EPD Internship Panel

Parkhi Agarwal

Parkhi holds a Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours) in Economics from the National University of Singapore and is currently a second-year graduate student pursuing her Masters in Public Administration at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. Her expertise lies in climate finance for Southeast Asia. Prior to joining SIPA, Parkhi served as a Senior Sustainability Consultant at PwC Singapore, where she spearheaded the adoption of sustainable investing and finance across financial institutions. She was a key member of the Secretariat formed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore to develop Singapore’s pioneering ESG fund labeling framework, designed to foster sustainable finance across Southeast Asia. Most recently, she was interning with the Asian Development Bank in Manila where she explored the special role of philanthropic capital in blended finance solutions, mobilizing private sector capital for climate change projects in Southeast Asia.

Cierra Wells

Cierra Wells is a Master of International Affairs (MIA) candidate specializing in African regional studies and holds a BBA in International Business from Howard University. She is deeply passionate about fostering economic development through social enterprises and public-private partnerships, with a focus on Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Cierra's professional background includes over three years as an intern for White House Correspondent April Ryan and four years of management consulting experience at Accenture, where she led strategic technology and human capital projects for clients like UNICEF within the Talent, Organization, and Human Potential practice. Currently, she is a short-term temporary staff member at the World Bank Group's Development Economics Enterprise Analysis Unit. In her free time she thoroughly enjoys trying new food, hiking, thrifting, and spending time with loved ones!

Krishna Kishore Pandalaneni

Krishna Kishore Pandalaneni '25 is a second-year MPA student at SIPA, Columbia University, specializing in Data Analytics & Quantitative Analysis. With a background in Mechanical Engineering and experience in the automotive sector in India and Japan, he aims to leverage data-driven solutions to bridge the gap between policy design and implementation. Passionate about sustainable development and global equity, Krishna is actively involved in student life as the Academic Chair for SIPASA and General Secretary for the South Asian Association. He is currently interning at the United Nations Headquarters. His passion lies in bridging the gap between policy design and implementation using data-driven solutions to advance sustainable development and global equity.

Florian J. E. Heydecker

Florian is a second-year MIA student enrolled in the dual degree program with SciencesPo. After his first year in Paris, he is currently taking Economic and Political Development with DAQA at SIPA. An Italian and German citizen, he completed internships at the OECD, European Parliament, and German Bundestag. Being fluent in English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish, he is committed to gaining experience in the private sector before joining the Italian diplomatic corps.

Ruth Tekleab Mekbib

Ruth Tekleab Mekbib is originally from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. She is a Master of Public Administration (MPA) candidate at Columbia SIPA with a concentration in Economic and Political Development and a specialization in Technology, Media and Communications. Prior to coming to SIPA, Ruth worked as a communications officer for the first female Chief Justice of the Federal Supreme Court of Ethiopia for over three years, where she led different projects to implement reform in the judiciary. Ruth enjoys storytelling through her podcast Internationalie by Ruth where she interviews and discusses the experiences of international college students. She's also a TEDx speaker where she highlighted lessons learned from her podcast emphasizing the importance of sharing our authentic stories. During the summer of 2024, Ruth worked as the Multilateral Summer Analyst at Macro Advisory Partners (MAP) where she provided support to the multilateral team of the geopolitical risk advisory firm by conducting research and analysis and collaborating with over 10 people spanning across New York and London offices. She also worked on an individual summer-long research project titled "African Sovereignty in Health, Climate and Tech" designed to support business development strategies to help the firm engage with clients seeking to cover these key issues in Africa.

Semon Makar Zekry

Semon Makar Zekry is a second-year MIA student concentrating in EPD with a specialization in technology policy. She is also an incoming Foreign Service Officer in the Economic Track. This summer, she was stationed in the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, where she focused on investment, trade, macroeconomics, and semiconductors. She has a particular interest in the semiconductor industry, as well as the dynamics of emerging technologies and their impact on developing countries. Previously, she worked at the Office of the United States Trade Representative in the Services, Investment, and Digital Trade Office, and served as a fellow with the U.S. House of Representatives Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade. Her experience spans both the public and private sectors, including positions at USAID, the Department of Justice, the United Nations, the World Trade Center, and J.P. Morgan Corporate & Investment Bank. Outside of her professional life and studies at SIPA, she is also actively involved in serving the Coptic Orthodox Church community.

Talia Rosenberg

Talia Rosenberg is a second-year MIA student concentrating in EPD and specializing in Gender and Public Policy. She is originally from the Philadelphia area in Pennsylvania where she obtained her BA in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from the University of Pennsylvania. After graduating from UPenn in 2021, she lived and worked in Washington, D.C. for two years as a research analyst focusing on U.S. policy in the Middle East. Other professional experiences include time at the Clinton Foundation, on grassroots campaigns, and currently at a boutique polling firm based out of NYC. Over the summer, she worked on the Selection and Eligibility team at the Millennium Challenge Corporation where she was responsible for evaluating dozens of countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia-Pacific for MCC assistance based on adherence to standards of good governance, economic freedom, and investments in people. Most importantly… she serves as one of EPD’s dedicated program assistants!