Don Baker is FSD’s Interim Executive Director. Don has been involved with international development since 2003 and is a former Chair of FSD’s Board of Directors. He is the Founder and President of the Center for Sustainability and Economic Growth, an NGO that recognizes and promotes best practices in sustainable development projects. Don developed a passion for sustainable development issues while serving as a juror for Austria's Energy Globe, “The World Award for Sustainability” where he reviews and judges hundreds of sustainable development projects submitted for international recognition in the areas of water, air, land use, energy and education. Until 2003, Don was President and CEO of EPRI Worldwide Holdings, headquartered in Palo Alto, California. Working with other international agencies like World Bank and USAID, he led efforts to increase electrification in developing countries. Prior to joining EPRI, Don was an executive with the General Electric Company in positions focusing on the energy market. He earned a Bachelor of Industrial Engineering degree and a Master of Science in Economics from Auburn University and has authored and presented over 30 papers on energy and the role of electricity in worldwide economic development.

Mireille Cronin Mather is FSD’s Managing Director. Her work in international development over the past decade has supported programs in 30 countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America, with field work in ten. She has over 13 years’ management experience in the nonprofit and private sectors, and has led initiatives program design and management, advocacy, partnership and capacity building, and strategic communications from community-based to international policy levels. Prior to joining FSD, Mireille was the communications director for iOWH, a non-profit pharmaceutical company funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and for USAID’s flagship child survival project (BASICS). For several years, she consulted for international development organizations in program design and management, business development, and technical communications. She has a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies from VPI&SU, and enjoys hiking with her dog Augie, swimming in the ocean, and being a taste-tester for her chef husband, Stafford. You can reach Mireille at fsdmireille@gmail.com.

Robin Anderson-Wood is FSD's Outreach and Communications Coordinator. In 2004, she graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo with a Bachelor's degree in Communication Studies and Minor in Spanish. While a student, she studied a semester abroad in Salamanca, Spain and for her Senior Project conducted a research study that examined the relation between foreign language training and ethnocentrism. After graduation, Robin moved to Quito, Ecuador to work with local schools on education initiatives and community development projects. Her experiences in Ecuador combined with her travels throughout other parts of Latin America and Europe deepened her interest in international development. In the spring of 2006, Robin joined FSD's Site Team in Argentina as a Program Coordinator where she helped build FSD's relationships with local organizations, managed the project work of interns and volunteers, and supported the implementation of monitoring and evaluation systems. She returned to work with FSD’s San Francisco office in the fall of 2007. Currently, her work focuses on increasing awareness of FSD’s efforts through building an international portfolio of university partnerships, expanding FSD’s online marketing strategy, designing FSD's website and other collateral, and speaking at various local and national events. Robin is excited to use her skills and experiences to support FSD's growth into a more impactful development organization. You can reach Robin at robin@fsdinternational.org.

Brandon Leonard is an International Programs Officer. He graduated from the George Washington University in 2008 with an MA in International Development Studies. As part of this program, he completed a year-long applied research project that took him in Uganda to learn about the unmet needs of those who have been displaced by two decades of war in the northern region of the country. This experience cemented his commitment to work toward sustainable development solutions. Brandon previously worked in the Virginia Governor’s Office on an initiative to improve community-based services for people with disabilities. He has also worked with the Men’s Health Network – a Washington, D.C.-based public health organization – and with the Institute for Alternative Futures, a non-profit research and educational organization in Alexandria, VA. Brandon’s primary interests include international public health, microfinance, and human rights. He received his BA in Foreign Affairs and Spanish from the University of Virginia in 2004. You can reach Brandon at brandon@fsdinternational.org.

Caitlin Evans is an International Programs Officer at FSD where she manages the Grants Program and Giving Circles. Cait was born and raised in California, and she attended UC Santa Cruz where she received a B.A. in Anthropology. After studying in Java, Indonesia, she left college for a period to backpack though South East Asia. Following college she spent two years in the Peace Corps teaching English in rural Bangladesh. Upon her return, Cait earned her M.A. in International Comparative Education from Stanford University in California. She worked as a Program Officer for Relief International, running global education projects and student and teacher exchanges in six different countries. She most recently served as the Program Director for New Global Citizens working with youth on global philanthropy and development issues. She currently serves as the Program Committee Chair for The Clarence Foundation, working on engaged global philanthropy and grantmaking. She spends as much time as she can in the mountains, hiking and camping. She loves to cook (and eat) and spends a large amount of time experimenting at her stove. You can reach Caitlin at caitlin@fsdinternational.org.

Adam Eads is an International Programs Officer with FSD. After graduating with a BA in Sociology from the University of California, Santa Cruz in 2001, Adam spent time traveling and working around Asia before settling in Burma in 2006 to volunteer for a small school and community centre in a disadvantaged township near Rangoon. This experience inspired a return to academia, and in 2007 Adam enrolled at the University of Glasgow where he completed his Masters in Environment and Sustainable Development. In addition to traveling, Adam enjoys reading, cooking, cycling and arguing about politics. You can reach Adam at adam@fsdinternational.org.

Maria Chiochios is an International Programs Contractor at FSD. She graduated from UC Davis in 2008 with a BA in International Relations. Through UCD's study abroad program, Maria had the opportunity to travel around South Africa and Argentina where she discovered her desire to live and be involved in development work overseas. When she returned to school, Maria was able to take several anthropology and community development classes to compliment her experiences abroad. Now, to enhance her theoretical development knowledge, Maria is working towards getting herself back to Africa to do field work. Besides traveling, Maria's other interests include dancing, reading, ceramics, stand-up comedy, and candy. You can reach Maria at fsdchiochios@gmail.com.

Ashley Walton is the Grants Coordinator at FSD. She first discovered her passion for international development in 2005 during a 4 month volunteer program in East Africa where she taught English and helped construct a primary school for the Maasai tribe in rural Tanzania. In 2008, she graduated from San Francisco State University with a B.A. in International Relations and a minor in African Area Studies. Upon graduation, Ashley took a position with Nokia, working on a new mobile augmented reality application called Point & Find. While she enjoyed certain aspects of working in the corporate environment, her desire to work in the developing world soon led her back to Africa, this time to Sierra Leone where she spent seven months working with a community-based NGO called Advocacy Movement Network. During this time, she started a 10 acre sustainable agriculture project benefiting a rural shelter home for orphaned children. Ashley is currently working towards a career in international development and is taking French classes in the hopes to someday work in the DRC. Some of her hobbies include rock climbing, triathlons, camping (anything outdoors, really), snowboarding, and more often than not, losing at Scrabble. You can reach Ashley at fsdawalton@gmail.com.

Max Lucy is the Alumni Relations and Events Coordinator at FSD. He is a native of Bellingham, Washington, and was fortunate enough to travel to Europe, Costa Rica, and South Africa before graduating from High School. In 2009, Max graduated from the University of San Francisco with a BA in International Studies: Environment and Development, with minors in African Studies and Environmental Science. During his education, he received the opportunity to spend a semester in Switzerland, studying International Relations and Social Justice, in addition to Development Studies for a semester in Uganda. Max spent a significant period of his time in Uganda with rural communities living in the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains while conducting research on community conservation and livelihoods in the face of National Park preservation. His host families in the Rwenzoris were just a couple of many that have continuously inspired him over the last six years to pursue a career in International Grassroots Development. Besides continuing to travel, Max hopes to go back to graduate school in the future for a degree related to Sustainable Development or Design. His other interests include black and white photography, pottery, stone wire-wrapping, live music, dancing, soccer, skiing, hiking, and spending time with friends in both Bellingham and San Francisco. You can reach Max at fsdmlucy@gmail.com.

Barclay Keir is a Graphic Design contractor at FSD. Born and raised in South Carolina, Barclay transitioned into graphic design after graduation from Elon University with a major in Communications. Three years later all of her dreams came true when she packed up her car and drove west to San Francisco. Extensive travel outside of the US has deepened her understanding of the world and its needs, and she hopes that her time at FSD will broaden her skills to become more active in the field. Outside of the office you can most likely find her anywhere but at a computer. You can reach Barclay at fsdbkeir@gmail.com.

Interns and Volunteers

Clare Kritter is an Online Marketing Intern at FSD. In 2008 she graduated from The Colorado College with a degree in Sociology and a minor in African Studies. During her education, Clare had the opportunity to spend a semester living abroad in Nairobi, Kenya studying public health and development throughout the region, as well as globalization and it's resistance in Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. Upon graduation, Clare received a grant to spend seven months in coastal Ecuador filming a documentary exposing the environmental and socio-cultural impacts of the commercial shrimp farming industry. In addition, she worked with a community-based organization implementing a trash collection, classification, and education program in one of the poorest and most politically corrupt regions of the northern coast, completing a 30-minute informational film about the social impacts of the contamination. The film is now being used by the organization to apply for funding. Clare hopes to continue her work and education in sustainable, community-based development, and also enjoys modern dance, travel, speaking Spanish, reading, spending time in the sun, and learning to cook. You can reach Clare at fsdckritter@gmail.com.

Ruchira Shah is a Communications Intern at FSD. She recently received her MSc in Social Policy from the London School of Economics where she focused on environmental policy and international development. Subsequently, she interned at the United Nations in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, where she helped develop content for several of their web pages. Ruchira is an avid traveler and has spent a significant portion of time in the villages of India, learning about how local NGOs work with communities to enhance development. In a previous life, Ruchira worked at CBS Television Studios in Comedy Development. She has a BA from Northwestern University. You can reach Ruchira at fsdrshah@gmail.com.

Jim Burke is FSD's Communications Intern. In 2009 he graduated from University of California Los Angeles with a Bachelor's degree in International Development and Minor in Urban Planning and Regional Development.He most recently returned from volunteer work with the Din Dang Project in Thailand. While a student, he traveled Eastern Europe and studied a semester abroad in Barcelona, Spain. He also traveled in South America and directed an eco-tourism, sustainability project for the Wachimak community in Amazonian Ecuador. Jim has traveled Europe, Northern Africa, Southeast Asia, and most of Latin America. Experiences abroad before, during, and after college have deepened Jim's passion for international development. Currently Jim is obtaining a professional certificate in GIS mapping from San Francisco State.Jim's work at FSD focuses on expanding FSD’s online marketing strategy. When not working Jim is planning his next meal and looking for cheap airfare to far away places. You can reach Jim at fsdjburke@gmail.com.

Jason Meer is a Communications Intern at FSD. He is a rising senior pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy, a minor in History and a certificate in Arts of the Moving Image at Duke University in Durham, NC. Jason first gained international development experience when he worked in El Salvador during three summers in high school, building community centers and supporting local leadership training in small villages throughout the country. He also spent time working with the Latin American Division at CHF International, an NGO based in Silver Spring, Maryland that focuses on economic and infrastructural development in low- and moderate-income communities around the world. Jason’s greatest muse is film, as reflected in his work as a Programming intern at WETA-TV, a Washington, D.C.-based PBS affiliate, where he provided programming support on Ken Burns’ 2009 documentary, “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea.” When not working to help FSD develop greater capacity in cinematically documenting their efforts in the field, he can be found cruising the Internet for the newest underground hip-hop and electronic music for his beloved college radio show. You can reach Jason at fsdjmeer@gmail.com.

Nick Hutchinson is an International Programs Intern at FSD. Attending University of California Davis, Nick spent 14 months studying and working full-time in Barcelona, where he was able to travel through Western and Eastern Europe, as well as Northern Africa. After completing a B.A. in both International Relations and Spanish, Nick ventured out to Washington, DC to work as a representative aide for a lobbying firm, TechNet. The majority of Nick’s experience in sustainable development work is based in Latin and South America. Having lived and completed service projects in Nicaragua, Mexico, Argentina, and Venezuela, Nick is intrigued and motivated by the opportunities within sustainable development. Currently, Nick works diligently to improve and expand FSD’s International Programs division, drawing from past personal experience. When not at the Foundation, Nick is planning his next trip to get involved with hands-on development and microfinance work in both Africa and Latin/South America.You can reach Nick at fsdnhutchinson@gmail.com.

Roxy Tehrani is a Communications Intern at FSD. She is currently a fourth-year undergraduate student at UC Berkeley, majoring in Mass Communications with a minor in Global Poverty and Practice. She is passionate about women’s empowerment, youth and education, and working toward global community development. Having not had the opportunity to study abroad prior to or during her undergraduate education, Roxy hopes to make up for it after graduation. She is ambitious to gain a multitude of experiences through traveling and working abroad, eager to begin an international relations career that fuses global development with communications. In her free time, Roxy loves to discover local hole-in-the-wall restaurants, laugh uncontrollably, watch an inordinate number of dreadful television programs (as well as a few good ones), read as much as she can, and postpone learning how to cook anything other than pasta. You can reach Roxy at fsdrtehrani@gmail.com.

Nicholas Egger-Bovet is an International Programs Intern at FSD. He is a rising junior pursuing a B.A. in Economics and International Relations at Claremont McKenna College in Claremont, CA. Nick has traveled to Costa Rica and throughout Europe and will be studying abroad in Granada, Spain next semester. He has developed a strong interest in international development during the past year, and has tried to learn more about the subject by taking classes, and attending conferences, such as the Harvard Kennedy School of Government’s International Development Conference in April. He plans to spend next summer living in a developing country and gaining first hand development experience. During his free time Nick enjoys exploring everything San Francisco has to offer, reading, hiking, and playing basketball and soccer. He is also very excited to watch the World Cup this summer. You can reach Nick at fsdneggerbovet@gmail.com.

Zahraa Saiyed is a Graphic Design Intern at FSD. After graduating from UC Berkeley in 2008 with a BA in Architecture and Structural Engineering, Zahraa explored architecture in the Middle East and South Asia. While studying abroad, she became involved with a non-profit devoted to research and promotion of renewable energy for a village in central Anatolia, Turkey. From this experience onward, Zahraa was determined to work with communities in rural and developing regions around the globe to advocate sustainable economic and infrastructural growth. Upon returning to the US, she became involved in several non-profits as a free-lance Graphic Designer, where she realized the importance of visual consistency as part of any organization’s path to advancement. Zahraa has also had the opportunity to pursue another passion of hers, that of teaching. In the past, she has worked with elementary to high school level students, specializing in math enrichment and art. Some of Zahraa’s other interests include biking, hiking, climbing, and basically any activity that lets her be one with nature. You can reach Zahraa at fsdzsaiyed@gmail.com.