Alumni Testimonials

Meet GSPIA's changemakers.

There is nothing more powerful than people who come together behind a common vision and set out to change the world. With over 8,000 alumni across the globe, GSPIA alumni are addressing society’s most pressing issues with courage, intellect, and integrity. Learn more about our network and join us.

Tillman shattered the corporate world’s glass ceiling during her 30-year career in finance. She is one of the highest-ranking women in global finance and has pioneered a place for women in roles of power and influence in corporations throughout the world. She most recently served as president of Morningstar Credit Ratings LLC.

Vickie Tillman

Alumni - MPA '76

In 1981, Hafer became the lead budget analyst for the Trident and SSN-668 nuclear submarine programs. He was promoted to senior analyst in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense Procurement Directorate and became the lead naval aviation program budget analyst. He wrote an analysis exposing cost and schedule problems within the $600+ billion Navy A-12 Stealth Aircraft program. He later testified before Congress, which led to the termination of the program.

Tom Hafer

Alumni - MPIA ’78

Sabaliunaite’s works with NEW Iraq (Network for the Economic Empowerment of Women in Iraq), which targets female heads of house in southern Iraq who have been affected by the death of a male provider in their family, facing them with an increase in financial responsibility. The organization is establishing a mentorship and training program to pair them with successful Iraqi businesswomen to increase their employability and help them to start their own small business.

Indre Sabaliunaite,

Alumni - MID ’13
Griffin-EL is an Associate Professor of Management at Robert Morris University’s School of Business, where she teaches entrepreneurship and innovation and international business. She is also the director of RMU’s new Massey Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, purposed to promote interdisciplinary and innovative thinking and action across campus.

Eliada Wosu Griffin-EL,

Alumni - MID ’04, PhD ’10

Ferrer has worked for the past five years to advance sustainable living and regional resilience — helping create a resolution in West Palm Beach to support the regulation of plastic grocery bags; launching the City’s first Green Business Challenge to advocate for stronger water conservation; and helping create Fort Lauderdale’s first Energy Action Plan which aims to reduce the City’s electricity consumption 20% by 2020. He's now an adjunct professor at Everglades University.

Matthew Ferrer,

Alumni - MID ‘13

Gdovic is the founder and CEO of WindStax Energy, a full-service developer of integrated alternative energy solutions. Based in Pittsburgh, WindStax Energy is a pioneer in large vertical wind turbines and microgrids that are changing industry’s perspective of energy as a commodity to energy as an opportunity. He is also the Co-Director of CEO’s for Sustainability.

Ron Gdovic,

Alumni - MURP ‘94
Aliabadi is a partner in the global advisory practice at Global Growth Advisor, a boutique international consultancy practice. He has served as a senior advisor in the Department of Strategic Initiatives of Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tehran and had contributed to the remapping the Middle East economy at the Strategic Initiatives Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He contributes regularly to BBC, China Daily, Tehran Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today.

Roozbeh Aliabadi,

Alumni - MPIA ’08

Nawale is a consultant at the Asian Development Bank’s Indonesian Resident Mission, focusing on clean energy and energy efficiency. She works with multiple government agencies in Indonesia to provide capacity building and implementation support, which will help the country meet its renewable energy targets (23% by 2025) and fulfill its Paris agreement of cutting emissions 29% by 2030.

Divya Nawale,

Alumni - MPPM ’17

Kwon is a former South Korean diplomat who now runs Future Forest, an environmental nonprofit organization helping to green up China. Kwon was part of the first modern wave of South Korean students to pursue an education at the University of Pittsburgh.

Byong Hyon Kwon,

Alumni - MPIA ’68
Sanina is executive director of PublicSource, an independent non-profit news group that focuses on original investigative reporting about critical issues facing Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania. She was previously the deputy managing editor at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, where she led innovation in storytelling and integration of print and online operations. She has also worked at The PBS Newshour and CNN International.

Mila Sanina,

Alumni - MPIA ’10

As the Executive Director of NAIOP, Mendoza leads the association of developers, owners, investors, and professionals of commercial real estate who foster business relationships, promote responsible development, and support growth of the region through education, leadership, and advocacy. He is the former government affairs manager at the Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce, focusing on issues of immigration reform, transportation, and energy policy.

Brandon Mendoza,

Alumni - MPA ’11

A native Pittsburgher, Bucco is the president of the Buhl Foundation. Since 2014, the foundation has targeted its grant making largely on One Northside, a 10- to 20-year commitment to infuse philanthropic dollars into programs and nonprofits that spur community revitalization in the 18 city neighborhoods north of the Allegheny River. The goal of the initiative is to allow that section of the city to become a hub of innovation to improve the quality of life of all its residents.

Diana Bucco,

Alumni - MPPM ‘15
Plipat is the Executive Director of Freemuse, an international organization which defends freedom of expression for artists. He is the former director for Asia Pacific at Transparency International. He was also the director of the International Mobilisation Programme at Amnesty International in London, where he was responsible for AI’s operations in over 15 counties.

Srirak Plipat,

Alumni - PhD ’06

At GSPIA, Darity earned degrees in Public Health and International Development before beginning work as the site director in Brazil for Amizade Global Service Learning. He is responsible for designing health science programs, overseeing site development, and leading a variety of Pittsburgh-based initiatives. In 2014, he helped launch The Global Switchboard as a project of Amizade and in 2016 accepted the role as its Executive Director.

Nathan Darity,

Alumni - MID ’06

In 2000, Harris became the president and CEO of Three Rivers Youth, a flagship agency with a distinguished record of providing child and family services. Harris put into motion and adapted evidence-based program models to address the needs of disadvantaged and at-risk youth. She has been recognized by the business, public service, and academic communities as a prominent executive and effective administrator.

Peggy Harris,

Alumni - MPA ’78
Roes serves as a senior member of the City of Los Angeles’ administrative team, focusing on services that support the City’s public safety and emergency services. As a Chief Administrative Analyst, he works closely with city council and policy analysts who develop and monitor the City’s public safety budget. He has served the City for nearly 30 years in capcities ranging from a deputy to a city council member to the manager of Los Angeles’ Department of Transportation.

Ed Roes,

Alumni - MPA ’86

Cristello is the Executive Director and founder of the Latino Community Center in Pittsburgh. Before launching the community center, she directed the Latino Family Center under the Allegheny Intermediate Unit, which focuses on early childhood development. She is the co-chair for the Immigrants & Internationals Advisory Council for the Allegheny County Department of Human Services and the board of the Office of Child Development at the University of Pittsburgh.

Rosamaria Cristello,

Alumni - MPA ’17

Bauer works for the Maryland Emergency Management Agency as a National Capital Region Planner and the State’s Prevention and Protection Coordinator. He also serves in the State Emergency Operations Center, on the Emergency Management Assistant Compact Advance Team, and as deputy coordinator of the Maryland Incident Management Team.

Brian Bauer,

Alumni - MPIA ’10