Left to right: Hanna, Bidhya, Rufus, Yashaswini, Ellysson, Sabrina. Not pictured: Emilly, Nour, Waseem, Arman, Disha

Below are responses to a survey for this year’s new and returning committees. For a full list of Committee members, see bottom of page. 

Rufus Chea 

Rufus Chea is a first-year DAAD Helmut Schmidt Scholar and MPP student at the Willy Brandt School of Public Policy at the University of Erfurt. He is a dedicated Liberian researcher. His career aspiration focuses on advancing inclusive and sustainable solutions to development challenges. Rufus is a blog writer and podcast contributor. His background in public administration, combined with hands-on research skills and community development experience, strengthens his ability to analyze complex issues and communicate them with clarity and purpose. He is known for his unique balance of rigorous research.

Emilly Geraldine Namuganga 

Emilly Geraldine Namuganga is a second-year MPP student from Uganda and a proud member of the Bulletin’s Committee. Emilly has an academic background in English literature. Her love for writing and storytelling drives everything she does. As a self-appointed advocate for inclusion, diversity, and global citizenship, Emilly brings empathy and awareness to her work, ensuring her articles reflect the interconnected world we share. She is committed to upholding the Bulletin's ethical standards while exploring global issues, culture, and policy. Emilly is known for her warm creativity. She has a whimsical side; every baby she meets earns a poem and a nickname. It brightens her heart and inspires her storytelling.

Yashaswini Nand 

Yashaswini Nand is a second-year MPP student from India. She is ardent about storytelling, social change, and meaningful dialogue. She has an academic background in sociology and professional experience in the development sector. Over the years, she has cultivated a strong ability to observe, analyze, and communicate ideas with clarity. As a blog writer and podcast contributor, she is eager to learn from diverse perspectives, refine her writing, and engage thoughtfully through the Bulletin. Yashaswini is known for her curiosity, attention to detail, and collaborative spirit. She strives to create content that sparks insightful conversations. Yashaswini is highly disciplined and adaptable; she thrives in dynamic environments and connects effortlessly with people and communities.

Bidhya Neupane 
Originally from Nepal, Bidhya is a first-year MPP student with a long-standing interest in writing. She has a BA in Development Studies and has worked across organizations in roles that consistently involved content creation. That has ranged from managing an internal company website to producing academic and creative writing. Now back in student life as a DAAD Scholar, she’s excited to reconnect with her writing practice and contribute to the Bulletin’s blog and creative projects (and occasionally lend a hand with backend tasks for podcasts). Her writing interests span student life, creative expression, and broader global issues. Beyond school and work, Bidhya is a life-long vegetarian, always has warm hands (& heart), and, somewhere out there, has a hit TikTok account she’s not sharing with us (yet).

Hanna Tesfaye Tamene

Hanna is a heterodox economist, a feminist for the 99%, and a first-year DAAD MPP student at the Brandt School. When she’s not fighting the urge to prescribe policies, Hanna enjoys writing anecdotes and experimenting with literature as a way to communicate policy-relevant insights. She sees the Bulletin as a space to explore how creative elements can sometimes diffuse ideas more effectively than formal briefs. Much like good writers use a metaphor, she hopes to see familiar ideas from a new angle and make complex arguments easier to grasp. Hanna hails from Ethiopia; this year, she is keen to see snow for the first time, and is trying to live by the German proverb, „Das Weg ist das Ziel.” (The journey is the point.)

Ellysson Xavier

Ellysson Xavier is a second-year MPP student from Brazil and a returning writer for the Bulletin blog. Passionate about communication and community dialogue, he works to amplify diverse perspectives and spark meaningful conversations across the university. Drawing on his academic background in international relations, Ellysson actively explores social and environmental issues, connecting local experiences with broader global challenges. He enjoys exploring topics at the intersection of culture, sustainability, public policy, and everyday life, using accessible storytelling to make complex issues resonate with readers. He is a lover of vintage and analog film; he believes visual storytelling, much like public policy, shapes how we understand the world.

Sabrina Zearott (MPP ’25), Student Assistant Editor

Having earned a master's degree in communication and a bachelor's degree in social anthropology in the US, Sabrina has manifold experience. She carries the responsibilities of a Student Assistant Editor and wants the Bulletin to serve as a reminder of the good work students are doing, as well as highlight the accomplishments ongoing at the Brandt School. She has more than a decade of experience in communication, writing, editing, and design. At the Brandt School, she focused on energy policy, particularly with regard to critical minerals; in addition to her Bulletin duties, she is studying German and doing projects for the African Network for Solar Energy (ANSOLE). 

Committee members, 2025-2026

Nour Alwan

Waseem Iqbal Chandio

Rufus Chea

SK Arman Hossain

Emily Geraldine N.

Yashaswini Nand

Bidhya Neupane

Disha Rawat

Hanna Tesfaye Tamene

Ellysson Xavier

Sabrina Zearott

Authors

This article was prepared by new committee members Rufus Chea and Hanna Tesfaye Tamene.