Past Collaborators

Anum Sidra is a Social Science scholar who holds a degree of Bachelors in Anthropology from BZU. She started her career as a Coordinator for District Bahawalnagar on Education Equity and Quality in Afghanistan and Pakistan (EEQAP) Project, funded by Washington University in St. Louis. Subsequently, she was offered a Research Associate position at ICARUS Inc. where she is currently working on a research and behavior change communication project in collaboration with M&C Saatchi World Services and Humanly that aims to promote Family Planning practices in Pakistan.

Abram Saroufim graduated with an MSW and a concentration in Mental Health at the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis in May of 2022. He worked on the Education Equity and Quality in Afghanistan and Pakistan (EEQAP) project. His prior experiences include caring for people with intellectual disabilities as part of L’Arche International in Mexico City and teaching math, science, and phonics as a Peace Corps volunteer in Liberia. He received his BA in Chemistry from Cornell University. After graduation, he hopes to help address mental health issues in a global context.

Ifeyinwa Nora Ijeh graduated in May 2022 with a Masters's in Public Health (global health specialization) student at the Brown School at  Washington University in St Louis. She was a research assistant on the  Education Equity and Quality in Afghanistan and Pakistan (EEQAP)project. Her interests span from strengthening health systems to reducing health disparities, system dynamics to improving maternal and child health. Before joining the Brown school, Ifeyinwa worked as a physician and clinical researcher in Lagos, Nigeria, specializing in primary health care, clinical research, health care financing, and management.

Maddison Geller is an MPH student graduating May 2023 concentrating in Health Policy & Analysis at the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis. She worked on the Education Equity and Quality in Afghanistan and Pakistan (EEQAP) project. Maddison received her BA in Political Science from University of Nevada – Las Vegas. After graduation, she hopes to help address policies related to chronic and infectious diseases.

Vishnu Varadarajan was a Research Assistant for the Global Research on Inclusion and Disability team and the Education Equity and Quality in Afghanistan and Pakistan (EEQAP) project when he was pursuing his master's degree in Public Health from the Brown School. His prior experiences include investigating novel clinical therapies for brain tumors at the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center as well as exploring poverty and gender disparities associated with severe mental illness in southeastern India.

Aatif Ramzan is a social science scholar with a post-graduation degree in Rural Development. He is a development work practitioner and researcher with 13 years of experience. He has extensive experience in managing development projects in Pakistan. Currently, he is working with a national organization as project coordinator in a health project in the collaboration with M&C Saatchi World Services and Humanly-UK. Recently he was the district coordinator (Rahim Yar Khan-Pakistan) with the Global Research on Inclusion and Disability team at Washington University in St. Louis on the Education Equity and Quality in Afghanistan and Pakistan (EEQAP) Project.

Sidra Qurban is a true enthusiast for setting meaningful ambitions in her life and achieving them through a truly optimistic approach.  Being a graduate in Biological Sciences, she is greatly inclined towards exploring the undiscovered aspects regarding the diversity of nature. She is currently working as research associate for a health project with the collaboration of M&C Saatchi World Services and humanly-UK. Along with that she is a Master trainer for British counsel for their current ongoing project “AWAAZ-‖” to mobilize the Pakistani community for human rights in Pakistan.

Sara Paracha graduated with her Master of Social Work with a specialization in Management and concentration in Community Health Promotion for Positive Youth Development from Washington University in St. Louis. She is currently the Director of Development at North Side Community School. Sara serves on the national Gen2End Leadership Board with the American Cancer Society and was a research assistant with the Education Equity and Quality in Afghanistan and Pakistan (EEQAP) project.

Alan Mozaffari was a Research Assistant and Project Coordinator for the Global Research on Inclusion and Disability team and the Education Equity and Quality in Afghanistan and Pakistan (EEQAP) project. His research interests lie in how systems thinking and community-based, participatory engagement can lead to the just redistribution of resources and increased health, empowerment, and equity for vulnerable and marginalized populations.

Nicandro graduated with his Master of Public Health with a double concentration in Epidemiology & Biostatistics and Global Health from Washington University in St. Louis. His primary area of focus is working with displaced and marginalized communities and studying how social structures and health systems change after displacement.

Alex holds two degrees from Washington University in St. Louis, a Master of Public Health with a concentration in Global Health from the Brown School of Social Work, Public Health, and Social Policy and a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology. Alex was a graduate research assistant with GRID who worked with the EEQAP project from 2018 to 2022.

More than 20 years’ experience in humanitarian and development programmes in Asia (Afghanistan, India and Pakistan) and North Africa, in relief and rehabilitation, health, disability and gender in challenging environments. Specializes in project management, monitoring and evaluation, donor relations, pro-poor policy development, advocacy, capacity building and mentoring of local partner organisations. Currently based in Kabul, Afghanistan as Director of Agency Coordinating Body for Afghan Relief and Development (ACBAR) for international and national NGOS.

Dr. Rabab Ahmed is an established psychiatrist with over 14 years of experience in mental health, specializing in child mental health in low-setting contexts. She received her medical degree from Banha University, in Qalyubia, Egypt, in 2004, and did her residency in the neuropsychiatry department at Banha University Hospital. In 2010, Dr. Ahmed earned a master’s degree in Neuropsychiatry. Shortly after, she established the first and only child psychiatric center in Qalyubia, Egypt, under the authority of the National Ministry of Health and Population, Egypt. Dr. Ahmed graduated from the Brown School at Washington University in St Louis in 2018 with a master’s degree in Public Health specializing in Global Health.

Chen Chen graduated in May 2024 with an MPH/MSW degree. She worked on the Child Resilience in Afghanistan Study (CRAS) project. During her time at Brown School, she facilitated community-based research projects at Saint Louis University and participated in projects on body images.

Her prior experiences include implementing projects to help low-income villages access clean drinking water, maintain public relations for pharmaceutical companies. Chen received her Bachelor of Philosophy from Soochow University (CN).

Sining Li was an MSW/MBA student who graduated in May 2024 from the Brown School and Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis. She worked on the Education Equity and Quality in Afghanistan and Pakistan (EEQAP) project. Her prior experiences include running green finance projects in the bank and conducting annual economy reports while interning in the provincial government. Otherwise, she was doing part-time job in Education Without Barriers, an educational NGO, aiming to help disadvantaged students by providing high-quality education.

Mara McKown is an MPH/MSW student set to graduate in May of 2023 from the Brown School at Washington University hoping to pursue a career in Public Health Emergency Response. Mara currently works on the Education Equity and Quality in Afghanistan and Pakistan (EEQAP) project.

Nino Naskidashvili graduated with an MPH from Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis in May 2024. She was a Research Assistant for the Global Research on Inclusion and Disability Lab and worked on the Children's Resilience in Afghanistan Study (CRAS) project. Before joining GRID, she worked in research and non-profit focused on children's malnutrition and maternal mental health in rural Sierra Leone, West Africa. Her main interest lies in improving the health of infants, young children, and mothers in resource-limited settings. Nino earned an MD from Tbilisi State Medical University (Tbilisi, Georgia).