Francesca Armini, '10
Francesca completed her studies in Law at the Torvergata
University of Rome in 2009 with a concentration in International
Public Law. She served as a law practitioner within Nunziante
Magrone International Law Firm in Rome and as an intern at UNIDO Italy. UNIDO
seeks to facilitate industrial cooperation between developing and
developed countries. Francesca recently obtained a Degree in
Spanish Law which allows her to practice in Spain. Francesca has
studied French, Spanish, and Arabic. She is currently working
in the Finance and Audit Department at Johnson & Johnson
Medical of Rome.
Jacques Bertrand, '08
Jacques Bertrand has a background in journalism and political
science. He has worked for newspapers, radio and television. He
also published his own magazine, promoting aid and business links
between Canada and French speaking countries of Africa. He worked
with Development and Peace, a
Canadian NGO, before joining Caritas Internationalis, in
Rome, as Head of its Global Issues Department. He is
currently Executive Director of HelpAge Canada, an organization
dedicated to older persons in Canada and around the world.
One of its programs focuses on the impact of conflicts on
older persons. For years one of Jacques’ primary interests
has been human development, and he pays special attention to how it
is currently being threatened and eroded by the rapid expansion of
organized crime everywhere.
Maria Ciochina, '10
Maria Ciochina is from Chisinau, Moldova, where she studied
Journalism and Communication Sciences at the State University
of Moldova. Maria has a background in media and has
interned at various radio and TV stations. Serving as a
correspondent from Chisinau for ANAT Romania
headquarters, her work has contributed to
popularizing international tourism in Romania. She has also
worked as an interview editor for All Moldova where she
collaborated with many political and business leaders. In
March 2008 Maria worked at the Romanian Ministry of
Small and Medium Sized Enterprises in the Department of
Tourism Marketing and Promotion. In addition, she is
the founder of atiTUdinE,
an NGO based in Chişinău that seeks to promote the integration
of the EU and the Moldavian youth through culture, the arts
and tourism. Maria has worked for Caritas of Rome, the
Fondazione Idente di Studi e Ricerca, and is presently on
the board of directors at the
Romanian Travel Press Club-FIJET. She currently holds the
position of assistant to the director at
the Rielo Institute for Integral Development where
she is working on a project for refugees in North Africa.
Cara McMahon, '09
Cara McMahon, from San Diego, California, is the founder
of Solidarity
Awareness. She is a freelance consultant and educator on
issues of global poverty, diversity and inclusion as well as faith
based connections to social justice. Her organization seeks
to promote authentic dialogue regarding the needs of people who
suffer due to economic or social obstacles. For the past 10
years, Cara has been involved in justice and solidarity education
by facilitating dialogues with diverse groups of individuals.
She has worked inside classrooms, at both the high school and
university levels, and also for community and church groups both
domestic and international. Through her organization, she
consults universities and international development aid
organizations, helping them to develop and refine their approaches
to education. Cara holds a B.A. in Sociology and a B.A. in
Theological and Religious Studies. She also holds Master’s
degrees in both Pastoral Care and Counseling as well as a Master’s
in Global Development from St. John’s University. Her
research is on the impact of international trade on impoverished
communities with particular emphasis on fair trade coffee farmers
in Southern Mexico.