EPD Spring Internship Panel

Semon Makar Zekry

Semon's 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. She is an incoming Foreign Service Officer in the economic track, stationed at the US Embassy in Seoul and focused on investment, trade, macroeconomics, and semiconductors. In this role, she has played a crucial part as a member of the American delegation, serving as the lead control officer for the EAC and ECC meetings under the U.S.-ROK Free Trade Agreement (KORUS). Previously, Semon 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 US House of Representatives Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade. 

Aanchal Chittalipi

Aanchal Chittalipi is an inclusive policy and development professional with about five years of experience focusing on gender equality, research, and strategic planning. Currently in the second-year of her dual Master of Public Administration degree at the London School of Economics and Columbia University's SIPA, she is concentrating in Economic and Political Development and specializing in Data and Quantitative Analysis. Aanchal has led impactful initiatives focusing on low- and middle-income countries and her work includes designing gender-sensitive livelihood and public health programs for tribal communities working closely with public sector and community-based stakeholders in India. Her research expertise spans mixed-methods approaches, including qualitative studies on gender caste, and class dynamics in rural livelihoods and politics. More recently, she worked with ODI Global in London over the summer providing business development and analytics support to their social enterprise strategy and is currently continuing working with them part-time on a global health investment research project. Coming from a mainly non-profit background, she is leveraging and building on her skills in gender equity, impact strategy, and private sector mobilisation through her capstone project with Enabling Qapital, a Swiss impact asset management firm.

Ana Krstanovic

Ana Krstanovic is an MPA Candidate at Columbia University SIPA, specializing in Economic and Political Development. She is originally from Peru and has completed her bachelor's degree at the University of Waterloo in Canada, country where she subsequently worked at Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Caucus Office as well as the Government Whip's Office. Prior to her Master's she worked as Senior Consultant in Public Affairs at a global public relations firm in Canada. During SIPA, Ana has worked for the OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs and Cities where she worked on policy analysis for the flagship report on Job Creating and Local Economic Development. 

Felix Wang

Felix Wang has over ten years of experience in human-centered design and strategy. He is committed to leveraging innovation to address global challenges, focusing on the intersection of design and public policy for a more equitable digital future. Over the summer he interned at UNDP Chief Digital Office on the Digital Capacity Lab. He likes pie.

Valeria Guzmán

Valeria Guzmán is a Colombian lawyer and political scientist with over six years of experience in policy and program development, focusing on human rights, gender equality, and peacebuilding. She is currently pursuing a Master of Public Administration at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), specializing in Economic and Political Development with a focus on Gender Policy. Valeria has worked across public institutions, international organizations, and nonprofits, where she has honed her skills in policy analysis, program design, and stakeholder engagement. Her diverse experience spans governance reform, legislative affairs, and housing policy, with impactful work in both New York City and Latin America. Last summer, Valeria interned with Interpeace’s Policy Unit, where she contributed to peace-responsive programming at the intersection of human rights and peacebuilding. Driven by a commitment to bridging the gap between policy and practice, Valeria focuses on crafting evidence-based, locally driven solutions that advance social justice and sustainable peace.

Bahia Gatti

Fulbright Scholar and MIA candidate at Columbia University, with an academic background in International Relations, Political Science, Law, and an Executive MBA in Political Management. Over the past 8+ years, I’ve led initiatives focused on public policy, youth advocacy, and international relations. Currently, I serve as Regional Coordinator for the Americas at UNOY, Youth Panelist for the EU Youth Empowerment Fund, and Youth Advisor at Comic Relief. I’ve also worked with IPDAL in Portugal, the EU-LAC Foundation in Germany, and served as Executive Director at OAJNU. With 3+ years of public sector experience, I was the Monitoring Coordinator for a $20M UNDP digital transformation project in Argentina.