Sié Fellow David Mayen writes Op-Ed for Denver Post

August 23, 2012—David Mayen, a recent graduate of the Korbel School and alum of the School's Sié Fellow Program, appeared as a guest commentator in today's Denver Post, writing about his time at the Sié Chéou-Kang Center for International Security and Diplomacy and plans to return to South Sudan as a civil-servant. 

David is a native of South Sudan. He received his primary and secondary education there, and attended college at Kampala International University, Uganda. He then went on to garner extensive experience in the international arena, working as a logistician and storekeeper for Médecins Sans Frontières at the Dadaab refugee camp in Dadaab, Kenya; as an operations specialist for the private security firm DynCorp in South Sudan; and most recently (and currently) as the Director for Legislation for the South Sudan National Legislative Assembly. In 2010, David was granted a two-year sabbatical from the South Sudan National Legislative Assembly to pursue a master's degree at the Korbel School of International Studies.

David was one of nine Korbel students that formed the first class of Sié Fellows. Sié Fellows are outstanding degree-seeking students from the U.S. and abroad that receive a free-tuition two-year scholarship to the Korbel School. The program was established by a generous grant from the Anna and John Sie Foundation. The Sie Foundation also funded the Sié Chéou-Kang Center for International Security and Diplomacy. In addition to it research activities, the Sié Center oversees the Sié Fellows program. In all of its activities, the Sié Center endeavors to actively involve the Sié Fellows and encourage interaction among the Sié Fellows and between Sié Fellows, faculty and policy makers.

In June 2012, David graduated with his MA in International Security. He will return to South Sudan this month and begin working once again for the South Sudan National Legislative Assembly. 

David's full article appears online at DenverPost.com.