Host Family &

Friends Handbook ________________________________________________________________________________________________

Humphrey Fellowship Program

2014 - 2015

Executive Education Program The Maxwell School of Syracuse University

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

A Note of Gratitude ............................................................................................................................................ 4

Host Family and Friends Program Mission ...................................................................................................... 5

Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program ....................................................................................................... 5

The Maxwell School of Syracuse University ...................................................................................................... 6

Contact List: Program Staff ............................................................................................................................. 7

Humphrey Program Components ...................................................................................................................... 8

Host Family and Friends Program and Mission ............................................................................................. 10

Host Family & Friends Program Perspective & Activities ............................................................................. 11

Networking/Professional Contact Possibilities ............................................................................................... 12

Community/Public Speaking Engagements ..................................................................................................... 12

Responsibilities & Guidelines for Host Families ............................................................................................. 13

Suggested Host Family & Friends Activities ................................................................................................... 16

Things Host Families Should Not Take On ...................................................................................................... 18

Emergency Situations ...................................................................................................................................... 18

Religious Affiliation ......................................................................................................................................... 18

Food & Diets ................................................................................................................................................... 19

2014-2015 Hubert H. Humphrey Fellows ....................................................................................................... 20

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A NOTE OF GRATITUDE

Dear Host Families & Friends:

WELCOME to the Hubert H.

Humphrey Fellowship Program at

Syracuse University!

The Humphrey Fellowship staff of

Executive Education at Maxwell

sincerely hopes your participation in

this program will be a meaningful and

exciting experience for you and your family.

This handbook is designed to assist the host families & friends in understanding the programs

in which the Fellows are involved and to provide guidelines for how you can be most helpful

to the University and the Fellows.

We very much appreciate the families that serve as host families & friends for these

international fellows. It is a way to experience true cultural exchange which is so elemental

to the Humphrey Fellowship experience. Past Fellows both at Syracuse and other member

universities have expressed their gratitude for the generous hospitality and assistance they

received from host families & friends.

Thank you for your partnership in welcoming Humphrey Fellows to Syracuse University and

Central New York — we look forward to a wonderful year together!

Please note that this handbook and other helpful documents are available on our website at:

http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/exed/sites/About_Humphrey/.

Warm Regards,

Margaret Lane

Director, Humphrey Fellowship Program

Assistant Director, Executive Education

Maxwell School at Syracuse University

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HOST FAMILY AND FRIENDS PROGRAM MISSION

The mission of the host family & friends program is two-fold:

1. To assist the Humphrey Fellows in adjusting to life in the United States and

Central New York and;

2. To provide an opportunity for cultural sharing between the host families, friends,

the community, and the Humphrey Fellows.

HUBERT H. HUMPHREY FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program was initiated in 1978 to honor the late

Senator and Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey and

his life-long commitment to international

cooperation and public service. The program brings

accomplished mid-career professionals from

designated developing nations and emerging

democracies to the United States for an academic

year (ten months) of study, related professional

experience, and cultural exchange. The program

provides a basis for lasting ties between United

States citizens and the Fellows and strengthens the

global exchange of knowledge and experience. This

program is administered through the Institute of

International Education (IIE) in Washington D.C.

and Syracuse University Humphrey Fellows are

hosted by the Executive Education Program at the

Maxwell School.

More about this program can be found at the following website:

http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/exed/sites/About_Humphrey/.

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THE MAXWELL SCHOOL OF SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY

Syracuse University was the first in the nation to offer graduate professional education in

public administration, beginning in 1924, and the program has been unwaveringly strong

ever since.

The School’s number-one ranking — awarded by U.S. News &

World Report for as long as rankings in public affairs have been

offered — reflects the strength of the School’s public

administration program and M.P.A. degree. Sitting alongside

public administration is a well-regarded interdisciplinary

program in international relations, offering both a graduate

professional degree and undergraduate majors. Maxwell’s I.R.

master’s program was recently ranked among the nation’s top

ten by Foreign Policy magazine.

And, in an arrangement that is unique among major colleges and

universities, Maxwell is also home to Syracuse University’s

scholarly programs in the social sciences —anthropology,

economics, geography, history, political science, social science,

and sociology. The co-mingling of these scholarly programs

with Maxwell’s professional degrees creates rich, compounding

benefits for both students and faculty members alike. Scholarly research is tested by the

“real-world” perspective of the professional programs. Meanwhile, career preparation in P.A.

and I.R. is informed by a broader understanding born of the social sciences.

Maxwell’s high esteem draws in large part from the unfettered cross-propagation of theory,

policy, and practice — apparent in the classroom and in Maxwell’s eight interdisciplinary

institutes (some of them co-sponsored with other Syracuse University departments). In the

institutes, scholars work side-by-side with practitioners on matters of domestic public policy,

global affairs, citizenship and public affairs, environmental policy, conflict resolution and

collaborative management, and national and international security, among others.

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CONTACT LIST: PROGRAM STAFF The Humphrey Fellowship Program at The Maxwell School at Syracuse University is

supported by academic faculty and staff who work as a team to assist Fellows in achieving

the goals of their fellowship year.

Humphrey Fellowship Program/Executive

Education Program

The Maxwell School

219 Maxwell Hall

Syracuse, NY 13244

315-443-3759

http://www1.maxwell.syr.edu/exed.aspx

Program Staff:

Margaret Lane

Director

219 Maxwell Hall

Phone: 315-443-8708

Email: melane02@maxwell.syr.edu

Martha Ketcham

219 Maxwell Hall

Phone: 315-443-0346

Email: mhketcha@maxwell.syr.edu

Humphrey Fellows 2010-2014

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HUMPHREY PROGRAM COMPONENTS To help host families better understand the Humphrey Fellowship program, below is an

explanation of the components. The Fellows also received this in their handbook.

The Syracuse Humphrey Fellowship ethos parallels the Maxwell School’s philosophy of the

Athenian Oath, which is inscribed in the lobby outside Maxwell Auditorium:

“We will ever strive for the ideals and sacred things of the city,

both alone and with many; we will unceasingly seek to quicken

the sense of public duty; we will revere and obey the city’s

laws; we will transmit this city not only not less, but greater,

better and more beautiful than it was transmitted to us.”

At Maxwell, this is evidenced in the

collaboration among students, faculty,

institutes and colleges across the University.

Within the Humphrey Fellowship, this takes

the form of both group and individual efforts

and activities. Previous fellows remark that

the greater the effort they put forth towards

their own fellowship experience, the greater

the growth in leadership, resulting in a richer

and more rewarding experience.

The Humphrey Fellowship Program contains

many components, which are briefly outlined below. Additionally, there are IIE events such

as the Global Leadership Forum and Year-End Retreat and optional events such as

Enhancement Workshops and AMA Seminars.

Leadership Seminar: This is the cornerstone of the Fellowship. It is also one of the core

courses for Executive Education graduate students. It meets weekly and is led by Catherine

Gerard. There are also special Fellows-only sessions.

Professional Development: This comprises various meetings, sessions and opportunities

that help expand the Fellows’ knowledge of public speaking, resume building, goal setting,

networking, communicating, etc. This will be accomplished both as organized group

activities and individual initiative and exploration based on needs and interests of Fellows.

Site Visits: A variety of site visits and speakers will be arranged and participation is

mandatory. Organizations are different year to year, but are based on the professional

interests of the cohort and provide an exposure to a variety of agencies. One out-of-town trip

is planned.

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Public Speaking/Presentations: We encourage Fellows to appear on panels, discussions or

as presenters both on- and off-campus. Past Fellows have given talks at Maxwell, appeared

on panels at a local community college, and offered presentations for school-aged children

and local civic organizations like Rotary International. These can be arranged both through

contacts Humphrey staff has established in addition to contacts individual Fellows pursue.

Affiliate Campus: We have collaboration with SUNY Oswego, which is part of the State

University of New York system. This is a newer component and develops further each year.

The goal is to expose college students to an international perspective and for Fellows to

interact with undergraduate students. We also have an informal relationship with a local 2-

year institution, Onondaga Community College.

Individual development/activities: Individual exploration and initiative is a critical element

of the program. There are a multitude of opportunities to become involved in various

Maxwell institutes, faculty research and community engagement.

Other graduate coursework: Many Fellows choose to take advantage of other graduate

courses in the Maxwell School, which is home to the social sciences at Syracuse University.

Others are explored courses in the other colleges on campus, pending their interests. Fellows

also have the option of completing a 12-credit Certificate of Advanced Study. This is a very

individual decision and not one to be taken lightly. We will discuss in individual meetings to

ensure that your goals and a CAS fit together. Some find the freedom to explore other

professional development opportunities outweigh the desire to earn a CAS, which involves 3

additional graduate courses (in addition to the Leadership Seminar).

Volunteering: We will participate in 1 or 2 group volunteer activities during the course of

the Fellowship. It is a chance to get a very first-hand experience of local nonprofit

organizations; learn about the culture of volunteerism in the U.S. and discover a world

beyond the SU campus. We’ve volunteered at a refugee resettlement agency, a soup kitchen

and a daycare center in past years. We also encourage individuals to arrange their own

volunteering activities tailored to particular interests. More information is included in the

handbook.

Host Families: Our host families provide a rewarding connection to your home away from

home. These families are volunteers who have a passion of meeting people from around the

world and showing them our little corner of it. Life-long friendships are created and it

provides an informal, casual way to connect with people. We sponsor events throughout the

year for families and fellows, but the primary activities happen between families and fellows.

We pair one fellow to one family, although it is completely flexible! Fellows and families

can get together as much or little as they wish- for holiday celebrations, dinner, movie, a

walk or whatever you both wish to do. They also are a wonderful resource about the area,

weather and U.S. customs. More details follow below.

Individual Program Plan (IPP): This document serves as a framework for your Humphrey

year and provides some structure to help you consider what you wish to study, learn, explore

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and experience while you are here. Each fellow designs his/her individual program with the

Humphrey director’s guidance.

HOST FAMILY AND FRIENDS PROGRAM AND MISSION An integral part of the Humphrey Fellowship is our host family and friends program. The

mission of the host family and friends program is two-fold:

1. To assist the Humphrey Fellows in adjusting to life in the United States and

Central New York and;

2. To provide an opportunity for cultural exchange between the host families, the

community, and the Humphrey Fellows.

This can be as formal or informal an arrangement as you and your host family wish.

The host families are true ambassadors of the United States and carry on the legacy of Hubert

H. Humphrey. The Host Family Program contributes to the wealth of experience of each

Fellow. It is often through the host families that the first personal contact with U.S. culture is

established. We hope your host family will serve as a long-lasting link to Central New York

and the United States and that a true exchange of traditions, culture and friendship occurs,

enriching the lives of both Fellows and host families.

Keep in mind that no guidelines meet all purposes and situations. Flexibility and open

communication can be helpful. It may be helpful to remember that U.S. society and

culture tends to be more open/direct than that of other cultures. If you experience difficulties in the relationship between you and your host family, please

contact our staff as soon as possible. We are here to support you and we are always

willing to do what we can to foster your relationship with the host families.

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HOST FAMILY & FRIENDS PROGRAM PERSPECTIVE & ACTIVITIES

The Host Family & Friends Program contributes to the wealth of experience of each fellow.

It is often through the host families & friends that the first personal contact with U.S. culture

is established. We anticipate that this contact will provide a long-lasting link to Central New

York and the United States. The host families & friends are true ambassadors of the United

States and carry on the legacy of Hubert H. Humphrey.

There are tremendous rewards for participating as a host family or friend. The learning is

reciprocal and many lifetime friendships can be developed. Not only do host families &

friends learn about the country or region of their Fellow, they can develop a whole new

appreciation for international affairs.

The relationship you have with the fellow will be most rewarding if you develop a mutually

open and friendly manner of communication. At the same time, keep in mind that U.S.

society and culture tends to be more open/direct than that of

other cultures.

In some cases, the Fellows will experience a shock as they

transition from their own country and culture to that of the United

States. This will tend to ease with the passage of time. A

contributing factor to this is the reality that the fellows are living

away from their families and friends for an extended period of

time.

During the year, fellows will be away from campus for extended

periods of time. Program elements include trips to New York

City and Washington, D.C. Moreover, some of the Fellows will

be away from campus as they pursue their professional

affiliations in the spring.

Keep in mind that no guidelines meet all purposes and situations. Flexibility is usually

required. If you experience difficulties in the relationship between your family and the

fellow, please contact our staff as soon as possible.

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NETWORKING/PROFESSIONAL CONTACT POSSIBILITIES Although not a primary goal of the Host Family & Friends program, there has been an

increase in areas of professional overlap among fellows and families & friends. This is

another opportunity for both families & friends to help connect fellows to various

professionals, organizations, or agencies with which you have an affiliation. Email Martha

Ketcham, Humphrey Associate Coordinator, at mhketcha@syr.edu if you have ideas,

meetings or activities you may wish to arrange.

COMMUNITY/PUBLIC SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS A goal of the Humphrey Fellowship Program is to expose the Fellows to a variety of

community organizations, schools and groups via public speaking engagements or

discussions. If you are involved in or know of local organizations, such as Rotary

International, or middle or high school classes/clubs who may be interested in having one or

more Fellows speak to their organization that you may be able to assist in arranging, please

email Martha at the email address above.

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RESPONSIBILITIES & GUIDELINES FOR HOST FAMILIES

The following are general guidelines to help host families welcome the Humphrey

Fellows to the United States and to assist in building a rewarding relationship between

the host families and the Fellows. These guidelines are intended to be helpful for both

the Fellows and the host families. These are general in nature so if you are unsure of

something, respectfully ask the Fellow—that’s what cultural exchange is all about!

1. AIRPORT ARRIVALS: Greet and pick-up the Fellow at the airport if your

schedule allows. You will be informed of the Fellow’s exact arrival schedule and

email address.

2. OPTIONAL ARRIVAL OVERNIGHT STAY AT YOUR HOME: Most Fellows

wish to stay at the provided temporary on-campus dormitory housing, but hosting

your fellow on the first night, if mutually agreeable is also a possibility pending

his or her arrival time. Many of the Fellows will have spent many hours, if not

days, traveling and will need some rest in a comfortable environment.

3. FIRST DAY OF ORIENTATION: If the fellow stays at your home the first night,

please bring your Fellow to the first day of at Maxwell on the Syracuse University

campus You will be provided drop off details in advance of their arrival. A

campus and parking map can be accessed here: http://map.syr.edu/

4. There will be a Humphrey Program BBQ during the Fellows’ orientation. You

will be emailed details before the fellows arrive. It has become a tradition that we

all look forward to. It is a chance for host families & friends to meet each other

and most importantly, the new Humphrey Fellows!

5. BANKING: Staff will help them open an initial account so they can have

immediate access to his or her funds. Fellows have to have a bank account to

deposit their first stipend check. This money may be required to pay their deposit

for housing. This being said, they still may have questions about understanding

American banking culture — this is an example of where host families can be

invaluable.

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6. CELL PHONES: Staff will also work with the Fellows to purchase a cell phone.

Because there is a mind-boggling array of options we try to simplify the process

by offering them a suggested option, but they can also choose their own plan or

carrier.

7. SETTLING IN: Fellows arrive a few days before official orientation

programming begins to facilitate a smoother settling in process. We have an

assistant who is spending those first days helping to get them settled with housing,

initial shopping and furnishings. We have started to amass a nice collection of

furniture which gets passed along from year to year which has been donated by

previous fellows and hosts.

This being said, the fellows may appreciate further assistance of other items to

add a personal touch to their home once they are initially settled. In the past,

Fellows have purchased items off of online sites such as Craig’s List

(www.craigslist.org), visited local second-hand stores, or visited neighborhood

garage sales. Host families & friends, with local knowledge, can be especially

helpful is assisting Fellows making their house a home.

8. SHOPPING: Staff will take them to a grocery store the first week for an initial

shopping trip. They may have questions about ethnic stores which may carry

items (especially spices and herbs) that are particular to their culture. We will let

them know of area ethnic grocery stores but please feel free to add your own

suggestions.

9. CENTRO: Fellows will receive information about CENTRO bus route maps on

its website during orientation. This SU Parking website offers various links to

CENTRO Bus services and schedules, in the event that Fellows ask you for

clarification:

http://parking.syr.edu/Parking/display.cfm?content_ID=%23%28%289%21%0A

%20

10. CROSS CULTURAL COMMUNICATION: Cultural exchange is a vital

component to the host family program. One of the wonderful advantages of the

Humphrey program is that there is a wealth of cultures represented in the

program. This can also pose some challenges in understanding individual cultural

perspectives — whether based on national origin, gender, religion or

organizational culture. The Peace Corps has created a handbook that has been

used previously as a basis for a cross-cultural training workshop sponsored the

Conflict Management Center in PARCC at Maxwell. This workbook is used to

train incoming Peace Corps officers and is an exercise-based book, but it does

provide some good background on some cultural considerations. It is lengthy, but

may prove helpful:

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http://multimedia.peacecorps.gov/multimedia/pdf/library/T0087_Culture_Matters.

pdf

The Slutzker International Center also provides information for all international

students on the SU campus. The fellows will meet with Slutzker staff during

orientation. If you wish to see what information the Center provides, click here:

http://international.syr.edu/. They do provide background on both Syracuse

University and CNY.

11. RELIGIOUS OBSERVATIONS: Some Fellows’ religion may have dietary

restrictions — please discuss with your fellow if they have any special dietary

needs. We will guide them if they wish to connect with a specific faith

organization around campus or in CNY.

12. PETS: If you are a pet owner, please let your fellow know—some come from

cultures where certain animals are not kept as pets and others may be quite fearful

of dogs. As with any visitor to your home, allergies could also pose a situation of

which to be aware.

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SUGGESTED HOST FAMILY & FRIENDS ACTIVITIES The program organizes group activities a couple times each semester for all fellows, fellows’

families and host families & friends. The rest of the activities can be as formal or informal as

you and the fellow(s) would like.

Sometimes a simple email or phone call is a way to keep in regular, weekly touch.

Getting together once or twice a month, be it for a walk, a meal or an event is a wonderful

way to create a lasting bond.

The following are offered as ideas for building a relationship with the Humphrey Fellows, as

a means of extending hospitality and as a way to introduce the Fellows to United States

culture.

Host the Fellow and his/her family for lunch or dinner during significant holidays

such as Thanksgiving, Chanukah, Christmas, Eid or New Year’s.

Invite the Fellow and their family (if applicable) to cultural events such as picnics,

theater outings, museums, festivals, orchestra concerts, sporting events, or dinner

out (explain, as this may not be a cultural norm for them). Please be sure to let

the Fellow know what they may expect to pay for the outing. The Fellows receive

a stipend that allows them to consider budgeting to pay for their own expenses at

such events.

Invite the Fellow and their family on a trip to a lake, park, and Upstate New York

or out-of-state cities.

Similarly, when the Fellow invites you to attend an event with them, please

inquire about the cost and reassure them that it is okay for you each to pay your

own expenses. They are typically quite reluctant to suggest this option. There may

also be times when they wish to host you as their guest.

Please note that while we are a daytrip away from some great locations in Ontario

and Quebec, Canada, Fellows may require special travel documents or visas to

leave the United States. Please check with Humphrey staff in Executive Education

before making these plans.

If Fellows travel overnight, they are required to provide program staff travel

itinerary and contact information.

Each time you extend an invitation, please be sure to emphasize that an invitation is a request

and not an obligation; emphasize that your relationship with the fellow will not be hurt if

they refuse the invitation; let them know that if they accept they will be expected to let you

know if they later are unable to attend; and advise them of the expected arrival time for the

event. It may be helpful to extend invitations as a multiple choice, such as, “would you

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rather attend a theatre performance or a sporting event?” This can help you get a better sense

of a Fellows’ interests in a way that is culturally neutral.

Museums:

o Museum of Science and Technology

o Erie Canal Museum, Onondaga Historical Association

Theater:

o Syracuse Stage

o Musicals, plays or concerts at area high schools

Events:

o NYS Fair

o SU Sporting Events (basketball, football,

lacrosse)

Outdoor Activities:

o Visit a park — Green Lakes State Park, Beaver

Lake Nature Center, Onondaga Lake Park

o Ice skating at Tennity Ice Pavilion, Clinton

Square or other area rinks

o For families: Playing in the snow—building

snowmen, sledding, etc.

o Visit the Finger Lakes/Lake Ontario

o Visit a farm

o Hiking

o Skiing—downhill or cross-country (XC at

Beaver Lake or Highland Forest)

Other:

o Rosamond Gifford Zoo

o Local eatery landmarks: Heid’s, Peter’s Polar Parlor, Sno-Top, Dinosaur BBQ

o Farmers’ markets

o Go to the movies

o Daytrips to Albany, Ithaca, Buffalo, Rochester

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THINGS HOST FAMILIES SHOULD NOT TAKE ON

Don’t host Fellows in your home for extended periods of time.

Never give or lend money to the Fellows. The Fellows have scholarship funds that

should provide sufficient resources to cover ordinary expenses.

Do not give advice to the Fellows regarding immigration, work, medical, or legal

issues. They must comply with complex, frequently changing policies and it is

important that these issues be handled in accordance with current laws.

You should not assume the responsibility of disposing of or shipping Fellows’

boxes at the end of their stay in the United States when the fellow has departed for

home. The Fellows are advised to take care of shipping their items with sufficient

time allotted in advance of their departure.

EMERGENCY SITUATIONS

Occasionally, Fellows experience difficult times during their stay in the United States. Some

of these difficulties are common aspects of life and living in another culture. However, some

of these can become serious threats to a Fellow’s wellbeing. While we understand the desire

to assist them, it is important that the program staff be aware of any potential problems in

the Fellows’ lives. It is much easier to deal with a potential problem than to deal with a crisis.

This handbook provides contact information for Fellowship staff. Please contact us if you

feel there is something we should know about. We would rather err on the side of caution. In

an emergency situation, please contact us.

RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION

As part of the university, the Humphrey Program does not promote or sanction any particular

religion. Both our host families & friends and the fellows come from many different cultural

and religious backgrounds. Because we do not match fellows with hosts based on religious

affiliation, you may well find that your Fellows’ religious affiliation or beliefs differ from

yours. It is important that we demonstrate respect for all religions and belief systems, and we

hope that this will enhance greater understanding of diversity for the group as a whole.

Making, accepting, and declining invitations is closely tied to a person’s culture. Some

Fellows come from societies where to decline a host’s invitation would be very

uncomfortable and disrespectful. If you would like to invite a Fellow to a religious event, be

sure it is clear that he or she has the option to decline. Also, please make it clear if the focus

of an invitation is primarily religious.

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FOOD & DIETS

Please ask what food restrictions your Fellow might observe. As a general rule, Muslim

Fellows avoid pork products, Hindu fellows avoid beef products (or are vegetarian) and

Buddhist fellows may be vegetarian. Many Asian Fellows also consider rice to be an

essential element of every meal. Some Fellows may be vegetarian or vegan. However, as

each Fellow is unique in food preferences, it is best to ask each individual about their specific

food preferences rather than make any assumptions.

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2014-2015 HUBERT H. HUMPHREY FELLOWS

Kazybek Abraliev, Kyrgyzstan Mr. Kazybek Abraliev joins the Syracuse Humphrey Program from Bishkek,

Kyrgyzstan, where he most recently was the ICT Deputy Director at the

National Library of the Kyrgyz Republic. Mr. Abraliev focused on new technologies, and his

department at the National Library provided support to all 1,056 public libraries in the

country. He also worked to digitize content so books were more accessible nationally. During

his time at the Maxwell School, Mr. Abraliev wishes to focus on technology policy and

management as it relates to local development and information services. He received a B.S.

in Computer Science from Kyrgyz State National University, and an M.B.A. in Management

from the Academy of Management.

Hanoof Zamel Alsughayer, Saudi Arabia Ms. Hanoof Zamel Alsughayer comes to Syracuse University from Riyadh,

Saudi Arabia. Ms. Alsughayer most recently was appointed Manager of

Public Relations and Media Affairs for the National Family Safety Program, where she

maintained the NFSP brand, managed communications and stakeholder engagement and

implemented and monitored plans for awareness programs and campaigns. She was awarded

NFSP’s Sanabel Al Ata’a Prize for Corporate Social Responsibility towards the Youth. Ms.

Alsughayer’s goal is to further cultivate and improve Saudi youth participation in social,

economic, and socio-economic development. She received a B.A. in English Language from

King Saud University.

Laura Dittel, Slovak Republic

Ms. Laura Dittel joins the Humphrey Program from the Slovak Republic. In her home

country, Ms. Dittel is the Director/CEO of the Carpathian Foundation, a regional non-profit

organization that provides financial support, training, and advisory services to non-profits

and citizens in order to help improve living conditions in Eastern Slovakia. This region is the

most disadvantaged part of Slovakia, bordering Ukraine, Hungary, and Poland. During her

year at the Maxwell School, Ms. Dittel wants to explore civil society and the operation of

NGOs and community foundations in the United States, including how they handle corporate

social responsibility. She has a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of

Pavol Jozef Safarik in Kosice.

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Woojin (Daniel) Han, South Korea Mr. Woojin Han comes to the Maxwell School from Seoul, South Korea,

where he is the Deputy Director of Division of Future Technology, Ministry

of Science, ICT and Future Planning. He has held this position for over two years, and his

primary responsibilities include coordinating national level plans for developing

biotechnology. Since beginning work for the Korean Ministry of Education, Science and

Technology in 2008, he created a plan called “Donation for Education Programs,” which

encourages companies and R&D institutes to provide students with real-life education that

schools cannot offer. Mr. Han hopes to strengthen his background in public administration

during his Humphrey year. He has a Bachelor of Engineering from Seoul National

University.

Cesar L. Perez Carrera, Guatemala Mr. Cesar L. Perez Carrera comes to the Humphrey Program from Guatemala,

where he most recently was the Technology Program Officer at the

International Republican Institute (IRI). In this role, he was responsible for building local

technical capacity and facilitating access to innovative information and communications

technology tools (ICTs) in order to improve public administration in Central America. His

most significant accomplishment was the Smart Governance Project for the IRI, which

included forming partnerships with local mayors to increase their usage of ICTs. During his

time at Maxwell, Mr. Carrera wants to study important technological issues confronting

society, including effective strategies for dealing with business and government. He holds a

B.S. in Computer Science from Iwate University in Japan, and an IT Master Executive from

the Universidad Salamanca in Spain.

Lara Saade, Lebanon Ms. Lara Saade joins the Syracuse Humphrey Program from Lebanon. In her

home country, Ms. Saade was the Government Affairs Advisor for the

Ministry of Economy and Trade, and a Parliamentary Legal Advisor at the Lebanese

Parliament. She was responsible for drafting and reviewing laws, as well as providing

recommendations on public policy issues. She was awarded the title of Community

Ambassador & Social Visionary for the year 2013 by the US- Middle East Partnership

Initiative for her distinguished achievements in Women’s Rights Advocacy and Legislative

Reform. During her time at the Maxwell School, Ms. Saade hopes to nurture her knowledge

in development and governance policies at state and local level. She has a Master of Law

from Saint Joseph University in Beirut, and a Master in Diplomacy and Strategic

Negotiations from Paris-Sud XI University.

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Michelle Ntukanyagwe, Rwanda Ms. Michelle Ntukanyagwe comes to the Maxwell School from Rwanda,

where she works as a Senior Policy Analyst in the Strategy and Policy Unit,

Office of the President, where she is responsible for preparing strategic policy briefs for the

President on wide ranging social and economic issues. During her time at Syracuse University,

Ms. Ntukanyagwe wants to learn about the role of public policy in private sector development,

as well as understand how governments can encourage the private sector to play a more

productive role in sustainable development. She has a Bachelor of Business Administration

from The Kigali Institute of Science, Technology and Management, Kigali-Rwanda, and

Masters of Business Administration from the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa.

Qurrat-ul-Ain Rasheed, Pakistan Ms. Qurrat-ul-Ain Rasheed joins the Syracuse Humphrey Program from

Pakistan, where she was formerly the Division Superintendent Postal Services,

Government of Pakistan. Ms. Rasheed supervised the overall performance of the post offices

within her division and her duties ranged from administrative to financial in nature. She

hopes to use her time at the Maxwell School to help her enhance corporate governance in the

public sector of Pakistan by introducing financial and corporate benchmarks. Ms. Rasheed

has a B.A. in Political Science and English Literature and a Masters in Political Science from

the University of Peshawar, and a Masters of Philosophy from the Islamia College

University.

Mirjahon Turdiyev, Uzbekistan Mr. Mirjahon Turdiyev joins the Maxwell School from Uzbekistan.

Previously, he was the Consultant on Disability Affairs for the Japan

International Cooperation Agency. While holding this position, he was responsible for

consulting Japanese experts on disability affairs in developing strategy for a project entitled

“Improvement of Social Protection and Rehabilitation of Disabled People in Uzbekistan.” He

also worked on collaborative projects encouraging action towards disability inclusive policy,

and the organization of training workshops and conferences for individuals with disabilities.

During the Humphrey Program, he wants to learn about the role of partnerships between

academics and organizations in disability, as well as advocacy and inclusion of the disabled

in policy development.

San Thida, Myanmar Ms. San Thida comes to the Humphrey Program from Myanmar, where she is

the Assistant Director of the Budget Department, Ministry of Finance. She was

responsible for facilitating the government’s reform process on behalf of the Ministry while

conducting supportive functions for budgetary reform. During her time at Syracuse

University, she hopes to focus on the role of fiscal policy for sound public financial

management, intergovernmental fiscal relations and decentralization, as well as budget

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credibility and public financing. Ms. San holds a Bachelor of Sciences in Math from the

Yangon University of Distance Education, a Diploma in Economic Studies from Yangon

Institutes of Economics and a Master of Public Policy from GRIPS in Japan.

(Special thanks to International Fellowship Program, HHH Institute of Public Affairs

University of Minnesota for handbook guidance)