Rachel Kern is a graduate candidate in the Master of Science in Foreign Service (MSFS) program at Georgetown University, pursuing a concentration in International Development and a Certificate in African Studies. Rachel’s academic interests include sub-Saharan Africa, countering violent extremism, and youth and women’s political and economic empowerment.

Previously, Rachel worked at the International Republican Institute (IRI) where she supported democracy, human rights, and governance programming across sub-Saharan Africa. During her time at IRI, she held multiple positions across IRI’s Africa Division, conducted program evaluations and workshops in Somaliland and Kenya, and started up IRI’s local office in Ghana.

Rachel graduated from the Hamilton Lugar School at Indiana University with a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies, and minors in French, African Languages and Cultures (Asante-Twi), and Religious Studies.