘07 MIIS, Area Director of Programs for Mercy Corps in Northeast Syria
• Interviewer: Scott Webb, MIIS Career & Academic Advisor and MIIS ‘07 Alum
• Overview: Trisha Bury ‘07 MIIS works as the Area Director of Programs for Mercy Corps in Northeast Syria, where she leads programs in livelihoods, social cohesion, and water and sanitation, aimed at improving the lives of Syrians affected by conflict. Her role includes strategic planning, budget management, and ensuring program quality. She has worked in crisis zones with several major NGOs, including the International Rescue Committee in Colombia and Nigeria, and Relief International in Bangladesh, Iraq, and Myanmar. Trisha also has experience in public sector roles, including with USAID in Afghanistan and the U.S. Department of Defense in Iraq.
• Watch Time: 34 minutes

Episode 7: Fiscal Policy and Economic Governance

• Guest: Steve Rozner ‘96, Senior Advisor, Bureau for Economic Growth, Education, and the Environment, USAID
• Interviewer: Joe Hanlon ‘23.5
• Overview: Steve is a Senior Fiscal Advisor at USAID, specializing in domestic resource mobilization and fiscal policy. He works closely with USAID’s global offices to integrate fiscal policy and public financial management into development strategies. With over 15 years of experience in the field, Steve has led initiatives to improve tax policy, fiscal management, and economic governance in diverse regions, including Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Prior to USAID, Steve worked in economic policy at DAI, where he helped design programs aimed at fiscal reform.
• Watch Time: 34 minutes

Episode 6: An NGO Experience Within International Development

• Guest: David Torres ‘84, Professor of the Practice, Middlebury College
• Interviewer: Isabella Martus ‘19.5
• Overview: David is a Professor of the Practice of Social Entrepreneurship and Global Health at Middlebury College. He brings over three decades of experience in global health and social entrepreneurship. David previously worked as Senior Advisor at mothers2mothers, a Cape Town-based NGO focused on HIV and maternal health. Before his work in NGOs, he had a long career in finance, working for JPMorgan Chase. David’s diverse background offers valuable insights into how NGOs operate within international development.
• Watch Time: 29 minutes

Episode 5: Chemonics International: an International Development Consultancy

• Guests: Nathan Williams ‘10, Director, Global Health Division at Chemonics International and Lauren Redfield ‘11, Manager East and Southern Africa at Chemonics International
• Interviewer: Catherine Blizzard ‘20
• Overview: Nathan Williams ‘10 and Lauren Redfield ‘11 share their experiences working at Chemonics International, a global development consultancy. They discuss the role of development consultants in the international development landscape and how they implement programs in areas such as food security, health, and governance. Nathan has extensive experience managing USAID programs in conflict-affected regions, while Lauren focuses on projects related to climate change, resilience, and financial inclusion across Africa and Latin America.
• Watch Time: 37 minutes

Episode 4: The Importance of Supply Chain Management to Development Efforts

• Guest: Ellen Tompsett ‘02, Global Collaboration Manager, Reproductive Health at Chemonics International
• Interviewer: Lia Swiniarski ‘21.5
• Overview: Ellen Tompsett ‘02 is an expert in supply chain management, with a focus on reproductive health and disaster response. She works for Chemonics International on global health supply chains, helping ensure that essential health products reach the people who need them most. Ellen’s background includes over a decade of experience working in humanitarian relief and supply chain logistics for organizations like the UN and NGOs across the globe.
• Watch Time: 28 minutes

Episode 3: Private Sector Players: Development Consulting Firms

• Guest: Matt Sommerville ‘02, Chief of Party of USAID’s Tenure and Global Climate Change Program implemented by Tetra Tech
• Interviewer: Elsa Soderstrom
• Overview: Matt is a Senior Associate at Tetra Tech, where he leads the USAID Integrated Land and Resource Governance Project. His work focuses on securing land tenure and property rights in countries like Zambia, Mozambique, and Ghana. Matt discusses the role of private sector development consultants in advancing global development goals, particularly in environmental sustainability and climate change.
• Watch Time: 45 minutes

Episode 2: Public Sector Players

• Guest: Andy Karas ‘84, Mission Director of USAID Tanzania
• Interviewer: Catherine Blizzard ‘20
• Overview: Andy is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service and has served as Mission Director for USAID in Tanzania, Ghana, and other countries. He discusses his extensive career in the public sector, offering valuable insights into the role of governmental organizations in international development. Andy shares his experiences working with USAID in regions across Africa and reflects on the challenges and rewards of working in the public sector.
• Watch Time: 36 minutes

Episode 1: An Overview of Global Development: Key Players, Power Dynamics and Likely Effects of the Covid Pandemic

• Guest: Charlie MacCormack, PhD ’63, former president and CEO of Save the Children USA, chair of the board of InterAction, founding member of Malaria No More, and former CEO of World Learning
• Interviewer: Sarah Stroup, Associate Professor of Political Science, Middlebury College
• Overview: Charlie provides an overview of global development, discussing the key players, power dynamics, and the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. He draws on his extensive experience as the former CEO of Save the Children USA and his leadership roles with InterAction and World Learning. Sarah Stroup, a political scientist, joins him to discuss the changing landscape of international development and the critical issues that will shape the future of the field.
• Watch Time: 35 minutes