a economic relations and U.S.- Pakistan economic relations. In this role, she advocates on behalf of U.S. pharmaceutical companies for greater regulatory transparency and predictability to improve access to innovative treatments and vaccines for US, Korean, and Pakistani consumers. Manisha has previously worked as a Contractor for SelectUSA at the Department of Commerce, helping foreign companies – including healthcare and biotech startups – identify possible locations for investments in the United States and understand healthcare and pharmaceutical regulations in the United States. She also worked as a researcher for Freedom House and worked on two annual indices: Freedom in the World, which reviewed political rights and civil liberties around the world, and Freedom on the Net, which measured internet freedom in 72 countries around the world.Manisha graduated with a B.A. in Global Studies and a B.A. in Economics from UMBC in 2018. Through her Global Studies and Economics coursework, Manisha gained experience in conducting qualitative and quantitative research, which prepared her for the research roles she has held since graduating. She also developed public speaking skills and policy writing skills through her coursework and involvement in Model United Nations and Moot Court. After graduation, Manisha taught English in South Korea as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant before returning to Washington D.C. to complete her M.A. in International Economics and Korea Studies from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.
Since graduating from UMBC’s Glo
bal Studies program, I’ve pursued roles that have deepened my understanding of how culture and place shape identity in a globalized world. I’m currently serving as a Youth Ambassador at the USA Pavilion for the 2025 World Expo in Osaka, Kansai, where I engage with international visitors on cultural exchange and shared global challenges. Prior to this, I spent six months in Canada on a working holiday, volunteering at a Japanese-Canadian assisted living facility on my days off—an experience that highlighted the enduring cultural ties and identity preservation within diaspora communities. Before that, I lived and worked for three years in northern Osaka Japan as an English language teacher at a public elementary school through the JET Program. During that time, I also volunteered with the TOMODACHI Initiative asan alumni regional representative for the Kansai region, bringing together Japanese alumni from various U.S.-Japan youth exchange programs to reconnect and explore their ties to American culture. The interdisciplinary and globally conscious education I received at UMBC, especially in cultural analysis and intercultural communication, has been foundational in helping me navigate and contribute meaningfully to these diverse spaces.
Madeline Dement Madani ’20 works as a Program Assistant at the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Geneva, Switzerland, facilitating cash and voucher assistance programming to help women and girls meet their protection and sexual and reproductive health needs in humanitarian settings. As part of this role, Madeline supports project management, reporting, capacity-building, donor fundraising, and data analysis. Prior to joining UNFPA, she also supported cash and voucher assistance programming to address food insecurity in crises with Save the Children. Madeline also worked previously as a researcher and analyst with Valens Global, working on topics related to international security such as organized crime, counter terrorism, and nuclear weapons.Madeline graduated from UMBC in 2020 with a B.A. in Global Studies and a B.A. in Political Science. She then completed a master’s degree in International Development Studies at the Geneva Graduate Institute in Switzerland with a full scholarship. During her master’s degree, she undertook an internship with the United Nations that later transitioned into a long-term, full-time position. While at UMBC, Madeline was a Sondheim Public Affairs Scholar, devoting a significant time each semester to volunteering with local organizations that supported migrants in Baltimore, including Refugee Youth Project and The Esperanza Center. As part of the Global Studies program, Madeline studied abroad twice during her time at UMBC, spending time in both Colombia and Argentina. These experiences, in addition to her rigorous coursework at UMBC in research, policy analysis, and languages, were crucial in preparing her for a career as an international civil servant.
Katie Poteet Sekowski ’21 works as a Senior Associate Director at Waypoint Education Partners, an education policy and communications firm working at the national, state, and local levels. Katie’s work encompasses shaping public opinion through national campaigns, informing federal legislation, strengthening advocacy groups, and producing influential reports that change what we know about education. Her recent projects include contributing to the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Commission on the American Workforce, helping to define a new federal vision for education and the workforce; advising the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s education portfolio and training business leaders to become local education champions; and growing an Africa-based organization working to increase access to postsecondary education through innovative finance models.
Katie graduated from UMBC in 2021 with a B.A. in Global Studies and Political Science, a minor in Arabic Language and Culture, and certificates in Spanish Studies. She was a member of the Sondheim Public Affairs Scholars Program, the Honors College, and served as the Valedictorian of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. She then earned her master’s degree in Education, Globalization, and International Development at the University of Cambridge in England, researching girls’ education in Afghanistan. Katie credits UMBC with providing the foundational research experience, strong academic writing skills, and dedication to public service and civic engagement that have proven invaluable in her career.