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Jonah Leff
Jonah Leff is from Brooklyn, NY and is
currently enrolled at the Monterey Institute of
International studies pursuing a Masters in
Public Administration. Working for an
international record label, Jonah did not feel
focused on his future goals in international
affairs, so he broke his routine to volunteer in
the northern Indian Himalayas, teaching and
community building with women and children in a
poor, rural village. This led him to his
goal in International Development.To qualify
for a program, he moved to Japan to teach
English for three years. The president of
Aeon company commented that "Mr. Leff's
conscientious attitude toward his work was
apparent from the reactions of his students, who
regarded him as a sincere, caring and qualified
teacher... He was a perfect role model for other
teachers and staff and proved to be popular with
the students as well."
Upon acceptance to Monterey, Jonah found
himself traveling and volunteering in Southeast
Asia, raising funds for a grass roots orphanage
and coming to the aid of tsunami victims in a
village with little government support.
These experiences shaped his goal to concentrate
his degree in Security and Development.
Jonah describes this approach as coming from
a "security standpoint, claiming that without
security, a path towards sustainable peace and
development is unachievable. Organizations
in this field address issues such as landmines,
proliferation of small arms and light weapons (SALW),
governance, and Disarmament, Demobilization, and
Reintegration of ex-combatants (DDR). He
was elected President of the MIIS UN Club, and
has been raising money for measles vaccinations
in Africa as an intern of the Red Cross".
"Jonah has taken advantage of every
opportunity to grow in knowledge and experience
at MIIS," writes his professor of International
Policy Studies. "He has painstakingly
plotted his career development so that his IPSS
assignment will be the logical starting point
for a successful career."
We, the BAA scholarship committee, are
confident Jonah will excel as he realizes our
mission Surgo Ut Prosim in his life's work.
"I am thankful for what Bradford taught me,"
Jonah writes, "and I continue to uphold and
expand those lessons in everything I do." |