Tackling Global Crises

Brittany Grabel
Master of Arts ’17
International Development

Prior to attending graduate school, Brittany, a rising 2nd year student concentrating in International Development, worked in international development where she became fascinated with the question of how to achieve progress when faced with deeply-rooted political and economic constraints. She believed Johns Hopkins SAIS would offer her the opportunity to gain a rigorous skillset in International Economics and technical expertise in Development that would help her answer this crucial question.

Through her courses, Brittany has learned how to design, implement, and evaluate international development programs that truly improve people’s lives. For instance, she has analyzed political economies to examine the root problems impeding universal primary education in Malawi; written a policy brief about initiatives African governments can take to mitigate waste, fraud, and corruption; and has proposed a comprehensive program evaluation methodology for a major international NGO—all of which are directly preparing Brittany to succeed as a development practitioner. Additionally, she is an editor for SAIS Perspectives—a student-run publication that provides a platform for students to voice their ideas about current issues in development.

This summer, Brittany is interning at the Millennium Challenge Corporation, a U.S. foreign aid agency, in the Department of Policy and Evaluation.