Discussion Group Chair Biographies

Acting Defense Discussion Group Chair: Eric Richey
eric.richey@ypfp.org
 

Development Discussion Group Chair: Sofie Leon

East Asia Discussion Chair: Christina Goodlander
Christina.Goodlander@ypfp.org
 

Energy & the Environment Discussion Group Chair: Jennifer Silvi
Jennifer.Silvi@ypfp.org
 

Europe Discussion Group Chair: Nueteki Akuetteh
Nueteki.akuetteh@ypfp.org

Nueteki Akuetteh  is the Director for Washington, DC Activities with Global Concepts & Communications, LLC, a firm specializing in political and academic consulting.
 

Gender in Foreign Policy Discussion Group Chair: Laura Hammami
Laura.Hammami@ypfp.org

Laura Hammami is an international affairs generalist with broad expertise ranging from international education to gender issues with an emphasis on global economic and political trends. She spent six years with the Global Summit of Women, most recently as Associate Director; in this role she managed key componets of  a high-level annual summit bringing together top government officials (including Heads of State, Ministers) with key executives from the business world.  A graduate of a Top 25 business school, she has experience in both corporate and non-profit environments in an global setting. Laura's interests include US foreign policy, especially the Middle East/ North Africa region.  She speaks fluent French and intermediate Arabic.
 

Global Health Discussion Group Chair: Hiliary Critchley
Hiliary.Critchley@ypfp.org

Hiliary Critchley is currently an Area Manager of Public Health for Vestergaard Frandsen, a global social enterprise with eleven offices worldwide.   Hiliary has lectured on the role of innovative product development in Public Health at the University of Pennsylvania, at the Emerson Summer Institute, and at NGOs ranging from Pathfinder to Project Concern to CHF International.  She has had field experience in South Africa, Kenya, and Vietnam. Hiliary was previously a management consultant specializing in growth strategy for private sector multinational Life Sciences clients, and is from Washington, DC. She graduated from Dartmouth College.
 

Grand Strategy Discussion Group Chair: Patrick Magee
Patrick.Magee@ypfp.org

Patrick Magee is a defense analyst at BAE Systems.  His academic work lies in the area of U.S. foreign policy and grand strategy.  His 2005 Ph.D. dissertation (Grand Strategy Analysis:  A Proto-Theoretical Approach) created a methodology for understanding strategic behavioral choices.  He also is the author of a U.S. grand strategy blog at www.USGrandStrategy.org (previously www.irtheory.net).  Dr. Magee holds a Ph.D. in International Studies from Old Dominion University, an M.A. from the same program, and a B.A. in Government and Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia.
 

Latin America Discussion Group Chair: Sarah King
Sarah.King@ypfp.org

Sarah King currently works for Kissinger McLarty Associates navigating the political, economic, and business landscapes in Latin America, supporting multinational corporations in a variety of industries. Prior to joining Kissinger McLarty she was the Project Director in Paraguay for Amigos de las Americas (AMIGOS) where she created and managed rural community development projects with the Ministry of Health, Plan International, and the Fundación Paraguaya/Junior Achievement. She continues to serve on the board of AMIGOS Washington, DC chapter. Additionally, Sarah worked in Senator Diane Feinstein's Washington office, collaborating directly with the Legislative Assistant for Defense and China affairs, and at the Center for International Policy, supporting their Cuba project.  Sarah graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Maryland in 2006 with a Bachelors of Arts in Political Science and minor in Spanish.
 

Middle East Group Chair: Kaley Levitt
Kaley.Levitt@ypfp.org

Kaley Levitt is special/research assistant in the Henry A. Kissinger Chair. Previously, she was Middle East research assistant at National Defense University’s Institute for National Strategic Studies and interned at the New Israel Fund and the San Diego Office of the Mayor. She graduated summa cum laude from the George Washington University with a B.A. in international affairs and concentrations in conflict and security studies and the Middle East.
 

Public Diplomacy Group Chair: Michael Walsh
Mike.Walsh@ypfp.org

Michael Walsh is a Project Director at Forum One Communications. He is adept at constructing digital strategies that take advantage of Web 2.0 technologies, especially as they relate to social media and Gov 2.0. He possesses familiarity with regional affairs in Africa and Asia and a breadth of topical issues, including public diplomacy.

Prior to Forum One, Michael served as a Senior Marketing Communications Manager at Microsoft Corporation. He joined Microsoft following a number of years in the public sector, where he worked as both a management consultant and civil servant within the United States federal government.

Michael has been the recipient of a number of awards, including a Certificate of Appreciation from the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff and a Patent Award from Microsoft Corporation. He also has published a number of software innovations papers, served as a regular contributor to TechNet Magazine, and participated on social media panels at major Internet conferences, including Web 2.0 Expo San Francisco.

Michael holds bachelor's and master's degrees in International Relations, with concentrations in International Law and International Economics, from Johns Hopkins University/SAIS. He also completed executive education programs in business administration at Harvard, Wharton, Chicago, and Columbia.
 

Refugees, Human Rights, & Immigration Group Chair: Robert Tenorio
robert.tenorio@ypfp.org

Human rights and transnational migration represent the human impact of the intractable issues of the day: Ethnic conflict, global health, climate change, and countless more. Now more than ever, it is essential for young professionals working in the international arena to be cognizant of the impact of policy decisions on human beings in an increasingly globalized world. With this in mind the Human Rights, Refugees & Immigration discussion group encourages open and informed discussion on the human element of foreign policy.

 
Russia/Eurasia Discussion Group Chair: Jenia Ustinova

Jenia Ustinova is an associate in the Europe and Eurasia practice. She covers the politics and economy of Russia, as well as its retail and consumer sectors. Jenia received her master's degree in Eurasian, Russian, and East European studies from Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service, and a bachelor's degree in international relations and policy studies from Syracuse University's Maxwell School. She is a native speaker of Russian and is proficient in French.

Prior to joining Eurasia Group, Jenia worked as a political risk analyst in Syracuse, NY, and Washington, DC. Previously, she conducted research and analysis at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg and at the Center for Strategic and International Studies-focusing on issues ranging from human rights legislation to government and corporate relations in Russia. Jenia has lived, worked, and studied in Russia and France.
 

South Asia Discussion Group Chair: Raja Karthikeya
Raja.Karthikeya@ypfp.org
 

Terrorism Discussion Group Chair: Cassandra Smith
Cassandra.smith@ypfp.org

Cassandra Smith chairs the YPFP Terrorism Discussion Group.  She is a Consultant at Booz Allen working on Irregular Warfare issues on the Modeling, Simulation, Wargaming and Analysis team.  She supports a range of US government clients develop strategy from the policy planning to the operational and tactical level.  Before joining Booz Allen, she worked at CSIS in the International Security Program.  While there she was published in the Beyond Goldwater-Nichols report, Facilitating a Dialogue among Senior-Level DoD Officials on National Security Priorities: A Methodological Note.  She was also a contributing author to the Brzezinski-Scowcroft initiative, Turkey's Shifting Dynamic: Implications for U.S.-Turkey Relations, and the U.S.-UK Nuclear Cooperation after 50 Years.  Prior to that she worked in the Conflict Resolution Program at the Carter Center in Atlanta.  She received her M.A. in Arabic and International Relations from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.