Alumni Directory Display

Fritz Siegert 2013-2014 Fellow with Maru-a-Pula, Botswana Whitman College Class of 2012

Alumni Update:

After his fellowship ended in June 2014, Fritz moved to Moscow, Idaho where he is completing his first year of medical school at University of Washington School of Medicine. This summer, he will be implementing small-scale global health initiatives within a longitudinal cardiovascular study in Nepal. This fall, he will move to Seattle, WA to start his second year of school.

Fellow Bio:

Fritz is from Boise, ID and graduated with degrees in biochemistry and philosophy. While at Whitman, Fritz was the volunteer coordinator at a free health clinic, CFO of Whitman’s student government, a starter on the club rugby team, and an avid wearer of topsiders. Also while at Whitman, Fritz led two Spring Service Trips to New Orleans, rebuilding houses destroyed by Hurricane Katina.  This past year, Fritz has been working as a medical scribe in the Emergency Department back in Boise. He also started his own tutoring company and interned at the Boise Basque Culture Museum. Having never been to Africa before, Fritz is looking forward to just about everything during his fellowship. As an aspiring physician with an interest in pediatrics, he is especially looking forward to working with kids in Botswana and hoping he can match their energy!

Stefanie Siller 2013-2014 Fellow with Mpala Research Centre & Wildlife Foundation, Kenya Princeton University Class of 2013

Stefanie is an Anthropology major from Connecticut, with certificates in African Studies and Dance. She has spent the past three summers traveling and working in Morocco, Spain, Tanzania, and Kenya. In Kuria West District, Kenya, she implemented a magnet theater program to tackle risky health behaviors in the community. Last summer, Stefanie interned at the Mpala Research Center as a Conservation Club teacher, where she designed and implemented lesson plans, experiments, and field activities for seven primary schools in the Laikipia region. In her free time, Stefanie enjoys choreographing, dancing, and drawing. She looks forward to returning to the Mpala Research Center and the neighboring schools, improving her Swahili, and maybe finally seeing an aardwolf.

Zoe Sims 2017-2018 Fellow with Mpala Research Centre & Wildlife Foundation, Kenya Princeton University Class of 2017

Zoe is passionate about understanding the intersection of human and environmental systems. Originally from the Big Island of Hawaii, she graduated from Princeton University in 2017 with a concentration in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and certificate in Environmental Science. At Princeton, Zoe received the Smith-Newton Fellowship, a selective two-year undergraduate research fellowship, to conduct a research project investigating the impacts of pollution on coral reef ecosystems in Bermuda. She presented her findings at the 2016 International Coral Reef Symposium, where her poster presentation received an award from the International Society of Reef Studies. Prior to her work in Bermuda, Zoe contributed to a Ph. D research project studying the role of nutrients in the rainforest ecosystems of Costa Rica. This work culminated in a presentation at the 2015 Association of Tropical Biology and Conservation Annual Meeting, and was recognized with a Faculty of 1000 student award. Throughout college, Zoe also ran Division I cross-country and track for Princeton and served as a team Student-Athlete Wellness Leader. When she’s not trail running or doing science, Zoe also enjoys nature writing, poetry, and yoga. She is thrilled to work at Mpala and learn about Kenyan culture and savannah ecosystems.

Shelly Slemp Doley 2007-2008 Fellow with Tanganyika Christian Refugee Service, Tanzania Princeton University Class of 2007

Alumni Update:

2014 was an eventful year! After helping Medair transition into the “new” South Sudan context following the start of a conflict in December 2013, Shelly left South Sudan to take a brief hiatus from aid work. In August she married a wonderful man named Kelly Doley and they moved to Berkeley, CA for what they plan to be a two-year stay. She is now studying theology at the Jesuit School of Theology and Kelly is working in San Francisco for an IT non-profit called Inveneo. They have been lucky to befriend several folks with international and even South Sudan specific aid experience and are enjoying the community that comes with those connections.

Fellow Bio:

Shelly is a religion major who also earned a teaching certificate in secondary mathematics from the teacher preparation program. Originally from Sugar Grove, VA, Shelly came to Princeton as a member of the varsity women’s basketball team and played for four years. In addition to basketball, she was an active member of Athletes in Action (an interdenominational Christian ministry), the Student Volunteers Council, and Colonial Club. Shelly enjoys riding horses and looks forward to learning Swahili and to playing the guitar. In the long term, she would like to work abroad (in an NGO or as a missionary) or do ministry work within the US.

Molly Slotznick 2010-2011 Fellow with UN World Food Programme, Senegal Princeton University Class of 2010

Alumni Update:

Two years ago, Molly moved to central Maine with her husband, and has since started a new role as Chief Operating Officer for Maine’s Medicaid program.

Fellow Bio:

Molly ’10, from West Chester, PA, concentrated in the Wilson School at Princeton University with a certificate in Environmental Studies. At Princeton, she was president of the Triangle Club, the director of Manicure for the Cure, the vice president of Oxfam Princeton, and an active member of Greening Princeton and Tower Club. She spent her summer studying abroad in France, working at the Pennsylvania Governors School for International Studies, and working at the Millennium Challenge Cooperation. While in Dakar next year, Molly looks forward to improving her French, learning Wolof, and maybe seeing an elephant or two.

Abigail Smith 2009-2010 Fellow with Plan International, Uganda Princeton University Class of 2009

Alumni Update:

Abigail is currently living in Dallas, TX, finishing her final year of medical school. She will be moving in the fall of 2014 to begin her Ob/Gyn residency at Wash U in St. Louis. Abigail hasn’t been able to go back to Africa since her fellowship, but she has been on a few trips to Haiti and just returned from 5 weeks in Peru. Hopefully she’ll be able to organize something in Africa during her residency!

Fellow Bio:

Abigail is a religion major from Houston with a certificate in Spanish. At Princeton, she was in eXpressions Dance Company and frequently choreographed. Abigail was also a member of the Cottage Club. She loves traveling and learning new languages, so she spent her junior year spring studying in Santiago, Chile. Abigail is pre-med and after her year in Africa she is planning on attending medical school for a joint MD/MPH degree. While in Kampala next year, Abigail hopes to pick up some new African dance moves and have a fabulous adventure.

David Smith 2023-2024 Fellow with Warc Africa, Ghana University of Texas San Antonio Class of 2017

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 David graduated from the University of Texas San Antonio with a degree in Geology and graduated from Clark University with a Master of Science in Geographic Information Science. He was also a Peace Corps Volunteer in The Gambia. As a Peace Corps Volunteer, he worked in rural agricultural development, where he collaborated with multiple government agencies to meet the development goals of communities. He is an active member of the Returned Peace Corps Volunteer service community and is a former Coverdell Fellow. During a previous internship with the Red Cross, he consulted with the Red Cross volunteer recruitment services to leverage census data to find new communities for outreach. He also interned with the United Nations Satellite Centre (UNOSAT) and supported the disaster rapid mapping group, which provides timely analysis to humanitarian disaster response organizations. More recently, he worked full-time as a contractor for the United States Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service, where he monitored global food production through satellite remote sensing. Following the Princeton in Africa Fellowship, he plans to pursue a career in agriculture monitoring and development. Originally from Texas, he enjoys hiking, traveling, and learning new skills and languages.

Meghan Smith 2013-2014 Fellow with Project Mercy, Ethiopia Harvard University Class of 2013

Alumni Update:

Meghan is currently attending medical school at UBC in Vancouver, Canada. She returned to Project Mercy for 2 weeks in December 2014 to continue a vision screening project she started while there with PiAf. It was fantastic to see the children and people she worked with last year!

Fellow Bio:

Meghan is from British Columbia, Canada and studied neurobiology and global health & health policy at Harvard University. At Harvard, she was co-president of Student Mental Health Liaisons, co-president of Women in Science, events chair of Drug and Alcohol Peer Advisors, and events co-chair of the Harvard Canadian Club. She also captained, coxed, and rowed for intramural crew. Through Harvard, Meghan studied abroad in Germany and served as a Harvard Summer School proctor in Cambridge. Through Projects Abroad, she spent three months volunteering in a hospital in Ghana. While in Ethiopia, Meghan looks forward to learning Amharic and learning about the Ethiopian culture and food.

Trevor Smith 2005-2006 Fellow with Endeavor Global, South Africa Princeton University Class of 2003

Our History

In 1999, a group of Princeton alumni, faculty, and staff launched Princeton in Africa as an independent affiliate of Princeton University inspired by the University’s informal motto, “Princeton in the Nation’s Service and in the Service of All Nations.” In 2010, the program opened up to include graduates of any US accredited university in order to meet the growing demand from host organizations and allow more young professionals access to the unique opportunities afforded by PiAf. During the past 20 years, we have placed over 600 Fellows with more than 100 organizations in 36 countries, while developing more strategic partnerships across Africa and creating more opportunities for our alumni community to engage with the continent and with one another.

Testimonials

The International Rescue Committee has been so fortunate to have had a longstanding relationship with Princeton in Africa since our very first Fellows landed in Rwanda in 1999.  Whether it was Emily or Renee in 1999 or the 110 Fellows across 14 IRC countries over the years, we have been blessed by the relationship, the quality of the Fellows and the impact on what IRC does on the ground every single day.

Brian Johnson
Chief Human Resources Officer
International Rescue Committee

My fellowship has been the most impactful personal and professional development opportunity of my life. I wanted a post-college experience that would push my limits, expand my comfort zone, and help me discern the next steps in my career journey. And this has been the case.

Ryan Elliott
2014-15 Fellow
Baylor Pediatric AIDS Initiative in Lesotho

I can honestly say that this year has changed my life and my view of what’s possible for the future. Princeton in Africa isn’t just a one-year fellowship, it’s an introduction to a particular way of life and a new way of thinking about the world. I feel like so many doors are open now that I never would have considered before.

Katie Fackler
2010-11 Fellow
UN World Food Programme

My Princeton in Africa fellowship was everything I could have hoped for and much more. The myriad of experiences makes my head swim, and it has strengthened my desire to help underserved populations worldwide.

David Bartels
2006-2007 Fellow
Baylor Pediatric AIDS Initiative

Princeton in Africa was an invaluable experience for me. I learned an infinite amount through my work and through living in Uganda. I also realized that I want to continue working on African issues as long as I can.

Alexis Okeowo
2006-2007 Fellow
The New Vision

The International Rescue Committee’s experience with Princeton in Africa has been exceptional. Each Fellow brings excellent writing and analytical skills as well as unique interests and passions that enrich the program and the field office environment. We were so pleased we expanded the program to more field offices.

Susan Riehl
Human Resources, IRC

The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation has been working in Africa for over 11 years through its Secure the Future program.  One common theme in all aspects of program implementation is having passionate, energetic individuals on the ground who can think outside the box and then transfer the skills for sustainability.  The Princeton In Africa Fellows have been a huge asset in this regard and our programs and patients have been better for it.

John Damonti
President, Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation