Meet Our Spring 2010 Interns

Paul Gauthier, Jr., Finance and Administration Intern
Paul is from Virginia Beach, Virginia, and ironically dislikes the beach.  He graduated from Virginia Tech in December 2009 where he majored in Finance with a concentration in Investment Management.  In college Paul served as the Chief Operating Officer of the Society of Individual Investors (SII).  As COO, he taught SII members about the basics of investing, and facilitated discussions about current events and investing strategies.  Through the PAI Internship Program, he hopes to gain experience in investment account management, as well as, exposure to the accounting policies and procedures within the NGO world.  During his down time, Paul enjoys following his favorite football teams, the Chicago Bears and the Virginia Tech Hokies.

Yordanos Haile, Advocacy Intern 
Yordanos Haile is a recent MPH graduate from the New York Medical College School of Public Health with a concentration in Global Health. Prior to that she received her B.S. from Clarion University, where she majored in Biology and minored in Philosophy.  She is very passionate about health promotion and capacity building, particularly in the areas of gender and reproductive health. Yordanos has a strong desire to work on these issues through research and advocacy and looks forward to establishing a career as a global public health advocate by working towards health diplomacy and helping populations achieve better health outcomes both domestically and internationally.As a new resident of the DC metro area, Yordanos enjoys living and working in the area. She also enjoys traveling, learning about world cultures, reading and jazz/soul music.

Nabil Haque, Research Intern
My name is Nabil Haque and I come from Dhaka, Bangladesh; a country with a very high population density and highly vulnerable to global climate change. I am currently a graduate student at the George Washington University studying Environmental & Resource Policy. I graduated with Bachelors in Environmental Science from North South University in 2009. After graduation I worked for Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) for a World Bank project called Economics of Adaptation to Climate Change (EACC). I worked during the design phase of the study for three months before coming to US. My research interests include population pressure on natural resource base and international environmental policies, treaties and conventions. I am very excited to be working as a research intern for PAI as their activities match my interests to a very high degree.

Laura Martich, Resource Development Intern
Laura is finishing her last year at American University, where she is studying international studies, with a concentration in development.  Laura recently studied abroad in Cape Town, South Africa, where she saw firsthand the devastating of effects of HIV and AIDS.  This has motivated her to pursue a graduate degree in international health.  She is passionate about PAI’s mission and is excited to contribute her ideas and efforts to the organization.  Laura gained experience in fundraising and development when she interned at Friends of the World Food Program and hopes to learn more about development here at PAI.  Laura loves to travel and is an avid reader.

Linda Smite, Research Intern
Hello! My name is Linda Smite and I am from Riga, Latvia. I have almost 8 years experience in the government sector working in a fast-paced environment at the Labor Market Development Unit of the Ministry of Welfare in Latvia.  I have assisted in research on workforce development, labor migration and gender issues.  I have participated in numerous conferences and seminars all across the Europe to find out more about these topics and to share Latvia’s experience. At the end of the day I have developed policy and project proposals to reduce unemployment and to build labor market institution capacity in Latvia.  But I consider that one of my greatest achievements during my career in the ministry has been my TEAM! Without my team I would not be able to have such an interesting and rewarding career.

However, my family and I decided to move to Washington, DC. Based on my experience I would like to expand my career further, into the international development. I see the Research Internship at the PAI as integral part of my intended future career path. I have been an intern here only a week, but I have already learned so much about the links between climate change and poverty and I look forward learning much more!