Armelle Sadi

Uniqueness is an individual’s greatest asset, because experiences and contributions are perceived differently for everyone. Armelle was born and raised in Cameroon, but she was exposed to the international setting very young. Ever since Armelle was a child, she would travel around with my mother to visit relatives who lived in Europe (France, Belgium, Holland, Switzerland, Germany, and Italy). Also she is the only child in my family who received a full education in English so, for high school, Armelle attended a Christian international school from grades 7 to 12. During her time there Armelle interacted with students from different countries and backgrounds, and developed an interest in studying in the United States. Prior to attending graduate school at The Catholic University of America Armelle pursued a bachelor degree at George Mason University where she also took a minor in International Studies. After her graduation Armelle worked as an intern at a healthcare, Anna Healthcare, in DC. She really valued the time she spent at Anna Healthcare because it contributed to her decision of specializing in developmental economics. Valuing and treating each individual in a unique way is fundamental to the development of individuals, and to economic growth in the long run. One of the main reasons why Armelle chose the economic development program at The Catholic University of America is because it is one of the few programs that really understands the importance of treating every development case individually. We live in a word where ideology does not necessarily make things happen anymore, so it is important to bring something different but realistic to the table. At The Catholic University of America I have the opportunity to get a good sense of the different fields that exist in development economics, and figure out what future specialization Armelle would be interested in for her career. Also, Armelle gets to explore the different job opportunities that are based here in DC, and enjoy having professionals’ perspectives and methodologies on different economic issues. For her ARP, Armelle is currently working with her Integral Economic Development professor, Dr. Aguirre. They are designing an impact evaluation of the implementation of Intel personalized computers in Paraguay by using an integral approach. Research and evaluation is vital because it will provide Intel with the necessary information to shape their programs into the existing educational programs and technological infrastructure in Paraguay. It also helps to understand the importance of research and institutional knowledge, as well as the different interplaying roles of economic agents in the effectiveness of a program. 
Armelle’s experience at CUA and DC in general has been very beneficial so far. Armelle believes that every little learning opportunity should be seized, because better education, more research, and a better understanding of the world in which we live in are the core principles for sustainable development.

Maud Kouadio

Before coming to CUA, Maud was attending Howard University where she got her bachelor degree in Finance with a concentration in actuarial science. She also intern in the financial department of the United Nation Environment Programme (UNEP). Maud chose the Integral Economic development Management Program offered at The Catholic University of America in order to gain advanced and specialized knowledge as well as hands-on experiences required to promote international development. So far she thinks it is a very interesting and learning experience which gave her the opportunity to interact with a variety of people with different background. She also thinks that because of that variety, the program is a good illustration of the international development world.
Her ARP project is about the evaluation of implementation of 1:1 computer in High schools in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda. This project in controlled by Intel Corporation in association with the Ministry of Education in Rwanda. The goal of this project is to increase the use of technology in the educational system in the country in order to improve academic achievements and to develop 21st century skills of Rwandan youth.

Apply Now! For questions or more information please contact as at integral-development@cua.edu or call 202-319-6183. Information Request Form

Vania Arzadon

Vania is a full-time student in the Integral Economic Development Management Master’s program. Before relocating to D.C. for the fall semester, Vania lived in Orlando, Florida where she received her undergraduate degree in Business Economics from the University of Central Florida. While attending her UCF, she began working for Siemens Energy Power Generation as an administrative assistant and have since provided 8 years of service as a Commercial Business Analyst, even still providing part time consulting remotely. Her professional background has been invaluable and she hopes to apply her experience within the private energy sector to development projects in energy, water and infrastructure in US and abroad.
Her interest in development was admittedly recent. Vania said "growing up in the States, the issue of poverty and inequality can easily be swept to the back of our minds." Quietly inspired by what was the U.N.’s Millenium Development Goals, her experiences with the Adult Literacy League of Central Florida, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Florida, and Coalition of the Homeless of Central Florida all contributed to her decision to find a Masters’ program that would equip her to effect real change in development.
For Vania, the IED Program at CUA highlights not only strong quantitative skills needed for measuring real change but includes an approach that accounts for all aspects of development, particularly the ‘integral’ human. Vaniai highlightts in the integral approach, "people are not just cold numbers and statistics, but rather, decision makers in the context of a family unit, and of a community and how the Applied Research Project requirement of the program allowed students to apply these skills in a real world setting." For example, Vania’s ARP will measure the long term impact of typhoon resistant school infrastructures in disaster-prone Philippines in not only educational attainment but health and fertility outcomes, as well as impact on social and civic contributions in the affected. Her experience at CUA and the D.C. area has been fulfilling so far, learning from so many backgrounds and cultures different from her own.
"Despite living in the capital of one of the most developed countries in the world, the area is not without its own poverty and inequality, showing that real need is not only abroad in far-off foreign lands but could exist in that part of your city that ‘you just don’t go to’. With this program, I hope to go to those places that ‘you just don’t go to’ and meaningfully contribute in an integral and sustainable way"

Apply Now! For questions or more information please contact as at 

integral-development@cua.edu or call 202-319-6183. Information Request Form

Saud Alshabi (Arabic)

لقد وجدت في واشنطن دي سي جامعات مدهشة التي تساعد الطلاب على أن يكون تعليمهم جيد والأداء جيدا في الميدان بعد التخرج. CUA هي واحدة من هذه الجامعات، وأنا واثق من أنني لن أندم على اختيار CUA. وقد اخترت CUA لأنها تحظى بسمعة طيبة في الولايات المتحدة والمملكة العربية السعودية بالإضافة إلى أساتذاها الرائعين الذين يهمهم مساعدة الطلاب للحصول على المعرفة الكافية للنجاح في البرنامج. وعلاوة على ذلك، CUA لديها دورات التي توفر للطلاب مع أخلاقيات العمل القوية، وهو عامل ضروري بالنسبة لي عندما أحصل على وظيفة. أيضا، لقد أوصاني بها صديق الذي يدرس حاليا في CUA ولقد قيل لي بأنني سوف اكتسب المهارات اللازمة ومعرفة المزيد عن النهج المتكامل في التنمية الاقتصادية. بالإضافة إلى ذلك، سوف اقوم بدراسة التنمية الاقتصادية المتكاملة في CUA لتقدم لي معلومات كافية في كيفية جعل التنمية مستدامة، وهو عامل حيوي ومن شأنها أن تعطيني الفرصة للمساهمة في التنمية الاقتصادية في المملكة العربية السعودية. كما أنني وجدت أن CUA تعطي الطلاب الفرص لحضور الحلقات الدراسية لمعرفة المزيد عن الشركات والمؤسسات. إذ يسمع أي طالب عن هذه المزايا والفرص المذهلة، أنا واثق من انه أو انها سوف تكون متحمسة للدراسة في CUA.

لقد حصلت على شهادتي البكالوريوس من جامعة الملك سعود في إدارة الموارد البشرية. بين عامي 2011 و 2013، عملت في مؤسسة فيصل بن عبد العزيز الجهني للتجارة. في قسم الموارد البشرية. كما كنت مسؤولا عن البحث عن موظفين البلاد الذين لديهم القدرة على العمل. كما تم تعيني لتنفيذ وتنسيق وفقا للأوامر التي تاتي من قبل مشرفي. لقد عملت كموظف بدوام جزئي قبل أن تخرج. عندما تخرجت، أكملت العمل معهم لبضعة أشهر. بعد ذلك، لقد تركت العمل بناءا على طلبي بسبب رغبتي باكمال دراستي واستغلال الفرصة التي أعطانا ملكنا. أخيرا، سوف أسعى جاهدا لمعرفة المزيد عن التنمية الاقتصادية المتكاملة من أجل تحقيق أهدافي في المستقبل.

Saud Alshabi (English)

I found in

Washington D.C. spectacular universities that help educate students well so the can perform well after graduation CUA is one of those universities and I am sure that I will not regret choosing CUA. I selected CUA because it has a stellar reputation in the U.S. and in Saudi Arabia, in addition to its wonderful professors who help students to get sufficient knowledge to succeed both in the program and after graduation. Furthermore, CUA has courses that provide students with a strong work ethic, which is necessary for when I get a job. Also, a friend of mine, who is studying at CUA, recommended the University. Additionally, I have been told that I will gain the necessary skills and learn more about the integral approach in the economic development. In addition, studying Integral Economic Development at CUA will provide me sufficient information in how to make a sustainable development, which is a vital factor that will give me the opportunity to contribute to the economic development in Saudi Arabia. I also found that CUA gives the students the opportunities to attend seminars to learn more about companies and organizations. If any student hears about these spectacular advantages and opportunities, I am sure that he or she will be passionate to study at CUA.

I received my bachelor's degree from King Saud University in the Human Resources Management major. Between 2011 and 2013, I worked at Faisal Bin Abdul Aziz Al Jehani Trading Est. in the human resources department. I was responsible for looking for employees nationwide who were incapable of working. I also have been assigned to implement and coordinate according to the commands by my supervisor.  When I graduated, I finished working with them. After that, I left them upon my request because of my desire to pursue my master’s degree and to take advantage of the opportunity that our king gave to us. Finally, I have been admitted to CUA and I will strive to learn more about the Integral Economic Development in order to achieve my goals and being a successful person in the future. 

Apply Now! 

For questions or more information please contact as at integraldevelopment@cua.edu 

or call 202-319-6183.

 Information Request Form

Aguirre Highlights Implications of Dignity for International Development

NOTRE DAME, IN - On October 22-24, Maria Sophia Aguirre, professor of economics at the Catholic University of America, was a major contributor at the second international Human Dignity and Human Development Conference hosted by the University of Notre Dame's Kellogg Institute for International Studies. The conference is part of a multi-year research initiative investigating the role of human dignity in the practice of international development.

Aguirre related the importance of human dignity to integral economic development. "Integral sustainable development incorporates an integral vision of the person," she said. "It focuses on the economic agent’s decision process, acknowledging her in her social dimension. It seeks to respect the dignity of the human, strengthen the family, and foster civil and social responsibility."

At the conference, development practitioners and scholars examined the implications of human dignity for development theory and practice, considering whether human dignity can serve as a common connector among predominant development frameworks, including the capability, wellbeing, and happiness approaches.

"Approaching human development from the perspective of human dignity serves as a locus across differences that might otherwise be intractable in the global environment," said Kellogg Institute Director and legal scholar Paolo Carozza, who leads the initiative.   

Part of a series of gatherings that make up the larger research initiative, the conference aspires to produce viable recommendations for implementing the emphasis on human dignity explicit in the United Nations’ post-2015 sustainable development agenda. 

The Kellogg Institute for International Studies, part of the University of Notre Dame's new Keough School of Global Affairs, is an interdisciplinary community of scholars and students from across the University and around the world that promotes research, provides educational opportunities, and builds linkages related to two topics critical to our world -- democracy and human development. 

Isabel Gonzalez (English)

Isabel graduated from the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) with a B.S. in psychology in May 2011. That following

summer she began her masters in rehabilitation counseling at UTEP. During this time, Isabel was a graduate assistant for Dr. Erin Barnes and was given the opportunity to contribute to a research project that investigated the disproportionate rates of HIV and STDs present within the Mexican migrant population. This shifted her focus to the effects undocumented immigration has on human dignity. At the same time, Isabel was becoming more interested in the the role the government plays in its citizens’ personal and economic lives. Isabel decided to go back to school to study economics, and was accepted to George Mason University's (GMU) Ph.D. in economics program for Fall 2014. During her time at GMU she become increasingly interested in developmental economics, in particular the cause for ending world poverty.
Isabel learned about and was drawn to the Integral Economic Development Policy (IEDP) program at the Catholic University of America towards the end of her first year at GMU. Due to its focus on economic development and human dignity, the program appeared to perfectly fit her interests and passion for ending world poverty. In addition, IEDP stood out because of the opportunity given to students to conduct an applied research project––“utilize impact evaluation as a tool to understand and promote sustainable development.” Isabel applied and was accepted to the IEDP program and is a candidate for May 2017. Currently, she is in her first semester of the program and is further developing her knowledge on neuroeconomics, econometrics, ethics, and statistical analysis.