PEERS Invites You To: The PEERS Annual Networking Event Friday, February 21, 2014
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Lindner Family Commons
1957 E Street, NW, Suite 602 Introduction by
Peter Rollberg
Professor of Slavic Languages, Film Studies and International Affairs
Director, Institute for European, Russian, and Eurasian Studies With
Alix Fraser
Presidential Management Fellow, U.S. Department of State
Elliott School Alumnus, M.A. 2011 Jeanmarie O’Leary
Defense Consultant, Booz Allen Hamilton
Elliott School Alumna, M.A. 2013 Elena Suhir
Senior Program Officer for Eurasia, Center for International Private Enterprise
Elliott School Alumna, B.A. Felix Winnekens
Research Analyst, IMF European Department
Elliott School Alumnus, M.A. 2011 and Victoria Yue
Program Assistant Eurasia Division, International Republican Institute
Elliott School Alumna, 2013 Save the date! PEERS will be hosting our annual Networking Event, which will focus on work and career opportunities related to Europe, Eurasia, and Russia. Our panel of speakers will briefly explore the current job market in government positions, think tanks, and the private sector, followed by an opportunity for students and professionals to interact over light refreshments. Professional dress requested. RSVP here by February 20, 2014. Speaker: Peter Rollberg earned his Ph.D. in 1988, at the University of Leipzig, Germany, after studying in Leipzig and Moscow. He came to GWU in 1991 after teaching at Duke University. Professor Rollberg was awarded the Bender Teaching Prize in 1999 and the Trachtenberg Teaching Prize in 2001. He has served as Director of the University Honors Program and Chair of the Department of Romance, German, and Slavic Languages. Panelists: Alix Fraser graduated from the Elliott School of International Affairs with an M.A. in International Affairs in May 2011. He is currently a Presidential Management Fellow at the U.S. Department of State. During his time in the U.S. government, he has served as a Foreign Affairs Officer in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor; a Special Assistant and Speech Writer to the Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights; a Political Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Honduras; and as a Foreign Policy Fellow in the office of U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer. Prior to government service, Alix worked and interned for a number of non-governmental organizations, including the American Red Cross. He recently published an e-book on networking—The Networking Manifesto: How to Find Your Dream Job in the New Economy. Jeanmarie O’Leary, a former Treasurer and CFO for PEERS, is a Defense Consultant for Booz Allen Hamilton. She currently focuses on war-gaming and simulation initiatives with the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Before joining Booz Allen, Jeanmarie worked in defense language proficiency testing with the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center. She holds a double Bachelor's degree in Linguistics and Russian Language and Literature from Boston University and a Master’s degree in Security Policy Studies from The Elliott School, with a specialization in intelligence and weapons of mass destruction. Her areas of expertise include defense strategy, nuclear energy, and CBRNE terrorism, with a regional specialty in Russia and Central Asia. During her time in undergrad, Jeanmarie studied abroad at St. Petersburg State University, and during her time at The Elliott School, Jeanmarie participated in the study abroad program to Tel Aviv, Israel. Elena Suhir has 20+ years’ experience working with civil society activists and organizations to strengthen democratic governance processes and support long-term efforts that foster economic prosperity and political reform. As a senior member of the Eurasia team at the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), Elena led in designing practical approaches and developing key program in transitional countries to advance the fundamental pillars of democratic governance. These included anti-corruption efforts; projects to increase transparency and accountability in policymaking; corporate governance strengthening; establishing sustainable public-private dialogue channels; and launching informational campaigns to improve public dialogue on important national issues. Elena has worked with grassroots civic organizations as well as policymakers (municipal, local and national levels) to build understanding of the need to constructively cooperate and engage with one another on matters of utmost national importance. In addition, Elena has worked at the World Bank in Washington, DC as part of a team to establish a multi-year training program “From Plan to Market” for government officials and university professors (“train the trainer”). Felix Winnekens is a Research Analyst in the European Department of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). He has a focus on financial market trends as well as fiscal policies in Central and Eastern Europe. Before joining the IMF, Felix held positions in Germany and France with the Cologne Institute for Economic Research (IW Köln), the Business and Industry Advisory Committee to the OECD (BIAC), and the Federation of German Industries (BDI). He holds a Bachelor and Master of Arts degree in Economics from Free University Berlin, Germany as well as a Master of Arts in International Affairs from the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University. Victoria Yue joined IRI in July 2013 and is responsible for the Kyrgyzstan program. Prior to IRI, Victoria worked as a Graduate Fellow at the International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce in the Office of Energy and Environmental Industries. Victoria earned a M.A. in European and Eurasian Studies with a concentration in Energy and Environment from the George Washington University in 2013. She also holds B.A. in Dance from California State University Long Beach and a certificate in Russian Language from the Russian State University for the Humanities in Moscow, Russia. |
