Rachael Rapp

Education

American University (AU), Washington D.C., M.A. Candidate, Development Economics. May 2004

International Development, Poverty Reduction /Alleviation, Role of the State and the Market.

Substantial independent research on Eurasian energy markets, Energy Economics, 2002-2004

Middlebury College, Russian Language School, intensive 9-week immersion program. Summer 2002 & 2003
Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies, Rimmon program, Torah studies, Jerusalem. Spring 2000
University of Colorado at Boulder, B.A. International Affairs. May 1999. Minor in Economics. May 2001

Honors Thesis, Graduated with Latin Honors and Distinction. Dean’s Scholarship, 1996-97, Cum GPA 3.9/4.0.

Hebrew University of Jerusalem, International Affairs concentration in Middle East Affairs. 1997-1998

Languages

Training in English Linguistics and Teaching English as a Second Language (TESOL).
Advanced Spanish and Hebrew, worked as a private tutor in both languages.
Proficient in Japanese, French and Russian. First year’s studies in Portuguese.

Professional Experience

Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, Research Assistant in international trade and finance for John Sewell, Washington D.C. January -- May 2002

Research on international trade and finance in development strategy in the non-industrialized world, including variations of openness, strategic planning, and multilateral cooperation.
Contributed to a future publication on the topic of North-South cooperation in development efforts. This work focuses on policy options being pursued and popular alternative development strategies.

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Intern in information systems, translation, and interpretation, Jerusalem, Israel. July – October 2000

Built a computerized database cataloging a decade’s worth of information on asylum seekers
Worked with Excel to demonstrate statistical trends of asylum seekers in Israel
Served as a interpreter for Spanish-speakers during their assessment interviews

New Israel Fund (NIF), Communications Intern, Jerusalem. July – October 2000

Developed an information database to catalogue materials on over 150 NIF sponsored organizations
Compiled statistics library for use in publication on a wide range of social change issues including low-income housing rights, Ethiopian education initiatives, and environmental activism.
Wrote a weekly news report following social and legal developments initiated by NIF grantees and Conducted interviews with social activists on a range of social-change issues for use in publications
Prepared reports for seasonal publications, as well as initiated and updated a monthly web-page

Esperanza International, Border Studies and Community Development Intern, Tijuana, México. June – July 1999

Studied various economic, social, and political complexities of Tijuana and the border region
Assisted two social workers promoting involvement in the Esperanza housing project, and developing savings funds in five different communities in the outlying colonias
Carried out socio-economic studies of the families, disseminated information and encouraged people to take advantage of different social and assistance programs available to them
Wrote and presented critical reports, devised plans for revision of current projects and creation of new ones, as well as developed and edited brochures and informative materials

The Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, Law Research Intern for Justus Weiner, Jerusalem. Jan. – June 1998

Researched various human rights and political issues regarding both Israel and the PA, including torture, religious persecution of Christian Palestinians, Israeli political history, and Edward Said.
Credited for having assisted in the preparation of “Palestinian Exile Reinvented” published in Commentary Magazine, Vol. 108, No. 2, Sept. 1999

ESS Junior Academy, English Teacher, Osaka, Japan. July 1997

Worked with different grades of elementary school children in an English day school

Volunteer Experience

Givat HaMatos, Volunteer in family assistance to immigrant Ethiopian families, Jerusalem. January – May 2000

Tutored, organized trips and activities, and spent time with the five children of a family living in a temporary caravan community

Habitat for Humanity and Target Earth, Volunteer in community development, Ixmilquilpan, México. July 1999

Worked with woman in stone masonry, construction of walls and laying foundations for homes
Assisted in cactus farming and dye production with a community based empowerment group
Analyzed Habitat International’s structure and strategies for community development

Honors and Awards

Boren Graduate Fellowship (NSEP) to pursue advanced research on Eurasian energy markets, 2002-2004
Vollmer Fund Tuition Grant, College of Arts and Sciences, spring semester 2003
USA Education/ USA Funds Education Scholarship to assist in graduate degree expenses, 2001-2003
Irving J. Thalberg Jr Israel Fund Scholarship, Allied Jewish Federation of Colorado, 2000
Arts and Science Scholarship to participate as a delegate in The Yale Accords, a model Middle East peace conference at Yale University, attended by Martin Indyk and Abba Eban, 1999
Flannagan Scholarship, School of Journalism and Mass Communication, CU, 1997
Dean’s Scholarship, University of Colorado at Boulder, 1996
Kiwanis International Award for excellence in leadership and community service, 1995
Habitat for Humanity Grant to participate in Global Village, Mexico, 1995

Publications & Exhibitions

Photo Show, “From Tijuana to Chiapas.” Evergreen Public Library, Ev., Colorado, October 2001
Photo Show, “Jerusalem 2000.” Boulder JCC, sponsored by the Mizel Museum of Denver. Boulder, CO.

August 2001-January 2002. Work earlier shown at CORE Art Gallery, Denver, CO, March 2001

Merkaz Magazine, “The Desert”, November 2000.
New Israel Fund reports produced weekly to update NIF employees and supporters on social and legal developments

in Israel initiated by NIF grantee organizations.

Chazara V’Chidush, “u’bcharta b’chaim, you shall chose life”, Vol. 1, No.9, Nisan, 5760.
Chazara V’Chidush, “And the earth He gave to us”, Vol. 1, No. 8, Adar II 5760.
NOTE: To view sample photography see: http://www.shinyamasaki.org/photogal/

Computer Skills

Experience with Word, Outlook, Power Point, Excel, Access, SPSS, SAS, EViews, Front Page 2000, HTML, information systems management, and internet programming to activate and update web-sites.