Sié Fellows Class of 2014
Kate Finn is a MA candidate in International Human Rights. She has worked at the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services' Office of Refugee Resettlement, where she managed the Services to Survivors of Torture and Preferred Communities grant programs. Prior to that, Kate worked at the U.S. Department of Justice, where she managed discretionary and formula grants to police and sheriffs' departments, U.S. attorneys' offices, correctional facilities, and victims' advocacy organizations. Kate has been an active volunteer for the anti-human trafficking and anti-torture movements, as well as for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Prior to studying at Korbel, Kate also served as a volunteer reading mentor at a Washington D.C. elementary school. Kate received her BA in Economics from Randolph-Macon Woman's College.
Hyshyama Hamin was born in Sri Lanka and raised in Nepal. She earned her BA (Hons) in Development Studies from Kathmandu University. While a student, she worked at an Nepalese NGO focused on combating gender-based violence, and completed a research fellowship on gender and transitional justice in Nepal. She was also a 2009 Cape Town Fellow of the International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ). After graduation, Hyshyama then worked as a Senior Program Officer at Women Defining Peace, an organization in Sri Lanka that supports an integrated approach to addressing gender-based violence and promotes women's leadership and gender equality in the peacebuilding process. As a Fulbright scholar at Korbel, Hyshyama will be pursuing her MA in International Human Rights with a focus on gender and women’s rights.
Kyleanne Hunter is an MA candidate in International Security. She earned her BA from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service. Since graduation, she has worked for a tech start-up, a defense contractor, and spent over a decade as an officer in the United States Marine Corps, serving as an AH-1W Super Cobra attack pilot on multiple deployments in support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. She spent the last 2.5 years as the Marine Corp’s Liaison Officer to the House of Representatives. In addition to her liaison duties, she served as the military escort for several international Congressional Delegations for the chairman of the Armed Services, Rules and Veterans’ Affairs Committees. At the Korbel School, she is a Research Assistant for the Program on Terrorism and Insurgency Research. In addition to her studies, Kyleanne races road and cyclocross bikes for a domestic elite team based out of Golden, Colorado.
Graham Miller graduated cum laude from the University of Richmond in 2009 with his BA in History. Since graduating, he has worked at the National Geographic Society in Washington, D.C. as an analyst in the corporate strategy and development group. During his time at National Geographic his responsibilities included strategic planning and corporate integration, as well as business development functions with domestic and international partners across various media ventures. At the Korbel School, Graham will be pursuing an MA in International Security. He will also be working as a research assistant for the Program on Terrorism and Insurgency Research.
Jonathan Pinckney is an MA candidate in International Studies. Jonathan received his BA in International Affairs from Gordon College in Wenham, Massachusetts, graduating summa cum laude with additional special department honors. Since graduation, Jonathan has lived and worked in Egypt and India, where he helped establish the Bestsemester India Studies Program. He also served on a volunteer basis as the Director of Operations of BIRDS International, an NGO working to poverty in South India. At the Korbel School, Jonathan is working as a Research Assistant for the Program on Terrorism and Insurgency Research. His research interests include the Middle East, South Asia, Religion and the State, and the Theory and Practice of Nonviolent Resistance. Upon completion of his MA degree, Jonathan plans to earn his doctorate.
Jessica Rettig is an MA candidate in Global Finance, Trade and Economic Integration. She graduated cum laude from Georgetown University in 2009 with a BA in English and an honors certificate in Latin American Studies. As an undergraduate student, she was a member of The Pearl Project, a journalistic investigation into the kidnapping and murder of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl in Pakistan in 2002. After graduating, she joined the politics and policy staff of U.S. News & World Report, where she reported on major national issues including foreign affairs, energy, healthcare reform and congressional elections. She left U.S. News in December 2011 to travel to Colombia, where she worked as a freelance writer in Bogotá and in Cartagena at the Summit of the Americas. In addition to the hundreds of articles she's written for U.S. News & World Report's various print, digital and online publications, Jessica has also contributed to The White House Bulletin, World Politics Review, City Paper Bogotá, The National (UAE), Café Abroad, The Hoya, and The Georgetown Independent. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Journalism and Women Symposium (JAWS).
Paul Tanghe is a MA candidate in International Studies. His research interests include Southeast Asia, comparative politics, maritime security, international law and regulation, and piracy. A cavalry officer in the United States Army, Paul has led reconnaissance and tank units in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Korea, including service as a scout platoon leader in Baghdad, Iraq; a combat advisor in Zabul Province, Afghanistan; and a reconnaissance troop commander in Kandahar City, Afghanistan. Paul is a native of Edina, Minnesota and graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 2004 with a degree in Political Science. In his free time, he is a volunteer firefighter and enjoys sailing and rugby.
Ying Hui Tng is from Singapore. Her upbringing there has inspired her to seek a career in journalism and become an advocate for freedom of the press. She earned her BA in Political Science at the National University of Singapore, and while a student also worked as an independent journalist for The Online Citizen, the most popular alternative news website in Singapore. After graduation, she worked at CNBC for almost a year. Ying Hui has also written for Al Jazeera and Asian Correspondent, reporting on sensitive issues such as human rights in China and Singapore. At the Korbel School, she will be earning her Master's degree in International Studies.
Matthew Walje is a recent graduate of William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri, where he earned his BA in International Relations and Political Science. As a student at William Jewell, he was named the Outstanding Junior in Political Science in 2010 and Outstanding Senior in 2011. He also studied in Santiago, Chile and Chania, Greece through The Fund for American Studies. During his time as a student, Matt also served as a Sergeant in the Marine Corps Reserves and remains a Senior Analyst for 24th Marines. He has been deployed in support of combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and to Norway with Operation Cold Response. For his work in Iraq, Matt received a Navy and Marine Corps’ Achievement Medal. At the Korbel School, Matt is earning his MA in International Human Rights. He is also working as a Project Coordinator for the NGO Oceans Beyond Piracy and at the Sié Center on the Private Security Monitor research project.
Matthew Wollmers was born and raised in the suburbs of New York, NY. He completed his undergraduate degree in Sociology, with a minor in History, at St. Joseph’s College. He went on to earn a Master of Public Policy degree from George Mason University, with a concentration in regional economic development. During his graduate studies, Matt researched the effectiveness of long-term peacekeeping efforts in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Cambodia, and separately studied Denver-Boulder economic development strategies. For the last few years, Matt has directed the veterans affairs division at the law firm at which he works, advocating on behalf of disabled veterans in their claims before the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. He has also worked as an organizer in the last two U.S. presidential elections. At the Korbel School, Matt plans to concentrate his studies on International Diplomacy and Development.
