50 Alumni for 50 Years
Meet the Alumni
To commemorate American Councils' 50th Anniversary, the organization proudly unveils the 50 Alumni for 50 Years initiative, spotlighting outstanding participants from its expansive portfolio of 250 administered programs spanning five decades. Throughout the year, these alumni, ranging from national and community leaders to educators, activists, artists, and advocates, will be celebrated as living embodiments of the American Councils' mission.
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Fatima Abduvahabova
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Fathi Abdi Ahmed
Lecturer, Jigjiga University
Youth Solidarity & English Language (YSEL) Camp Alumnus
Ethiopia
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Ashiru Abubakar
National Youth Leader, Nigeria Association of the Deaf
Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program Alumnus
Nigeria
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Jahona Akbarova
Former Investment Analyst
EducationUSA & Competitive College Club (CCC) Program Alumna
Tajikistan
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American Councils Staff Alumni
Over 20% of American Councils’ staff within our network of 730+ employees across 33 countries are alumni of programs administered by American Councils.
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Carlo James Aragón
Foreign Service Officer, U.S. Embassy Lebanon
Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program and National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) Alumnus
United States
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Anisa Atalova
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Andreas Beckmann
Regional CEO, World Wildlife Fund of Central and Eastern Europe
Advanced Russian Language and Area Studies (RLASP) Alumnus
United States
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Eman Bekheet
English Senior Teacher & Certified Teacher Trainer
Mamdouh Salem High School
Teachers of Critical Languages Program (TCLP) Alumna
Egypt
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Shakhodat Berdieva
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Princi Bhardwaj
Law Student, Aligarh Muslim University
English Access Microscholarship Program Alumna
India
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Camille Bismonte
International Program Specialist, Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP) of the U.S. Department of Commerce
Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program Alumna
United States
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Iryna Borovets
Diplomat, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ukrainian Public Diplomacy Enhancement Program (UPDEP) Alumna
Ukraine
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Erin Bourque
Foreign Service Officer, U.S. Department of State
Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program, National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y), & Advanced Russian Language and Area Studies Program (RLASP) Alumna
United States
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Agnieszka Buczyńska
Minister for Civil Society, Chancellery of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland
Open World Program Alumna
Poland
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Lisa Choate
President and CEO, American Councils for International Education
Advanced Russian Language & Area Studies Program (RLASP) Alumna
United States
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Tamar Chugoshvili
Founder & Executive Director, Egeria Solutions
Member of the Parliament of Georgia
Professional Fellows Program (PFP) Alumna
Georgia
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Ndeye Maty Diop
Wekomkom Coordinating Manager, Concree
Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program Alumna
Senegal
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Zulfikar Djumaev
Secondary School Teacher
English Speaking Nation: Secondary School Teacher (ESN:STT) Program Alumnus
Uzbekistan
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Kemo Fatty
Executive Director & CEO, Green-Up Gambia
International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) Alumnus
The Gambia
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Mycal Ford
American Councils Board of Trustees
Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program Alumnus
United States
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Dr. Thomas Jesús Garza
Associate Professor and Director, University of Texas at Austin
American Councils Board of Trustees
ACTR 10-Month Program Alumnus
United States
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Samir Hajiyev
Strategic Content Coordination Specialist, U.S. Embassy Azerbaijan
Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) Program Alumnus
Azerbaijan
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Hikaru Wakeel Hayakawa
Deputy Executive Director, Climate Cardinals
Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study Abroad (YES Abroad) Alumnus
United States
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Kristin Hayden
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Dr. Dzenana Husremovic
Vice Rector for Teaching and Student Affairs, University of Sarajevo
Junior Faculty Development Program (JFDP) Alumna
Bosnia & Herzegovina
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Fatima Jafari
English Language Trainer, American Councils Tajikistan
Youth Solidarity and English Language (YSEL) Camp Alumna
Afghanistan
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Marek Janiga
Humanitarian Worker, United for Help NGO, Caritas Slovakia
Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) Program Alumnus
Slovakia
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Ana Janosev
Leaders Community Manager, the female factor
American Serbia and Montenegro Youth Leadership Exchange (A-SMYLE) Program Alumna
Serbia
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Michele Kelemen
Diplomatic Correspondent, National Public Radio (NPR)
Advanced Russian Language & Area Studies Alumna
United States
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Tamara Kotevska
Filmmaker
Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program Alumna
North Macedonia
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Oksana Kravchuk
Founder, United Business School
Ukrainian Business Leaders: Promoting Innovation & Entrepreneurship (UBL: PIE) Program Alumna
Ukraine
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Reneta Krivonozova
Policy and Advocacy Officer, EuroChild
Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program Alumna
Bulgaria
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Anna Landre
Researcher and Activist, University College London
Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program Alumna
United States
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Valdrin Lluka
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Dr. Alexander Markarov
Professor, Yerevan State University
Junior Faculty Development Program Alumnus
Armenia
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Elizabeth "Betsy" McKay
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Arystan Moldabekov
Chief Financial Officer, Citibank Kazakhstan
U.S.-Central Asia Education Foundation (U.S.-CAEF) Alumnus
Kazakhstan
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Adrian Neculita
Police Officer, General Directory of Bucharest Police
Open World Alumnus
Romania
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Andrei Olteanu
PhD Candidate, Babes-Bolyai University
Kennedy Academy for Students Program & Elie Wiesel Study Tour Program Alumnus
Romania
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Elnura Osmonalieva
Director, Bilimkana Schools Network
Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) Program Alumna
Kyrgyzstan
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Nikki Phinyapincha
Founder, TransTalents Consulting Group
Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative Professional Fellows Program (YSEALI PFP) Alumna
Thailand
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Mihai Popșoi
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Government of Moldova
Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) Program Alumnus
Moldova
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Robin Smith
Pediatric Mental Health Therapist, The Bellevue Center
Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program and National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) Alumna
United States
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Klea Troka
Medical Doctor & Public Health Expert, Ministry of Health and Social Protection for the Republic of Albania
Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program Alumna
Albania
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Conrad Turner
Distinguished Visiting Professional, Fairfield University's Waide Center for Applied Ethics
Retired Minister-Counselor of the U.S. Foreign Service
Advanced Russian Language and Area Studies Program (RLASP)
United States
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Tetiana Vakulenko
Director, Ukrainian Center for Educational Quality Assessment
Ukrainian Standardized External Testing Initiative (USETI) Alumna
Ukraine
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Vu Thi Quyen
Co-Founder and CEO, We-Edit Limited Company
Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative Professional Fellows Program (YSEALI PFP) Alumna
Vietnam
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Zana Zeqiri Rudi
Former Ambassador to Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras, El Salvador, Belize, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, & Guyana
Kosovo American Education Fund (KAEF) Alumna
Kosova
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Emilia Zankina
Dean & Vice Provost, Temple University Rome
Title VIII Combined Research and Language Training (CRLT) Program Alumna
United States