WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass., June 1, 2008 -- From the Armenia to Zambia, 24 international students came to study at the Center for Development Economics (CDE) at Williams College this year. On Sunday, June 1, they were awarded masters of arts degrees in policy economics at Williams 219th Commencement.

The program, which began in 1960, provides students with an effective mix of theory and policy application that enables students to be more objective in their home environment.

CDE fellows take nine courses for the degree: four core fall semester courses, a January Winter Study course, three spring semester core courses, and one writing intensive course. They are also required to prepare policy papers on current issues in their countries and participate in field trips to major cities for varied conferences and seminars. Admission to the program is highly competitive.

This year's graduates and their home countries:

Name, Country
Hamis Abd El Rashid, Egypt
Altynai Aidarova, Kyrgyz Republic
Shereen Aleryani, Yemen
Sarwat Amir, Pakistan
Konstantin Baratashvili, Georgia
Gerawork Getachew Bizuneh, Ethiopia
Pablo Alfredo Cuba Borda, Bolivia
Amira Saleh Sherif ElSebaei, Egypt
Rathnaseela Endera Arachchige, Sri Lanka
Freddy Santiago Espino Lazo, Peru
Joseph Kaimu Fahnbulleh, Liberia
Orzimurad Gaybullaev, Uzbekistan
Zakaria Amidu Issahaku, Ghana
Decky Kipuka Kabongi Deki Wa Safi, DR Congo
Ayman Maher Abd El Hamid Mahmoud, Egypt
Crane Muleya, Zambia
Otar Nadaraia, Georgia
Ahmed Naseer, Maldives
Betty Pacharo Dingile Ngoma , Malawi
Juan Carlos Pacheco Romero, Costa Rica
Baryalai Parsa, Afghanistan
Haykuhi Sekhposyan, Armenia
Athikaset Thongves, Thailand
James Tumwine, Rwanda

Gerald Caprio '72, professor of economics, is chair of the CDE Executive Committee. Thomas S. Powers '81 is director.


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Founded in 1793, Williams College is the second oldest institution of higher learning in Massachusetts. The college's 2,000 students are taught by a faculty noted for the quality of their teaching and research, and the achievement of academic goals includes active participation of students with faculty in their research. Students' educational experience is enriched by the residential campus environment in Williamstown, Mass., which provides a host of opportunities for interaction with one another and with faculty beyond the classroom. Admission decisions are made regardless of a student's financial ability, and the college provides grants and other assistance to meet the demonstrated needs of all who are admitted.
To visit the college on the Internet www.williams.edu

News: Yue-Yi