CGP Intern Bios & Testimonials

Fall 2012 CGP Interns
From left to right: Sarah Baron, Frank Swigonski, Mikkel Guldberg, and Stefani Chow.

Spring 2012 CGP Interns
From left to right: Elizabeth Eckard, Laura Esposito, Michael French, Charlene Chan.

Fall 2011 CGP Interns
From left to right: Laura Esposito, Paul Gottlich, Elizabeth Eckard.

Summer 2011 CGP Interns
From left to right: Matt Dickert, Tom Vargas, Annie Wang, Jana Kwaji.

Fall 2010 CGP Interns
From left to right: Donghui Park, Alyssa Gebert, Dixita Silwal, Supal Desai.

Spring 2010 CGP Interns
From left to right: Patrick Browne, Haein Lim, Anna Greene, Peter Telaroli, Charity-Joy Acchiardo.

Fall 2009 CGP Interns
From left to right: Ai Ghee Ong, Emily Gikow, Zivile Gedrimaite, Andrew Baltes.

Summer 2009 CGP Interns
From left to right: Yan Zhang, Zenah Hasan, Jason Farrell, Eimear O'Leary-Barrett.

Spring 2009 intern lunch
From left to right: Daniel Bell, Heidi Metcalf, Emma Britz, Eimon Htun, Carol Adelman, David Baker.

Spring 2009 CGP Interns
From left to right: Emma Britz, Eimon Htun, Daniel Bell.

Winter 2008 CGP Interns
From left to right: Stephanie Mak, Jacob Gray, Yulya Spantchak, Stephanie Chan.

Current CGP Intern Bios

Sarah Baron is originally from San Francisco, CA and graduated from Seattle University in 2012 with a Bachelors of Arts in Economics with an Emphasis in International Development. She has interned at Acucela Inc. in the Corporate Communications department, Washington C.A.S.H. and The One Equal Heart Foundation. Sarah is interested in international development, specifically, development efforts in Latin America. Sarah hopes to someday participate in a development project and live in Latin America. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, playing guitar and reading.

Stefani Chow is currently pursuing a Masters of Arts in Global Communication at the Elliott School of International Affairs, The George Washington University. Originally from the Washington, D.C. area, she graduated from DePaul University in Chicago with a Bachelors of Arts in Political Science and Communication Studies in 2012. She has interned in the past with Public Campaign in Washington, D.C. and the U.S. Department of Energy. Stefani is interested in social and economic policy in East Asia, specifically China.

Mikkel Guldberg is originally from Copenhagen, Denmark and graduated from University of Copenhagen in 2012 with a Bachelor's degree in political science. As part of his Master's degree in political science, Mikkel is now enrolled for a semester at American University. Mikkel has worked at the Danish ministry of finance and the ministry for agriculture as well as at The Lundbeck Institute. Mikkel is interested in project management, global economic theories and American politics. In his spare time, Mikkel enjoys delving into political theory and working out.

Frank Swigonski is originally from Phoenix, Arizona. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and International Relations from Franklin College Switzerland, and his Masters of Arts in International Political Economy from the University of Kent, Brussels School of International Studies. Frank has worked as a lobbyist for a solar company in Arizona and has interned at Global Financial Integrity in Washington, DC. His interests include energy, development, and international security.

Testimonials from former CGP Interns

"Beginning an internship one is always wary of being little more than a glorified coffee fetcher, but working with the CGP far out exceeded my expectations. At CGP, interns are expected to genuinely contribute to many of the Center's projects--which I found gratifying, as the responsibility did not entail constant oversight. In addition to the substantive contribution I feel I was able to make while with CGP, I also gained important insight and experience in the field of international development and philanthropy, while honing my research and writing skills. In all, my experience at CGP was very rewarding, and I would recommend the internship to any international development enthusiast."

- Alyssa Gebert, Fall 2010

"My experience at CGP was incredibly rewarding. I don't know of that many other internships that allow their interns to contribute so much to the successes of the organization. I am so grateful for the opportunity to contribute to such a great organization!"

- Zivile Gedrimaite, Fall 2009

"I found my experience with CGP to be personally challenging and rewarding. I had the unique opportunity to research and publish original and exciting analysis concerning the current state of global private-sector development and philanthropy. Not only was my work valuable and helpful to CGP but I found excellent professional and personal support in the CGP staff."

- Andrew Baltes, Fall 2009

"In these three months, I learned a lot, and composed a lot. My research experienced enriched with the weekly research report and presentation. Thanks to the help and advice from David and Heidi, I completed my first report on Philanthropy in China. With Yulya's resources, I would proudly present my report on social entrepreneurship. Jerry brought us a great brown bag lunch, with his personal experience and suggestions for graduate schools. And there's much much more... It's unforgettable memories to work with all of you this summer! Thank you!"

- Yan Zhang, Summer 2009

"I can not even begin to describe how much I learned this summer, both about the field of development as well about my own post-graduation plans. Interning at Hudson has really focused my career aspirations and I cannot tell you how grateful I am for your encouragement, help and guidance. Thank you for making this internship such a wonderful experience!"

- Zenah Hasan, Summer 2009

"I really enjoyed my time working at CGP. Unlike at other internships, I wasn't doing just busy work, but I felt I was truly contributing. I did research, conducted phone interviews, and wrote about specific topics and success stories that were actually published in the Center's annual Index of Global Philanthropy. I also got a greater insight into the link between international development and philanthropy while learning how to work as a team to put together a publication. CGP was also a great place to plan for my future; the CGP staff was incredibly supportive and worked with me to find a job at the end of my internship. Working with CGP gave me experience that will undoubtedly be invaluable to my career in the future."

- Emma Britz, Spring 2009

"In the course of my internship at CGP, I learned a great deal about the world of private grant-making to developing countries. The research I did for CGP's annual Index on the daily grant-making choices and activities of private entities was indispensable in understanding more about the development sector and useful in directing my future life goals. At the same time, the ability to personally decide the direction of my research was unique, and a far cry from the usual management of other internships. All this combined with a warm, friendly, and helpful staff and fellow interns made CGP a great place to intern this past semester."

- Eimon Htun, Spring 2009

"Interning at CGP has been an incredibly rewarding experience, both personally and professionally. On the personal side, I was lucky to have worked with such intelligent and driven people while expanding my knowledge of the innovative world of private philanthropy. Professionally, I have gained substantive experience conducting research, writing articles and partaking in various stages of editing, which has been invaluable to my professional development. I was told that CGP interns are considered to be integral members of the team, and my experience as one did not disappoint. The work of a CGP intern more closely resembles that of a research associate than it does a typical internship. My work was challenging, stimulating and most importantly contributory to the production of the Index of Global Philanthropy and Remittances. The personal satisfaction of seeing my work published was also a nice added bonus. Overall, I'm very happy to have been a part of the CGP team."

- Daniel Bell, Spring 2009

Summer 2008 CGP Interns
From left to right: Megan Hatch, Meg Dallett.

Spring 2008 CGP Interns
From left to right: David Baker, Taylor Bolz, Ingrid Bjerke

Fall 2007 CGP Interns
From left to right: Cafer Orman, David Baker, Kevin Waskelis

"What drew me to initially apply to the CGP at Hudson was that it offered interns substantive experience with smart people. Interns were truly treated as a member of staff, and the work that I did rivals that of any full-time research associate position at any renown think tank. I interviewed and/or worked with experts at government and nongoverment organizations alike, and am proud of the work that I have done here. Regardless of your level of work experience, the CGP crams a lot on your plate in a short amount of time. Tasks were not micromanaged, and you were given a lot of flexibility to find unique solutions to complete your assignments. I came to the CGP when I was trying to decipher whether I wanted to become more involved in philanthropic efforts, and feel that this was the best place for me to learn about the many different socially responsible initiatives taking place across the globe. More importantly, I met wonderful people at the CGP and have established great friendships that I plan to carry with me down the road."

- Stephanie Mak, Fall 2008

"I could not be happier with my internship at the Center for Global Prosperity. Not only did I gain new research and writing skills, but I also gained valuable exposure to the process of publishing and I gained knowledge regarding private aid in the US and abroad. I appreciated the fact that I had specific assignments and that I could come into the office and know exactly what I needed to be working on. I sincerely felt that I was helping to achieve the ultimate goal of the Index. I appreciated the attention and the availability of the CGP staff; they provided ample advice and guidance, and I always sensed a mutual respect, especially when we had team meetings or were invited to sit in on a meeting. Furthermore, the Center's archives and its staff provided invaluable resources for my independent research. Interning at CGP has further spurred my interest in philanthropy and inspired my future career goals."

- Stephanie Chan, Fall 2008

"The Center for Global Prosperity treats its interns like seasoned co-workers: we were expected to complete several long-term assignments without having someone looking over our shoulder every day. I really appreciated working with people who gave me a lot of responsibility and were confident that I could handle it; it was great experience in managing several projects at once as well as handling short-term needs that came up. The team invited us to share ideas and give feedback, giving our contributions as much consideration as anybody else's. I think my writing progressed a great deal, as I learned more about writing for journalistic publications as opposed to academic papers. It was also a great place to gain mentors and plan for the future; several staffers worked with me to find a good job in the field when my internship was over. I enjoyed working in such a supportive atmosphere, and the experiences I took away from interning with CGP were absolutely invaluable."

- Meg Dallet, Summer 2008

"My internship at CGP gave me an understanding of the developing world that I would never have gained through classroom work alone. By researching and writing about what foundations, PVOs, and religious groups are doing to help these countries in a sustainable way, I began to appreciate the magnitude of the challenges facing these countries as well as creative ways to solve them. Working with CGP gave me real-world experience in research and writing that I think will be invaluable in my career. Besides the Index, I was also able to work on other projects related to current events and issues in philanthropy. One of the things that I enjoyed most about my internship was that I always felt that I was a valuable member of the CGP team and not 'just an intern.'"

- Megan Hatch, Summer 2008

"My internship at Center of Global Prosperity exceeded my expectations. I was able to contribute substantively to the Center through researching and writing articles--articles that actually were published in the Center's annual Index of Global Philanthropy. Although there is also an administrative component to the position, it was much smaller than I had feared, and experienced, at other DC internships. At CGP, the interns are an integral part of the team, and are treated that way. I attended many events both at Hudson and around DC, and met influential people in the international development field. I was exposed to an invaluable resource right here in the office--through advice and exposure to the other members of the Hudson team. Finally, the subject material of the Center of Global Prosperity, private giving, is an important part of the world wide revolution in how we think about international development. I am thrilled that I was able to be part of it."

- Ingrid Bjerke, Spring 2008

"My experience at the Center for Global Prosperity as an intern has been both rewarding and enlightening. I was able to contribute articles and research to one of the Hudson Institute’s core publications, the Index of Global Philanthropy, while learning a great deal about international development and philanthropy. Being part of 'Team Index' was undeniably enjoyable and instructive, as I was exposed to the various stages of researching, editing and preparing a publication for print. I think my experience at the Center for Global Prosperity is fairly unique in that I was given substantive and interesting work to complete and was treated as a genuine member of a team."

- Taylor Bolz, Spring 2008

"The time I spent at Hudson Institute was invaluable. While I was given a general direction and goal to work towards, I was given a great deal of independence to do research and submit my materials. The Center for Global Prosperity team is down to earth and friendly and I felt that they contributed a lot to my professional development. The projects assigned to me were substantive and interesting. My only qualm was leaving, because the CGP staff members were all wonderful people to work with, and I hope that a similar synergy will be found among my future co-workers and peers."

- Cafer Orman, Fall 2007

"My internship experience with the Center for Global Prosperity at the Hudson Institute exceeded my expectations. From the very first meeting everyone involved with the Index was receptive to input from the interns and they really appreciated our contribution. I was given a substantive portfolio of work, parts of which will actually be in the organization's end product. Throughout my time with the Center for Global Prosperity it was a rewarding experience to be actively involved with the production of the Index and to feel that my contribution was useful and had an impact. Further, the opportunity to write success stories was an interesting experience in that it allowed me to look for new and intriguing international development projects. The process of story selection, research, and writing was aided greatly by support from the CGP staff. Overall, support from CGP staff was excellent in that support was certainly there when needed, but at the same time I was given enough independence whereby I was able to develop my own work habits and given a greater sense of responsibility for the work I produced. In sum, I am very pleased with my internship at CGP. The work was meaningful, the staff was very supportive, and I came away with a much better understanding of the development field."

- Kevin Waskelis, Fall 2007

“Interning at the Hudson Institute's Center for Global Prosperity has been an overwhelmingly positive experience. I've really enjoyed learning about the work of private volunteer organizations and writing about the concrete and lasting impact they have on the lives they touch. Of course, there's the odd bit of admin work to be done here and there, but mostly, I've been working on substantial projects of real consequence. Also, the senior fellows I've worked with are more than research supervisors, they're career mentors and their advice and counsel has been invaluable. The relationships I've built over the last few months, both with the scholars and my fellow research assistants, will surely last a long, long time.”

- Adrienne Tygenhof, Summer 2007

Summer 2007 CGP Interns
From left to right: (front row) David Vermeire, Daniel Hedblom (back row) Naima Saeed, Catherine Fisher, Adrienne Tygenhof

“Interning at the Hudson Institute's Center for Global Prosperity was an extraordinary interesting and valuable experience. Not only did the internship offer great opportunities to learn more about the exciting world of philanthropy and global development, I also got to work with some of the most talented people on the subject. I was overwhelmed with the professionalism and enthusiasm at the Center and found the work with the Index of Global Philanthropy both interesting and challenging. The Center for Global Prosperity is without doubt a great place to intern.”

—Daniel Hedblom, Summer 2007

“My internship with the Center of Global Prosperity has been one of the most rewarding professional experiences of my life. Not only was the internship a way for me to acquire comprehensive skills needed to work in D.C., it provided me with the opportunity to be an integral part of Team Index in which I performed my own research, developed my own narratives, and utilized my knowledge in international economics and economic development. The internship was truly one-of-a-kind and I highly recommend it as a way to really get your feet wet in Washington.” 

—Catherine Fisher, Spring & Summer 2007

My time as an intern at the Center for Global Prosperity at the Hudson Institute was both rewarding and challenging.  Working on the publication, The Index of Global Philanthropy from start to finish gave me a great sense of accomplishment and a unique insight into the variety of philanthropic activities supported by the U.S. and countries worldwide. My skills were fully utilized throughout the entire process and I was excited to be such and integral part of the team.  The projects I worked on were not only challenging and thought provoking, but really peaked my interest in the area of international development and confirmed my desire to pursue a career in this field.  

—Andrea Tappmeyer, Spring 2007

The experience of interning with the Center for Global Prosperity at Hudson Institute far exceeded my expectations.  This position allowed me to participate in various assignments that both challenged and interested me.  The most exciting aspect of my time at the Center was working as a team on the entire publication processes for the 2007 edition of the Index of Global Philanthropy. The supportive staff at the Center for Global Prosperity created an environment that fostered my own personal growth along with a better understanding of the needs and solutions for the developing world.

—Shannon Irey, Spring 2007

Spring 2007 CGP Interns
From left to right: (front row) Shannon Irey, Andrea Tappmeyer (back row) Tres Thomas, Morgan dumont, Catherine Fisher.

"I can't imagine feeling more valued as an intern after working with the talented staff at the Center for Global Prosperity.  I was lucky enough to be involved with the organization during the most important part of publishing the Index of Global Philanthropy, as I was able to contribute to the process of researching, writing, and editing. Just as importantly, the Hudson Institute offered a diverse menu of conferences at which I could mingle with some of the greatest minds in the DC political scene. The Center for Global Prosperity has all the qualities one might hope to find in an internship."

—Tres Thomas, Spring 2007

Working as an intern for the Hudson Institute’s Center for Global Prosperity was a truly gratifying experience, not only in that it allowed me the opportunity to conduct both quantitative and qualitative research regarding trends in U.S. private aid to the developing world, but also in that I was given the chance to write personal interest pieces concerning the individual and collective philanthropic efforts that served as the basis for these trends.  My internship was not only substantive and rewarding in the depth and breadth of research and writing that it allowed, but also in that it introduced me to the incredibly knowledgeable and dedicated staff at the Center for Global Prosperity.  My internship experience at the Hudson Institute was both unique and highly enjoyable, and I can think of no better way to introduce oneself to the international aid and development arena.

—Morgan Dumont, Spring 2007

Summer 2006 CGP Interns
From left to right: (front row) Nick Dunn, Vanessa Mason (back row) Jon Tayler, Christian Schuster, Dennis Carter-Chand.

—Christian Schuster, Summer and Fall 2006

The summer I spent working with the Center for Global Prosperity was an incredibly rewarding experience. Rather than being a standard, administrative internship like many in D.C., I was assigned substantive work and encouraged to pursue various research tracks relating to the 2007 Index of Global Philanthropy. During my time with the CGP, I summarized articles, conducted qualitative and quantitative research into philanthropy to developing countries, and wrote several pieces about innovative and effect private organizations. The atmosphere at the Hudson Institute is relaxed yet professional, which allows for the production of a high quality product in an enjoyable work environment. The Center for Global Prosperity conducts ground-breaking research that garners significant public attention, and contributing to this work was a very fulfilling experience.

— Nicholas Dunn, Summer 2006

My internship at the Center for Global Prosperity gave me the opportunity to apply my academic experience in economic development to a real-world context. Although my research covered a range of fields, it was my work on global remittance trends that was most rewarding. By allowing me to compare my own research and conclusions on this topic with those at the top of the field, my internship helped me to better understand the applicability of my continuing studies.

— Jodianna Ringel, Fall 2006

Spring 2006 CGP Interns
From left to right: Kate Knorr, Isaac Matzner, Daphne Leger.

Working with the Center for Global Prosperity was more than I could have ever asked for! Being a part of the first-ever Index of Global Philanthropy team was a very rewarding experience which strengthened my passion for innovative international development. It was very fulfilling to work on a project from the very first step to the last, culminating in an amazing finished product and an unforgettable trip to the United Nations! Along the way, I was able to get real hands-on experience with researching and compiling data, defining and refining research methodologies, writing and editing interest stories, and working on publicity and event-planning. I found my experience with Hudson’s Center for Global Prosperity to be truly invaluable and I hope to stay a member of “Team Index” even from a distance!

—Daphne Leger, Spring 2006

Working on the inaugural edition of the Index of Global Prosperity was my first internship. I started work unsure of what to expect, but soon felt at ease with every level of the team. Through the months I mailed packages and made copies, but I also read and summarized articles, attended planning meetings to provide input and authored my own small section of the Index. Overall, my time as an intern at the Hudson Institute provided me