New Funding and New Additions to the IGL External Advisory Board
The IGL is pleased to announce that the Cummings Foundation has awarded the Institute a $100,000 grant for its proposal on “Human Rights, Human Security and Preparing the Next Generation of U.S. and Global Policy Leaders” and that two IGL alumnae have assumed leadership of the IGL External Advisory Board, Maria (Figueroa) Kupcu, EPIIC’92, and Jennifer (Hooper) Selendy, EPIIC’90.
Cummings Foundation
Recent major events in the world – from the wars in Syria and Yemen to ongoing refugee and migration crises such as in Myanmar – have left U.S. and international foreign policy experts and policymakers reactive, with U.S. and global actors determining their positions and responses as the human crises grow, trying to balance stability with the reality of rapid change. Yet, all too often, the consequences of these deliberations are borne by the people on the ground who are facing violence and displacement. As U.S. and international foreign policy establishments re-examine global priorities, interests and policies in the midst of rising populism, nationalism, xenophobia, authoritarianism and anti-globalization movements, the human security challenges are likely to worsen for millions of people in the coming years. The international environment is in a state of flux, with new rising powers and non-traditional actors, and the potential for increasing global disruption and human rights abuses.
The Cummings Foundation support, disbursed over five years, will help develop the next generation of global leaders, focused on human rights and human security, by combining rigorous, multidisciplinary learning with interactive experiences that expose students to a range of perspectives on local, national and global efforts to preserve human dignity and prevent genocide and mass atrocities.
In the 2019-20 academic year, EPIIC is focusing on preventing genocide and mass atrocities. Students will study various cases of mass atrocities and assess the effectiveness of policies and institutions in preventing them. A core part of the program is exposing students to a variety of experts with differing perspectives, and about 20 scholars and practitioners will participate in the EPIIC Colloquium in the fall semester.
A portion of this grant will directly fund the visit to Tufts of five experts from various countries, such as Cambodia, Rwanda and Bosnia, who have witnessed these moral atrocities and will share their experiences at the 2020 Norris and Margery Bendetson EPIIC International symposium.
The award will also support global research and internship opportunities for undergraduate students interested in human rights and human security, the IGL's high school global issues program, and bringing an INSPIRE Fellow to campus each year on these issues. These transformative opportunities give students first-hand, hands-on experiences that can challenge their preconceptions and assumptions.
IGL Director Abi Williams said, "This generous grant is a catalyst for innovative programs on a vital and complex global issue."
IGL External Advisory Board
After 15 years of dedicated service, Co-Chairs Robert Bendetson and William Meserve stepped down from their position on the Board, passing the baton to the next generation of leadership and two IGL alumnae: Maria Kupcu, chair, and Jennifer Selendy, vice chair.
Maria and Jennifer are avid supporters of IGL who have played an important role on the Board over a number of years. Their new roles mark an exciting moment for the Institute.
Maria is a Partner and Head of the New York office of Brunswick Group, a global advisory firm, and specializes in developing engagement campaigns on environmental and social issues, such as access to water, educational equity, and inclusion and diversity. Jennifer is a founding and Managing Partner of Selendy & Gay PLLC, an innovative litigation law firm launched in 2018 in New York. She is an experienced trial and appellate lawyer whose practice includes extensive pro bono work in the areas of poverty and women's rights, climate change and education.
As Maria and Jennifer take on these new roles, they will be joined by several other alumni additions to the Board:
Eric Del Monaco (TILIP’99)
With over 20 years of financial experience, Eric oversees all marketing, structuring, trading, syndication, and distribution activities for fixed income; and market risk activities for commodity products within the Americas platform at Natixis Securities Americas LLC.
Jared Goldberg (EPIIC’90)
Since graduating from Tufts, Jared has had several careers, which have taken him to Hong Kong, Milan, Zug, Miami and currently Aspen. From 1998-2009 he traded base metals for Glencore, from 1992-1998 he established distribution throughout Asia for US manufacturers with Dorian Drake International, and for the past ten years he has developed residential real estate projects in Miami and established his own macro fund. His eldest son is an EPIIC’20 alum.
Kevin Luke (EPIIC’93)
Kevin Luke is currently a Managing Director at Hudson Advisors, a global asset management firm. For the past eight years, he has run all financing efforts for the North American Real Estate division. Prior to that, he was in a similar role at the Shorenstein Company, and he began his real estate career at Jones Lang LaSalle and The RREEF funds.
Javier Macaya (co-founder of Empower)
Javier Macaya is a Spanish citizen with a twenty five-year investment banking career in New York City. Javier currently is a private equity investor and a Director and advisor to Companies in Spain and Latin America. He, along with Angelos Metaxa, co-founded and supported the IGL’s Empower program in 2007 to encourage students to explore and understand social entrepreneurship.
Anna Winderbaum (EPIIC’90)
Anna Winderbaum has been advising wealthy families, foundations and family offices on a comprehensive and holistic basis for over 20 years. Anna co-leads an experienced, seven-person team within Morgan Stanley’s Private Wealth Management division. Together, Anna and her team deliver the vast capabilities of the Firm to their clients in a highly customized manner.
IGL would not be where it is today without the wise and determined leadership of Bill and Bobby. Their contributions to the Institute have helped it grow in reach and impact, thereby enhancing its importance to Tufts and the wider international affairs community. During their leadership of the Board, the number of students impacted by the Institute’s programs has grown exponentially. Their support of linking theory and practice has led to a range of new initiatives. They will continue to be members of the Board and to serve on the Executive Committee.