Meet the Team

Meet the Team

Something that makes the Institute for Education (IFE) so special is our team and the people behind the scenes; we are very much like a family. At IFE, we like to think that we are polishing a finely made tool with each passing year, giving it more sense of worth and watching it achieve wonders.

IFE News – Tech 25

Kathleen "Coach" Kemper

Founder + CEO
Coach Kathy Kemper, known as "Coach” to many, is Founder and CEO of the Institute for Education, a non-profit foundation that recognizes and promotes leadership, civility, and finding common ground, locally, nationally, and in the world community. IFE also educates youth for global citizenship with programs that foster intercultural appreciation. Called Washington’s “Networker in Chief” by US News and World Report, Coach Kemper also founded INFO, a program of IFE. INFO is a roundtable public affairs forum that draws diplomats, influential public officials, senior media, gamechangers, and business leaders from both sides of the aisle for debate and discussion. INFO speakers have included Supreme Court Justices, a Vice President, Senators, Nobel laureates, Cabinet secretaries, Ambassadors, Governors, technology titans, and a professional athlete. A former professional tennis player, Kemper served as head Women’s Tennis Coach at Georgetown University from 1978 to 1990. She coached Georgetown’s No. 1 player to a four-year undefeated match play streak and to the Big East and NCAA National Woman’s Division II title in 1983. Kemper is a sought-after speaker on issues from Title IX and gender equity due to her unique, insider’s view of Washington. She has spent more than 25 years coaching tennis for Washington’s powerbrokers and opinion makers–hitting the courts with Supreme Court Justices, members of the United States Congress and United States Secretaries of State through five administrations, at The White House, Senate Court and Embassy courts. Well known in Washington’s diplomatic community, Kemper has received awards and recognition from the Japanese, Swedish and Chinese governments for her commitment to cross-cultural dialogue, friendship, and understanding. Most recently she was honored by H.E. Ichiro Fujisaki, at the Japanese residence. She has been honored by numerous organizations for her leadership, her commitment to promoting collaborative and global dialogue, and her philanthropic efforts. She has been awarded numerous Woman of the Year honors from various groups. She was named the Prince Sporting Goods’ Woman of the Year and received recognition from the National Association of Women in Business.  A frequent op-ed writer and columnist, her work has been featured in The Hill, USA Today, Roll Call, The Washington Examiner, Newsday, Hurriyet Daily News, The Bangkok Post, Vietnam Daily, Hanoi Times, The Globalist, The Washington Diplomat, Washington Life, CCTV, and The Huffington Post. Coach Kemper lives in Washington D.C. and Rancho Sante Fe, California.
Mark Schukte

Mark Schulte

Chief Technology Officer
Mark Schulte is the Education Director at the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting, and serves as IFE’s NextGen Steward and Chief Technology Officer. Mark Schulte has taught global issues-based journalism for nearly ten years, most recently founding an international network of high school reporters online with members in more than 50 countries contributing daily to a web publication devoted to their stories. Earlier he worked as a magazine writer and editor, covering politics and education in Virginia, and ultimately converted the magazine into a web journal of college life. That experience gave him a passion for the reach and dynamism of the web, and he has worked online ever since, experimenting with web technologies to find engaging ways of telling stories. A confirmed tech enthusiast, Mark is interested in using innovative tools to connect students globally to their world, and to each other. At a time of considerable superficiality and silliness online, he believes students should be encouraged to create a positive digital footprint of meaningful work. Mark graduated from Oberlin College and holds a master’s degree in Interactive Journalism from American University. His website is www.markschulte.com
Editorial – Raluca Barbulescu

Raluca Barbulescu

Chief Operations Officer
Raluca Barbulescu serves as the Chief Operations Officer of the Institute for Education and as the Editor-in-Chief of IFE magazine. Previously, Raluca served as a Washington DC news correspondent, reporting for an international press agency headquartered in Bucharest, Romania. She is a seasoned journalist and covered Education and Healthcare for Romanian national media for 7 years. She was also part of the Marketing team of a DC based company working with broadcasters around the world, like BBC, RFI, Deutsche Welle, ESPN, Voice of America, United Nations, Red Cross and many others. Raluca has a master degree in Management in Media Institutions form University of Bucharest. She enjoys traveling, hiking, eating seafood and running.
Elise Ravenscroft

Elise Ravenscroft

Deputy Director
Elise Ravenscroft is Deputy Director and brings over twenty years of fundraising and event management to the Institute for Education. Throughout her career, she has been dedicated to working with organizations and programs that promote positive social change. Ms. Ravenscroft has crafted strategic development programs from the ground-up for organizations of every size, spanning political, advocacy, educational, humanitarian and charitable fields. Her expertise has helped to transform programs for many of today’s non-profit organizations.  Prior to joining the Institute for Education, She has worked with a variety of clients including American Kidney Foundation, Global Business Coalition, BlueCross/BlueShield, American Red Cross, and the Mentor International. Working closely with the boards, presidents, faculty and staffs of these organizations, she designed and implemented comprehensive development and communication plans to raise public awareness and philanthropic support for their programs. As a volunteer, Ms. Ravenscroft is involved with many local charities, educational and professional organizations. She is currently a member of the Direct Marketing Association (DMA), Meeting Professionals International (MPI), and the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP).
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Kaivan Shroff

Senior Advisor
Kaivan Shroff serves as a Senior Advisor for the Institute of Education. Before joining the team at IFE, Shroff worked at Microsoft New York on their Technology and Civic Engagement team, partnering with the NYC government and non-profits to offer data-driven solutions to big social problems. Shroff also worked on the Digital Team at Hillary for America. He holds an M.B.A. from the Yale School of Management and a B.A. in Political Science from Brown University. He is pursuing his MPP at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government.
Nathalia Penton

Nathalia Penton

Tech In Gov Deputy Program Director + Fellow
Nathalia Penton is an Institute for Education fellow and Tech in Gov deputy program director. She currently works as a program coordinator at Conservation International for the Dedicated Grant Mechanism, which enhances the role of Indigenous and forest-dependent communities in forest management and climate action. She received her B.A. from the School of International Service at American University. She speaks Spanish, French, and Mandarin. She became involved with the Institute for Education 6+ years ago. She enjoys traveling and fresh air.
Emily Lovell

Emily Lovell

Tech In Gov Program Director
Emily Lovell is a bright and energetic graduate of American University, with a double-major in Arabic and International Studies. She is also the Tech in Gov Program Director at the Institute for Education, bringing together White House and Capitol Hill technology leaders in the spirit of bipartisanship. She is currently working at the U.S. Department of State Foreign Service Institute, facilitating courses on the Near East, Africa, and Asia regions. Emily wrote her capstone on al Qaeda of the Arabian Peninsula, having completed rigorous coursework in counterterrorism, international relations, and Middle Eastern studies. Emily recently cycled across America to benefit affordable housing.
Zachary Smith

Zachary Smith

Tech Innovation in Gov Program Director
Zachary Smith serves as IFE Tech Innovation in Gov Program Director. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of Southern California. He previously worked in cybersecurity with E&Y, in international trade and finance at the Taipei World Trade Center, for the Governor of CA, CA State Assembly, and LA County District Attorney. He enjoys travel, dancing, quality food, and spending time with friends. He is based in D.C.
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Marci Robinson

Chair of the Board of Stewards
Marci Robinson works at the intersection of political, business and cultural affairs.  She is the Chair of the Board of Stewards, and a former member of the Board of Trustees, of the Institute for Education.  Robinson is the principal of Robinson Communications, a public affairs and media relations consulting firm whose clients have included Fortune 100 companies, political figures and other prominent individuals, and nonprofit organizations. She has advised start-ups in the areas of social media and technology.  She is also the Founder and President of the Swann Foundation for Music Education, a nonprofit organization committed to educating young musicians and the public about the relationship between music, art, history and literature by hosting events and music institutes at the Smithsonian, Kennedy Center, Phillips Collection, Library of Congress and embassies in our nation’s capital. Robinson was the Chief Spokesman and Director of Communications for the United States Department of Commerce and Secretary Robert A. Mosbacher. She worked for U.S. Representative Jack Kemp, handling legislative issues and serving as his Press Secretary.  She is currently a senior advisor to the Jack Kemp Foundation.  Robinson has also served as adjunct professor of congressional communications in the joint graduate program of the Legislative Studies Institute and Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs.
Quenton Horton

Quenton Horton

Director of Interns and Fellows
Quenton Horton has served as the Director of Interns and Fellows for the Institute for education. Quenton is a native Washingtonian with an English degree from the University of the District of Columbia; most of his work is focused community services with his most recent position with the Mayor’s Office of Community Relations and Services. Quenton has also worked with the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum to advise with youth leadership programming. His passions for the Humanities fuel his focus on collaboration and establishing common ground in spaces in which he finds himself.
George Zaidan

George Zaidan

Senior Fellow
George Zaidan is a Senior Fellow of the Institute for Education. He is a science communicator, television and web host, producer, and card-carrying nerd with ten years’ experience telling compelling stories. George co-hosted CNBC’s hit TV series, Make Me a Millionaire Inventor. He created, wrote, and hosted National Geographic’s webseries Ingredients; and he co-wrote and directed MIT’s webseries Science Out Loud. He has also written and voiced several TED-Ed viral videos.  George is also an avid rock climber, former single-digit-handicap golfer, and recreational cook.
Alexandra Nemeth

Alexandra Nemeth

Fellow
Alexandra Nemeth has been an Institute for Education Fellow since 2014. She currently works as a Foreign Affairs Officer at the U.S. Department of State, where she runs public outreach campaigns on foreign policy issues in sub-Saharan Africa. She joined the State Department in 2010. During her time at the Department, she has had various roles including: French press liaison at Camp David during the G8 Summit in 2012 and staff assistant at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan in 2013. A native of New Fairfield, Connecticut, Alexandra attended school at American University in Washington, DC where she graduated with a degree in international relations with a concentration in U.S. foreign policy and a minor in French. In her spare time, you can find Alexandra exploring DC by bike, cooking or planning her next trip.
Ali Wyne

Ali Wyne

Fellow
Ali Wyne is a policy analyst at the RAND Corporation and a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council.  He received dual degrees in Management Science and Political Science from MIT (2008) and earned his Master in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School (2017).  He enjoys playing chess and growing his collection of coffee mugs.
Chris Golden

Chris Golden

Digital Innovation Fellow
Chris Golden is the Institute for Education Digital Innovation Fellow. He is Director of Paid Advertising and Rapid Response at FWD.us, a bipartisan political advocacy organization focused on immigration and criminal justice reform. A graduate of American University, Chris worked in Washington, D.C. for former presidential campaign manager Joe Trippi before moving to San Francisco to work first at NextGen Climate and then at FWD.us. He enjoys travel, hiking, food and is a trained graduate of the San Francisco Neighborhood Emergency Response Team (NERT)."
Doug Tusing

Doug Tusing

Fellow
Doug Tusing is an Institute for Education Fellow. He is the Director and Founder of Glacier, a nonprofit that connects charitable donors with needy individuals for direct personalized giving. A graduate of the University of Virginia, Doug was a member of the student-run advertising agency that won the National Student Advertising Competition in 2016. Doug also is an avid videographer and can be found shooting video at IFE events.
Julianna Cavano

Julianna Cavano

Fellow
Julianna Cavano is an Institute for Education Fellow. She is an Assistant at the Department of State in the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement. A native of the New Jersey Shore, she now lives and works in Washington D.C. after graduating from American University. Julianna previously worked as an intern on Capitol Hill for Senator Robert Menendez, The American Apparel and Footwear Association and Congressman Frank Pallone. She teaches barre classes at Barre3 in D.C. in the very early mornings and in her spare time, likes visiting the beach, traveling and cooking.
Tomas Klosterman

Tomas Kloosterman

Fellow
Tomas Kloosterman is an IFE fellow. He works as a Digital Associate for Mothership Strategies, where he is responsible for developing social media campaigns for advocacy clients. Prior to joining Mothership, he worked in the non-profit sector focusing on voting rights and Latino advocacy. Originally fro Miami, Florida, Tomas received his bachelor’s degree in International Studies from American University. In his free time, Tomas enjoys playing with his rescue dog Chloe and taking weekend road trips to new places.
Miriam Motamedi

Mariam Motamedi

Intern
Mariam Motamedi is an Institute for Education Intern. She will be graduating from American University next May with a major in International Studies, and a thematic focus in Global Inequality in Development. She has previously worked with the Tahirih Justice Center, the Atlantic Regional Baha’i Council, and the College Consortium for International Studies. In her free time, she loves travel, cooking, and visiting museums.
Mishel Kisi

Mishel Kisi

Intern
Mishel Kisi is an Institute for Education intern. His collaboration with IFE started in high school. He recently graduated University of Maryland with a government and politics degree. He is currently a financial service associate at TD Bank in the greater DC area. Mishel enjoys sports, reading books and has recently picked whittling as a hobby.
Veronica Lin

Veronica Lin

Intern
Veronica Lin is an Institute for Education intern. Prior to interning at IFE, she had interned in many other parts of the world including New York, Belize, Taiwan, Mongolia, and South Africa for humanitarian services. She loves traveling and immersing herself in different cultures, which is why she Double Majors in International Relations and Economics at American University. Veronica is a sophomore but will be graduating in this coming Fall (2018).
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"Coach" Kathy Kemper

Founder + CEO

Coach Kathy Kemper is an American executive, tennis coach, writer, and philanthropist whose career trajectory is as unique as it is impressive. She stands out not only as an acclaimed leader and philanthropist but also as one-of-a-kind convener of global thought leaders. 

At the heart of her professional life is her role as the founder and CEO of the Institute for Education (IFE). The mission of IFE is to harness the power of data, innovation, and soft diplomacy in the global community, advancing dialogue and cooperation. Under her leadership, IFE has become a pivotal platform for collaboration across sectors. The institute is known for its events, which attract high-profile leaders and personalities for meaningful discussions on public policy and other significant issues. These gatherings, known for their exclusivity and impact, regularly feature a roster of international leaders, including senior White House and Congressional figures, ambassadors, and business executives. IFE’s programs have become an institution for the most curious, engaged, and innovative senior leaders from Washington, D.C., to Silicon Valley to capitals around the world. Speakers at these events have included six Supreme Court justices, CIA and FBI Directors, Cabinet Secretaries, Ambassadors, technology titans, White House Chiefs of Staff, four U.S. Chief Technology Officers, a maestro and a Miss America.

The Institute has also focused on technology and innovation, collaborating with entities like the Viterbi School of Engineering at USC to offer free coding camps for underrepresented youth. The program, CS@SC, has provided free coding instruction to thousands of young minds. Kemper’s ability to convene influential figures for critical discussions has earned her the title “D.C.’s Networker-in-Chief” by U.S. News & World Report. Moreover, her efforts in technology and diplomacy were recognized in 2019 when she was named alongside Jeff Bezos in Washington Life Magazine’s “Tech 25,” highlighting her as a top innovator and disruptor.

Before her ascent in the world of diplomacy and technology, Kemper made her mark in the world of sports. As a former professional tennis player and assistant tour director of the Virginia Slims Women’s Pro Tour, she has demonstrated extraordinary leadership both on and off the courts. She served as head Women’s Tennis Coach at Georgetown University from 1978 to 1990, leading a player to the NCAA National Women’s Division II title in 1983. Coach has spent more than 40 years coaching tennis for Washington’s power brokers — hitting the courts with Supreme Court Justices, kings, queens, and US Secretaries of State through seven administrations at the White House court, Senate court, and Embassy courts. Furthermore, her advocacy for sports equity served as a catalyst for Title IX which has contributed significantly to gender equality in sports.

Kemper’s impact on education is equally noteworthy. She also founded the Jim Valentine TechBio Fellows program, blending technology and biology for entrepreneurial MD-PhD students. Kemper has received awards and recognition from the Swedish, Chinese, and Japanese governments for her commitment to cross-cultural dialogue. Moreover, as a partner in her family office, Family Futures, LLC, and a board member and ‘Champion’ (alongside General Motors CEO Mary Barra) of “Journey to Lead,” she promotes mentorship for emerging female CEOs. In 2017, four U.S. CTOs awarded the Challenge Coin to Coach Kemper for her bipartisan leadership in technology. Kemper is the first woman member of the ‘Friends of the Gridiron’, an AlGrrls AI Ambassador, and Trustee Emeritus of Learn Serve International.

Anointed as the ‘Mayor of Civic Tech’ by Todd Park, her influence in technology and civic engagement is recognized and revered. Kemper is also an op-ed writer and columnist. Her work has been featured in Fortune, The Hill, The Globalist, USA Today Newsday, Bangkok Post, The Huffington Post, and The Washington Diplomat. Kemper is frequently featured as a guest on various podcasts. 

Other than MOM, Kemper embraces being called “Coach!”

Follow her on Twitter @Coach_Kemper.

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Dr. R. David Edelman

President

Dr. R. David Edelman is Director of Public Policy at the MIT Internet Policy Research Initiative (IPRI), where he holds joint appointments at the Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence Lab (CSAIL) and Center for International Studies (CIS); teaches in the Department of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science; and leads research on the governance of artificial intelligence, the geopolitics of technology, and the national security dimensions of computing. Until 2017, he served as Special Assistant to President Obama for Economic and Technology Policy. In addition to this domestic portfolio, during that time, he also represented the National Economic Council (NEC) and Office of Science & Technology Policy (OSTP) at the NSC Deputies Committee on a range of national and homeland security matters. Edelman served from 2010-2012 as the nation’s first Director for International Cyber Policy on the White House National Security Council (NSC) staff. He began his career as a civil servant at the State Department’s Office of Cyber Affairs, later acting as the United States’ lead negotiator on Internet issues at the United Nations — for which he was awarded the State’s Superior Honor Award and twice its Meritorious Honor Award. His insights and analyses have appeared in print in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, WIRED, Fast Company, and Fortune and broadcast on CNN, Bloomberg, CNBC, MSNBC, and NPR. His latest book, Rethinking Cyber Warfare, will be released by Oxford University Press this year. He founded IFE’s Future of AI roundtable program and was appointed IFE’s President in 2023.

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Kelsey Kemper Valentine

IFE Board of Trustees, IFE Chief Financial Officer, and IFE Civic Tech Steward

Kelsey Kemper Valentine serves as IFE’s Chief Financial Officer. She is a Senior Manager at Devoted Health, managing healthcare operations on the Devoted Medical team. She started off her career in operations and business development at a bioinformatics startup, Fabric Genomics, based out of Oakland. Kelsey transitioned to the provider side of healthcare as Regional Operations Director at DaVita, managing dialysis clinics in the Northern Virginia region. She graduated from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management in 2020 and the University of Southern California in 2013. 

 

Elise Ravenscroft

Elise Ravenscroft

Deputy Director

Elise Ravenscroft is Deputy Director and brings over twenty years of event management and fundraising to the Institute for Education. Throughout her career, she has been dedicated to working with organizations and programs that promote positive social change. Ms. Ravenscroft has crafted strategic development programs from the ground-up for organizations of every size, spanning political, advocacy, educational, humanitarian and charitable fields. Her expertise has helped to transform programs for many of today’s non-profit organizations.  Prior to joining the Institute for Education, She has worked with a variety of clients including American Kidney Foundation, Global Business Coalition, BlueCross/BlueShield, American Red Cross, and the Mentor International. Working closely with the boards, presidents, faculty and staffs of these organizations, she designed and implemented comprehensive development and communication plans to raise public awareness and philanthropic support for their programs. As a volunteer, Ms. Ravenscroft is involved with many local charities, educational and professional organizations. She is currently a member of the Direct Marketing Association (DMA), Meeting Professionals International (MPI), and the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP).

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Kaivan Shroff

Senior Advisor

Kaivan Shroff serves as a Senior Advisor for the Institute of Education. Before joining the team at IFE, Shroff worked at Microsoft New York on their Technology and Civic Engagement team, partnering with the NYC government and non-profits to offer data-driven solutions to big social problems. Shroff also worked on the Digital Team at Hillary for America. He holds an M.B.A. from the Yale School of Management and a B.A. in Political Science from Brown University. In 2022 he earned a JD from Harvard Law School. He is a regular contributor to CNN.

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Raluca Barbulescu

Senior Advisor

Raluca serves as a Senior Advisor at the Institute for Education. Previously she was IFE’s Chief Operating Officer. Raluca has spent the better part of her professional life in journalism and technology, working with leading technology players in the US and Europe. Outside of IFE, she is the Director of Client Services for [e-spres-oh], a DC based technology company, where she is providing strategic marketing expertise and project planning Raluca is the founder of a publication focused on the intersection of education, innovation and diplomacy. In her role as the Editor-in-Chief of IFE magazine, she has interviewed ambassadors, Nobel Prize winners and key tech innovators and disruptors in the nation’s capital. Previously, Raluca served as a Washington DC news correspondent, reporting for an international press agency headquartered in Bucharest, Romania. Raluca has an M.A. degree in Management in Media Institutions from University of Bucharest and speaks English, Spanish and Romanian.

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Naya Chopra

Founder, IFE Future Frontiers and IFE STEM intern

Naya Chopra is a 17-year-old junior from Virginia. She is the founder of NISTEM and is co-director of the DMV chapter of the Literary Society. As a high school science researcher, she strives to bring opportunities to teenagers around the country like her. In her free time, she likes to read, bike, play tennis, take photos, and spend time with her friends and family. She hopes to change the way high school science publications are conducted.

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Maggie Eason

Fellow

Maggie Eason is the Social Media Manager for the Institute for Education. She started as a Tech in Gov  intern at IFE in January 2019. Maggie graduated from George Mason University in May 2020 with a double major in Global Affairs and Russian & Eurasian Studies, with concentrations in Global Governance and Russian Language. In August 2020, she began her Masters in Global Affairs from George Mason University. She is originally from Tampa, Florida, and moved to Fairfax, Virginia in 2016 to begin her studies. Her favorite part of living near DC is getting to learn about the rich history of DC and its surrounding areas.

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Angel Gringras

Fellow

Angelique “Angel” Gingras is an undergraduate student at the University of Maryland on the journalism and history dual degree track with a special interest in international affairs and global issues. She currently works at The Washington Diplomat, covering the latest ambassador and embassy news in Washington DC. Her favorite part of the job is reporting on special events, where she enjoys connecting with diplomats who come to the US for the first time. Angel has been an IFE intern since 2022 and a fun fact about her is that she has been tap dancing for more than 15 years.

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Guillaume Jacquemin

EU Fellow

Guillaume Jacquemin is currently a EMEAI Business Communication Specialist at Dow in Seneffe (Belgium). He completed a master degree in Public Relations at IHECS in Brussels by accomplishing an internship as a Public Diplomacy Officer at the Embassy Belgium in Washington DC in 2019. He is also IFE’s EU Fellow.

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Christina Kemper Valentine

Senior Innovation Fellow (CS@SC Coding Camp) 

Christina Kemper Valentine currently work in the San Francisco Bay Area as Title Senior Campaign Specialist for Okta, Inc. She is also a Senior Innovation Fellow for the Institute for Education.

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Omair Khan

 Jim Valentine TechBio Fellow 2022 and  IFE Tech Bio Program Founder

Omair is a second-year MD/Ph.D. Candidate at Stanford University from New Orleans, LA. He is working in the laboratory of Dr. Irving Weissman, where he is interested in exploring the nexus of immunology and cancer biology, specifically glioblastoma. He previously completed his undergraduate degree in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology and Global Health Studies at Yale University, where he worked in the laboratory of Dr. Richard Flavell. Outside of class and lab, Omair serves on the board of community non-profits, mentors prospective medical students, tutors underprivileged students in math and science, volunteers at free clinics and advocacy groups, and enjoys working out, snowboarding, and traveling. In addition to being an ARTIS Fellow, Omair is honored as the first Jim Valentine Fellow in homage to a great friend and longtime mentor of ARTIS who recently passed after his long courageous fight with cancer. Jim is remembered for his brilliance, larger-than-life personality, and razor-sharp wit. He believed in taking risks, grand visions, and an entrepreneurial spirit while maintaining his sense of humor. As a Valentine Fellow, Omair embodies the technical expertise to drive innovation forward and the clinical focus to translate this research to impact human lives.Read More

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Brandon Kline

Senior Innovation Fellow (CS@SC Coding Camp)

Brandon Kline is currently a Senior Associate in the Real Estate Transaction practice at EY. He is also a Senior Innovation Fellow at the Insitute for Education. Previously, he was a Senior in the People Advisory practice at EY. He also has experience supporting the White House, urban school districts, and Fortune 500 clients in implementing and managing local, regional, and national strategic initiatives.

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Maria Kline

Senior Innovation Fellow (CS@SC Coding Camp) 

Maria Nikias Kline develops and manages the execution of digital initiatives and programs for CBS Network Specials. Major tentpoles include the GRAMMY Awards, the Academy of Country Music Awards, The Tony Awards, The Kennedy Center Honors, and more.

Tomas Klosterman

Tomas Kloosterman

Fellow

Tomas Kloosterman is an IFE fellow and works at the Office of the Administrator, Small Business Administration (SBA), in Washington, DC. Previously,  worked as a Digital Associate for Mothership Strategies, where he is responsible for developing social media campaigns for advocacy clients. Prior to joining Mothership, he worked in the non-profit sector focusing on voting rights and Latino advocacy. Originally fro Miami, Florida, Tomas received his bachelor’s degree in International Studies from American University. In his free time, Tomas enjoys playing with his rescue dog Chloe and taking weekend road trips to new places.

Emily Lovell

Emily Lovell

Civic Tech Service Program Director, West Coast

Emily Lovell is a bright and energetic graduate of American University, with a double-major in Arabic and International Studies. She is also the Tech in Gov Program Director at the Institute for Education, bringing together White House and Capitol Hill technology leaders in the spirit of bipartisanship. She is currently working at the U.S. Department of State Foreign Service Institute, facilitating courses on the Near East, Africa, and Asia regions. Emily wrote her capstone on al Qaeda of the Arabian Peninsula, having completed rigorous coursework in counterterrorism, international relations, and Middle Eastern studies. Emily recently cycled across America to benefit affordable housing.

Alexandra Nemeth

Alexandra Nemeth

Fellow

Alexandra Nemeth has been an Institute for Education Fellow since 2014. She currently works as a Foreign Affairs Officer at the U.S. Department of State, where she runs public outreach campaigns on foreign policy issues in sub-Saharan Africa. She joined the State Department in 2010. During her time at the Department, she has had various roles including: French press liaison at Camp David during the G8 Summit in 2012 and staff assistant at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan in 2013. A native of New Fairfield, Connecticut, Alexandra attended school at American University in Washington, DC where she graduated with a degree in international relations with a concentration in U.S. foreign policy and a minor in French. In her spare time, you can find Alexandra exploring DC by bike, cooking or planning her next trip.

Ali Rizvi

Ali Rizvi

Fellow

Ali Rizvi attends American University and plans to graduate in May 2025. He is majoring in Finance with a minor in analytics. “After a year of interning in Washington, D.C.,

“I’ve had the incredible opportunity to meet and interact with some of the most influential leaders, including the Ambassador of Estonia, USTR Katherine Tai, and Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo. It’s been an unforgettable experience, and there’s truly no place like D.C. to see diplomacy and leadership in action. I’m excited to continue learning and growing in such a dynamic environment!”

Mark Schukte

Mark Schulte

Chief Technology Officer

Mark Schulte is the Education Director at the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting, and serves as IFE’s NextGen Steward and Chief Technology Officer. Mark Schulte has taught global issues-based journalism for nearly ten years, most recently founding an international network of high school reporters online with members in more than 50 countries contributing daily to a web publication devoted to their stories. Earlier he worked as a magazine writer and editor, covering politics and education in Virginia, and ultimately converted the magazine into a web journal of college life. That experience gave him a passion for the reach and dynamism of the web, and he has worked online ever since, experimenting with web technologies to find engaging ways of telling stories. A confirmed tech enthusiast, Mark is interested in using innovative tools to connect students globally to their world, and to each other. At a time of considerable superficiality and silliness online, he believes students should be encouraged to create a positive digital footprint of meaningful work. Mark graduated from Oberlin College and holds a master’s degree in Interactive Journalism from American University. His website is www.markschulte.com

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Jeremiah Sims

James Valentine TechBio Fellow 2023

Jeremiah Sims is an MD-PhD student at the University of Washington, where he studies under the mentorship of David Baker in the Institute for Protein Design. His ongoing work focuses on data-driven deep-learning approaches to improve protein interface design and function towards the goal of de novo protein therapeutics for infectious diseases. Jeremiah’s research focus anticipates a career in the protein-based pharmaceutical space, one that he hopes will be aided by recent technological advances in the laboratory and the clinic. Hailing from Richmond, VA, Jeremiah developed a deep passion for science, medicine, soccer, and music. As an undergrad, he studied Chemistry and began protein drug research in Elsa Yan’s Lab before pursuing a postbaccalaureate position at the NIH, where he developed an assay to probe malaria nutrient uptake. In addition to being an ARTIS Fellow, Jeremiah is honored as this year’s Jim Valentine Fellow in homage to a great friend and longtime mentor of ARTIS who passed away after his long courageous fight with cancer. Jim is remembered for his brilliance, larger-than-life personality, and razor-sharp wit. He believed in taking risks, grand visions, and an entrepreneurial spirit while maintaining his sense of humor. As a Valentine Fellow, Jeremiah embodies the technical expertise to drive innovation forward and the clinical focus to translate this research to impact human lives.  A graduate of the University of Virginia, Doug was a member of the student-run advertising agency that won the National Student Advertising Competition in 2016. 

Doug Tusing

Doug Tusing

Fellow

Doug Tusing is an Institute for Education Fellow. He is the Director and Founder of Glacier, a nonprofit that connects charitable donors with needy individuals for direct personalized giving. A graduate of thea University of Virginia, Doug was a member of the student-run advertising agency that won the National Student Advertising Competition in 2016. Doug also is an avid videographer and can be found shooting video at IFE events.

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Matteo Wong

Intern

Matteo Wong is a senior at American University. He majors in Business Administration and minors in Psychology.

“I’m incredibly excited for this internship in Washington, D.C. It’s a unique opportunity to be in the heart of our nation’s capital, greeting some of the most influential leaders across government, think tanks and corporations. Listening to Ambassadors, Cabinet members, and congressional leaders is a dream come true. I can’t wait to learn from the best and see soft diplomacy in action up close!”

Ali Wyne

Ali Wyne

Senior Fellow

Ali Wyne is a policy analyst at the RAND Corporation and a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council.  He received dual degrees in Management Science and Political Science from MIT (2008) and earned his Master in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School (2017).  He enjoys playing chess and growing his collection of coffee mugs.

George Zaidan

George Zaidan

Senior Fellow

George Zaidan is a Senior Fellow of the Institute for Education. He is a science communicator, television and web host, producer, and card-carrying nerd with ten years’ experience telling compelling stories. George co-hosted CNBC’s hit TV series, Make Me a Millionaire Inventor. He created, wrote, and hosted National Geographic’s webseries Ingredients; and he co-wrote and directed MIT’s webseries Science Out Loud. He has also written and voiced several TED-Ed viral videos.  George is also an avid rock climber, former single-digit-handicap golfer, and recreational cook.