The Graduate Program in International Political Economy and Development

(Kakum National Park, Ghana)

As part of Fordham's International Peace and Development Travel Scholarship Program, three Fordham IPED students, Mr. Dean Johnson, Ms. Rachael Vinyard, and Ms. Sarah Weber spent the Spring and Summer of 2005 interning overseas with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) as part of their International Peace and Development Travel Scholarships.  CRS is the official relief and development agency of the US Catholic Community.  Dean worked in Zimbabwe, while Rachael was assigned to Northeast Brazil. Sarah did her internship in Ghana.

Sarah   (pictured on the left) earned her B. A. from Sarah Lawrence College where she majored in Environmental Studies and Social Science.  Prior to her enrollment at Fordham, Sarah served as a United States Peace Corps Volunteer in Cote d'Ivoire.  While at Fordham, Sarah specialized in International Development Studies and spent a summer evaluating micro-credit projects in Mali for the Trickle Up Program. In Ghana, Sarah work on various water, sanitation, and agricultural projects in the north of Ghana.  She also assisted in the implementation of a peace building project.

Dean  (second from the left) received a B.A. in Political Science and English from Loyola University Chicago as well as a M.A. in Multicultural Education from Columbia College Chicago.  Prior to his studies at Fordham, Dean served as a Jesuit Volunteer in Micronesia as well as an educator in the inner-city of Chicago. While at Fordham, Dean specialized in International Development Studies and completed an intensive language immersion program in Central America. Toward the end of his internship in Harare, Zimbabwe, Dean had significant responsibility for implementing an emergency food distribution program.

Rachael  (pictured on the left) earned her B.A. from the State University of New York at Buffalo where she majored in International Studies.  While in college, Rachael did volunteer work in India and study abroad at the American University in Cairo.  She is proficient in both Spanish and Portuguese.  At Fordham, Rachael interned with Fordham's Institute for International Humanitarian Assistance and focused her course work on development. In Brazil, Rachael was able to write about and publicize the landless issue in Northeast Brazil as well as the agricultural and development challenges people face in a semi-arid zone.

The International Peace and Development (IPD) Travel Scholarship Program provides IPED students with a valuable work experience that they frequently need in order to pursue careers with relief and development organizations. The IPD Travel Scholarship Program also promotes Fordham's Jesuit tradition. Dealing with issues of justice as well as with people in need goes hand in hand with Fordham's mission as New York City's Jesuit University.

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