Faculty

David Bulova

FACULTY- GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

David Bulova is an elected representative to the State of Virginia(USA). Professionally, David is a Project Manager at Amec Foster Wheeler Environment & Infrastructure, Inc. and works to help governments and industry comply with state and federal environmental regulations.

Both David and Gretchen grew up in Fairfax.  David received a BA from the College of William and Mary, a Master’s in Public Administration and Policy from Virginia Tech, and is a graduate of the Sorensen Institute of Political Leadership at the University of Virginia.

David was first elected to the General Assembly in November 2005.  He currently serves on the General Laws, Education, and Agriculture, Chesapeake, and Natural Resources committees.  He is a member of the State Water Commission, Chesapeake Bay Commission, Housing Commission, the Joint Commission on Health Care, and the Virginia War Memorial Board.  He serves as Governor McAuliffe’s appointee to the Legislative Advisory Council to the Southern Region Education Board and the Legislative Advisory Board to the Virginia Water Resources Research Center, and was Governor Kaine’s appointee to the Commission on Climate Change.  From 2003 to 2005, David was an elected representative on the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District Board.

David is passionate about community service.  He is currently on the Board of Trustees of Brain Injury Services, which provides support to survivors of brain injuries and their families, the Board of the City of Fairfax Band, and the Board of Advisors for the William and Mary Public Policy Program.  His is also an honorary member of the Rotary Club of Centreville-Chantilly.  Other community service includes: former coach with Fairfax Little League and Burke Athletic Club soccer; former member and treasurer of the Rotary Club of Annandale (1999-2002); former member of the Fairfax County Tree Commission (2004-2005); and, former Governor’s appointee to the Chesapeake Bay Local Assistance Board.

David and Gretchen also served as co-chairs of the annual Middleridge community National Night Out celebration for seven years.  This event is part of a nation-wide crime prevention and awareness program.  The Middleridge NNO is one of the largest in Northern Virginia.

Douglas K. Berry

ADVISOR AND FACULTY

Douglas K. Barry is the Director of Communications and Publications at the US-China Business Council. Before joining USCBC, Doug worked in the private sector as a strategic communications consultant, assisting clients in industries including healthcare, data analytics, and higher education. Doug is a seasoned marketing and communications professional with extensive private and public sector experience. Doug has been a strategist and program evaluator for clients including the U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Department of Defense, and as a Senior Advisor in the Office of the Under Secretary for International Trade, U.S. Department of Commerce. He established the marketing and strategic partnership programs for a major Federal Government bureau. Doug’s extensive international experience includes work in Asia, Latin America, Eastern Europe and West Africa. With backgrounds in journalism, education, government relations, and international business, Doug provides clients with innovative solutions to challenges with change management, thought leadership, corporate responsibility, and customer retention and growth. He has authored numerous books on business and intercultural communication. In addition, he appears regularly as a member of the “Brain Trust” on the Small Business Advocate radio show. In 2015, he was named International Trade Educator of the Year by NASBITE, the accreditation organization for international business professionals. A former producer for ABC News in New York and London, Doug has been featured by numerous media outlets as a subject matter expert and spokesperson. These outlets include The New York Times, The Washington Post, NPR’s All Things Considered, USA Today, the Canadian Broadcasting Company, NHK (Japan), The Christian Science Monitor, and many others. He has spoken at events presented by FedEx, UPS, eBay, the American Association for Freight Forwarders, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Doug had earned Masters from New York University and Doctorate in Education (Ed.D.) from Columbia University.

Prof. Carl Levan

ADVISOR AND FACULTY- AFRICAN STUDIES

Prof. Carl Levan is an Associate Professor in the School of International Service at American University in Washington. He is the author of Dictators and Democracy in African Development: the Political Economy of Good Governance in Nigeria (Cambridge University Press, 2015), and co-editor of the forthcoming Oxford Handbook of Nigerian Politics, from Oxford University Press (2018). His publications on power-sharing in East Africa, democratization and civil society in Nigeria, Boko Haram, comparative authoritarianism, and the U.S. military’s Africa Command have appeared in the leading journals on African studies, political science, and public policy..

.His latest book, Constituents before Assembly (Cambridge University Press, 2017), co-authored with Todd Eisenstadt and Tofigh Maboudi, demonstrates the lasting benefits of participatory constitution-making around the world for democracy. He is currently writing a book about why Nigeria’s ruling party lost the 2015 elections.

Prior to receiving his Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of California—San Diego, LeVan worked as a legislative director in the U.S. Congress, and then served as the National Democratic Institute’s first country director in Nigeria.

JIM RIVES

ADVISOR AND FACULTY

Jim Rives worked as a Senior Director at FTI Consulting and is based in Washington DC as a Bank Regulation and Governance Practice within the Forensic and Litigation Consulting Segment. Mr. Rives is a financial services regulatory professional with more than 25 years’ experience in consumer finance, commercial banking, and financial institution supervision and remediation in the United States, Europe, Asia and Latin America. Mr. Rives focuses his practice across the compliance and credit risk areas, providing clients with assistance on a wide range of issues from a practitioner and regulatory perspective, including governance, risk management and compliance. In addition to assisting clients resolve issues with regulatory agencies, Mr. Rives performs due diligence and independently analyses bank compliance and credit administration functions. Mr. Rives has expertise in commercial and industrial, commercial real estate and consumer/retail lending, including mortgages. Prior to joining FTI, Mr. Rives was a Supervisory and Principal Examiner at the Federal Housing Financial Agency (FHFA) where he assisted in the supervision and examination of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Home Loan Banks. Mr. Rives led a targeted examination of enterprise risk management at Freddie Mac in 2011 and was the Examination Manager for a team of credit examiners embedded at Fannie Mae in 2013-2014 charged with ongoing supervision of single family ($3.1 trillion) and multifamily ($200 billion) credit risk management, compliance and operational activities. He has represented numerous financial institutions, directors and officers of banks and thrifts, and affiliated parties of depository institutions in enforcement matters brought by financial institution regulators as well as in monetary claims made against such individuals and entities. He was primarily responsible for the settlement of a $50 million claim brought by the FDIC against 34 former directors of a failed New York City bank. The claim was based on violation of laws and regulations, abusive insider transactions and negligence on the part of the directors. Tom led the steering committee of lawyers in these negotiations with the FDIC. From 2006 through 2008, Mr. Rives managed a $15 million portfolio of technical assistance projects for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) designed to assist member countries identify and diagnose financial system problems and deliver advisory services for transactional or systemic reforms activities consistent with macroeconomic and other structural policies including the development and capacity building of national financial intelligence units. the Senate Subcommittee on Housing. His practice continues to be heavily involved in federal and state financial services regulatory issues. From 1998 to 2006 in a consultancy role, Mr. Rives delivered and managed financial sector regulation, compliance, restructuring, and reform projects in emerging markets spearheading training, change management and transformation activities for regulatory agencies, central banks and other public service, private and industry associations. Mr. Rives led and trained teams of examiners, bankers, due diligence and other subject matter experts in: i) the development and implementation of modern supervisory tools at central banks and national regulatory agencies (CAMELS and other rating systems, financial regulatory reporting, early warning systems, enforcement and compliance frameworks, etc.); ii) the turnaround and privatization of banks, non-bank financial institutions, and payment systems; and iii) the development of deposit insurance schemes and financial intelligence units. Mr. Rives demonstrated ‘cradle to grave’ proficiency in administering USAID and foreign government bilateral and multilateral grants and contracts in compliance with relevant donor regulations. Previously, Mr. Rives worked at the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), the primary regulator of National Banks, as an examiner and policy analyst. Mr. Rives conducted numerous compliance (AML/BSA, consumer protection/fair lending and Community Reinvestment Act), safety and soundness examinations principally in problem financial institutions in the Southwest and Northeast United States. He developed extensive governance, risk management and compliance experience and expertise during his nine years as a field examiner and two years in policy development and implementation in the OCC’s national headquarters in Washington DC. Mr. Rives began his career at a consumer finance company and then at a commercial bank where he focused on retail lending, credit analysis, commercial (real estate and industrial) loan underwriting, troubled loan workout and collections. Jim received his M.B.A. from Marymount University, B.B.A. from Stephen F. Austin State University, Stonier Graduate School of Banking (No Thesis) at University of Delaware. He completed Course on Risk Management at George Washington University. He received number of certifications including Commissioned National Bank Examiner (NBE), Certified Housing Finance Examiner (HFE), International Certificate of Bank Regulation and Risk (ICBRR), Professional Affiliations Financial Executives Network Group (FENG), Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP), Professional Risk Managers International Association (PRMIA), and Risk Management Association (RMA)

DR. ROSHAN SHERCHAN

EXPERT & CONSULTANT: ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Mr. Sherchan has had over 25 years of working experience in community-based natural resource management, local livelihoods, and biodiversity conservation. Mr. Sherchan started his professional career as a conservation officer in the Annapurna Conservation Area Project. Annapurna Conservation Area is one of the most popular trekking destinations of the world.

Sherchan served WWF Nepal from 2009-2012 as a Program Manager for Sacred Himalayan Landscape (SHL). He was responsible for biodiversity conservation, sustainable tourism, and climate change adaptation programs in Kanchenjunga Conservation Area, Sagarmatha National Park, and Langtang National Park. Mr. Sherchan worked closely with the then Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation, Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation and Water and Energy Commission Secretariat. Recently, Mr. Sherchan has worked for BIOFIN project of UNDP and is involved in developing Multiple Forest Strategy and Action Plan of Nepal for the government.

Sherchan holds PhD in Environmental Science from Tribhuwan University and Masters from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland.

SAKIL MALIK

PRINCIPAL CONSULTANT AND ADVISOR- EDUCATION

Sakil is a Senior Global Education Consultant.  A native of Bangladesh, Malik began his career in international development with BRAC, one of the largest nongovernmental organizations in the world. He is a great advocate of Universal Design for Learning (UDL). In 20+ years, he has worked as an education consultant in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Tajikistan, Tanzania, and Timor-Leste.

Malik also served as World Learning’s Vice President for Global Development. He served as Director for the Reading within Reach Project, funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development, and led the Global Reading Network Community of Practice to improve the literacy of primary school children around the world. He has also served as a Project Director for Creative Associates, managing literacy and education programs.

He has led many initiatives to strengthen the provision of high-quality, inclusive education for children and youth around the world. He has worked together with educators, policy makers, communities, and stakeholders to implement local solutions, borrowing and building on ideas and innovations from across sectors and working to understand education systems. He worked in Pakistan and worked with local organizations to mobilize millions of people in a successful grassroots campaign to advocate education for all.  Sakil has earned a Masters in International Education Leadership from University of Maryland.

DAVID BAXTER

SENIOR CONSULTANT- PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP (PPP)

Mr. Baxter is a South African who lives in the USA.  He is currently a Senior Advisor to the International PPP Resilience Center (IPPPRC) in New Orleans which is affiliated organizations of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).  Additionally, he advises the Afghan PPP Hub located Kabul and the Istanbul PPP Center of Excellence. As a freelance consultant in international development, procurement, and Public-Private Partnerships he works all over the world on projects, primarily with the public sector.

He has provided capacity building programs and infrastructure procurement consulting services to many international clients located in Africa, North and Central America, Latin America, the Middle East, Europe, and Asia.    Many current and past client projects are sponsored by development/donor agencies including USAID, MCC, ADB, the Dutch Foreign Ministry, the African Development Bank, and the World Bank.

He has also lead alliance-building initiatives with institutions around the world that that have included the UNECE PPP Center of Excellence in Geneva, the African Development Bank, the PPP Center of Excellence in Istanbul Turkey, the Monterrey Institute in Mexico, the World Bank and the African Development Bank.

He is an internationally recognized PPP thought leader and has contributed to publications distributed by the World Bank and The Global Infrastructure Hub.  He is a prolific writer of opinion pieces on PPP best practices.  His insights can be read on LinkedIn

LAXMI DUTT BHATTA

Mr. Bhatta brings over two decades of national and international experience in the field of natural resource management and governance. He is passionate about knowledge sharing on sustainable ecosystems and poverty alleviation. Previously, he served as a team leader for Final Evaluation of Nepal Climate Change Support Programme for UNDP, where he carried out Nepal climate change support program, jointly implemented by UNDP Nepal and the Ministry of Forest and Environment, Nepal funded by EU, DFID/UK. He has also served as Senior Ecosystem Specialist for ICIMOD, Senior Advisor for SNV, and Team Leader for The Mountain Institute. Bhatta has published more than 30 peer-reviewed journal articles and wrote 20 books and book chapters. He has previously provided Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) for Government environment inspectors, Sustainable Livelihood approach (SLA), Value Chain Development (VCD), Ecosystem assessment for government officials.

He holds a Masters in M.Sc in Environmental Management from National University of Singapore.

DR. ARUN R. JOSHI

Dr. Arun R. Joshi is Founder of Leadership Academy Nepal (LAN) and a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Integrated Development Studies (IIDS) in Kathmandu, Nepal. He is also an Adjunct Professor at George Washington University, Washington D.C. He worked at the World Bank, Washington D.C. for over two decades. His experience spans education policy reform and program development in a diverse range of countries in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia. He has a master’s degree in international education policy and a doctorate in human development from Harvard University.

ANA M. FERRERAS

Dr. Ana M. Ferreras often serves as a speaker, professional developer, consultant, evaluator, researcher, fundraising expert, and advisor for organizational leaders in the private sector, academia, and federal government. She is a Senior Program Officer at National Academy of Science. She is the leading author of “Company Success in Manufacturing Organizations: A Holistic Systems Approach” where she shares with company leaders how to achieve success in manufacturing organizations.

Dr. Ferreras is one of the few industrial engineers in the United States working on STEM policy and STEM diplomacy. She is a Senior Program Officer at the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine where she manages the U.S. National Committees for theoretical and applied mechanics, physics, radio science, crystallography, and mathematics instruction. Dr. Ferreras earned a PhD in industrial engineering and management systems (IEMS) at the University of Central Florida (UCF) and her doctoral research focused in the development of mathematical models to assist organizational leaders making wiser decisions in complex situations.

She also holds an MS in engineering management from the Florida Institute of Technology and a BS in electrical engineering from UCF. During her doctoral research, she assisted the IEMS Department at UCF reengineering the undergraduate curriculum. Prior to getting into STEM policy and STEM diplomacy, Dr. Ferreras was a winter 2008 Christine Mirzayan Policy Graduate Fellow with the Center for Advancement of Scholarship on Engineering Education at the National Academy of Engineering.

KERIN HILKER-BALKISSON

Kerin Hilker-Balkisson brings twenty years of experience engaging K-12, post-secondary, non-profit, and workforce sectors through innovative systems collaboration; strategic and collective impact partnerships; blended academic, navigational and career pathways design; and holistic, wrap-around supports to move the needle on K-20 and career outcomes for under-resourced populations. The founding director and operational designer of the award-winning Pathway to the Baccalaureate and Elevating Parents in College initiatives, at George Mason University Hilker-Balkissoon designs and implements targeted and systemic K-20 and career pathways to enhance access, equity and inclusion in STEM.

She brings strong expertise in innovative program/project design, management, and evaluation; student success and advising; enrollment strategy; workforce development; grant-writing and management; integration of high impact practices (internships, research, civic engagement and service-learning); fostering student engagement, leadership and social capital. She is bilingual in Portuguese/English with some proficiency in Spanish..  She holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and a Master’s of Science in Counseling from The Johns Hopkins University, and is pursuing coursework toward a doctorate in Conflict Analysis and Resolution with a concentration in Collaborative Community Action at George Mason University.

SIDI SANNEH

KEVIN N. GREEN

SIMEON SAHAYDACHNY

AMBASSADOR (RETD.) CHARLES A. RAY

NANCY OVERHOLT

AMEEN HABIBI

MATTHEW UZUKWU