Leena Barakat El-Khairy, '13
Leena Barakat El-Khairy is the Cultural Program Director at the
Arab Cultural and Community Center in San Francisco, California.
She coordinates monthly events, panels, discussions, classes, and
more. Leena graduated from the University of California, San
Diego, with a bachelor’s in International Studies, Political
Science, and a special emphasis on Middle Eastern studies.
She worked with the Muslim Public Affairs Council as their
Special Projects Coordinator for 3 years until she was granted a
special scholarship to study abroad at Birzeit University in the
West Bank, and volunteer at various refugee camps with UNRWA.
Throughout her years at UCSD, Leena spent most her time
organizing around issues that pertained to justice, equality,
freedom, and the right to self-determination. As one of the
leaders of Students for Justice in Palestine, Leena worked closely
with other students to bring forth a divestment bill that would
target companies profiting from war crimes and the international
law violations committed against the West Bank and Gaza. Leena is
currently pursuing her M.A. in Global Development and Social
Justice from St. Johns University.
Gulshan Gloria, '13
Gulshan Gloria is originally from Pakistan but currently living
in Valencia, Spain. She recently completed her Master’s in Social
Work from University of the Punjab in Lahore Pakistan where her
thesis was entitled, "Violence against Children in Lahore,
Pakistan". After completing this degree, Gulshan worked in Caritas
Pakistan Lahore as the Assistant Coordinator of the Animation &
Development Program and was also a member of the Pakistan Catholic
Women’s Organization. Gulshan also volunteers at Ayuda a la Iglesia
Necesitada in Valencia, Spain and also at the Comisión Española de
Ayuda al Refugiados. She is proud to be a part of the M.A. in GDSJ
program at St. John’s University as she seeks more exposure to
issues surrounding global development, theoretically and
practically. Gulshan speaks English, Spanish, Urdu, Punjabi and
Hindi.
Shavone Williams, '14
Shavone Williams is currently enrolled in the Global Development
and Social Justice program. As an undergraduate at St. John’s
University, Shavone participated in an accelerated BS/MA program
where she obtained her Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and
her M.A. in Sociology. She also participated in Discover the World Europe,
a University program that allows students to earn 15 credits by
living and learning in three European countries in one
semester. She received extra support to study abroad as one
of five St. John’s students to win a competitive Benjamin A. Gilman International
Scholarship. She also won a $1,000 scholarship through CampUs,
a summer program that brings children from public housing to
the Queens campus for academics and athletics. It is part of
St. John’s partnership with After School
All-Stars (ASASNY), which has served more than 20,000
local children. Furthermore, Shavone has worked in
Multicultural Affairs as an undergraduate and is now the Graduate
Assistant in the Center for Global Development assisting in the
coordination of events, conferences, and the M.A. in Global
Development and Social Justice. Her areas of interest are in
human rights and women’s rights, environmental issues,
malnutrition, and human trafficking.