PEOPLE

Yaw Nyarko, Director, Africa House

Yaw Nyarko is Professor of Economics at New York University (NYU) and the Director of NYU Africa House and the Center for Technology and Economic Development (CTED), as well as Co-Director of the Development Research Institute (DRI). As Co-Director of DRI, he was awarded the 2009 BBVA Frontiers in Knowledge Award on Economic Development Cooperation. He is a Fellow of the Econometric Society, a Research Associate of the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), and a Non-Resident Fellow at the Center for Global Development (CGD).

His research interests focus on the areas of economic development, theoretical economics, models of human capital as engines of economic growth, brain drain and skills acquisition, labor economics, and migration. His current research focuses on technology and economic development, commodities exchanges and markets in Africa, and determinants and returns of labor migration from South Asia in the UAE, as well as the impacts of various policy measures on the mobility of labor within the UAE.

He is the Chair of the Econometric Society Africa Regional Standing Committee. He has served as a consultant to organizations including the African Development Bank, the World Bank, the United Nations, and the Social Science Research Council. As the former Vice Provost of NYU, he managed a portfolio that included the oversight and establishment of campuses in Abu Dhabi, Accra, and Shanghai. Yaw Nyarko received his B.A. from the University of Ghana and a M.A. and Ph.D. in Economics from Cornell University.

https://www.yawnyarko.com

His Excellency Dr. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, Former President of the United Republic of Tanzania (2005 to 2015), Africa House Visiting Scholar in Residence

(Spring-Summer 2018)

In April 2018, H.E. Dr. Jakaya M. Kikwete, former president of the United Republic of Tanzania (2005 to 2015), joined NYU as the Inaugural Former President in Residence at Africa House for a 3-month residency. President Kikwete collaborated with members of the NYU community and wrote his memoirs entitled “The Journey of My Life: From a Barefoot Schoolboy to President” with NYU Africa House staff and Student Research Assistants. This book reflects on his forty years in public service, his ascension to the presidency, leadership skills for the next generation of leaders, and his vision for the future of Africa. President Kikwete shared his vast knowledge and experiences with faculty, students, and various departments across the University, and further developed his ongoing work with NYU’s College of Nursing facilitated by the New York-based non-profit Miracle Corners of the World (MCW).

Prior to being elected to the presidency, Kikwete held various key positions as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Finance and Minister of Energy and Minerals from 1994 to 2005. During and after his presidency, he continued to be active and instrumental in championing a development agenda with a special focus on women and children. President Kikwete has served as the Co-Chair of the UN Commission of Information and Accountability on Women’s and Children’s Health, Chairperson of the United Nations High Level Panel on the Global Response to Health Crisis, and Chairperson of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA). After his retirement, Kikwete assumed leadership roles in different capacities as Co-Chair of the UN High Level Advisory Group on Every Woman Every Child; Member of the UN Lead Group on Scaling Up Nutrition; the Global Ambassador for Immunization; Member of the World Malaria Council; Commissioner of the International Education Commission for Financing Global Education Opportunity; Co-Chair of the World Refugee Council; African Union High Level Representative on Libya; and is the Chairman of the Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete Foundation.

Benno J. Ndulu, Former Governor of the Bank of Tanzania

(Summer 2018)

Professor Benno J. Ndulu, who has just completed a 10 year term as Governor, Bank of Tanzania, now occupies the Mwalimu Nyerere Professorial Chair on Development at the University of Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania. He is best known for having served as one of the pioneers for the most effective research and training network in economics in Africa, the African Economic Research Consortium, where he served first as its research Director and then as its Executive Director. Having begun in academia at the University of Dar-es-Salaam, he later served in the World Bank as a Research Manager in Development Economics (DEC) and Advisor to the Vice President for the Africa Region. He has published widely on growth, governance, and trade. He is currently co-directing the Commission on Technology and Inclusive Development anchored at Blavatnik School of Government.

Steve Kayizzi-Mugerwa, Former Acting Chief Economist and Vice President, African Development Bank (AfDB)

(Spring 2016)

Steve Kayizzi-Mugerwa received his Ph.D. in Economics from Gothenburg University in Sweden in 1988 and became Associate Professor at the same university in 1994. He worked as a Senior Economist at the IMF in Washington, DC., Project Director and Fellow at the World Institute for Development Economics Research (WIDER) of the United Nations University, Helsinki, and most recently as Director of Strategy, Director of Operations and Director of Research,respectively, at the African Development Bank (AfDB) in Tunis and Abidjan. His last post at the AfDB, which he left at the end of 2015, was Acting Chief Economist and Vice President. He has collaborated with many international and national institutions and has been an external examiner of doctoral students in Africa and in European countries. He has been a consultant for the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), the World Bank, the OECD and the UNDP. He considers the policy dialogue which he undertook with government leaders from across Africa, during his years at the AfDB, as the height of his career, and is planning to write a book about these experiences.

He has researched and published widely in the areas of macroeconomics, international economics and development economics, focusing especially on Africa and other developing regions. His most recent publications include a co-edited volume on Urbanization and Socio-Economic Development in Africa (Routledge, London, 2014). A volume from his work at WIDER entitled “Reforming Africa’s Institutions: Ownership, Incentives, and Capabilities” by the United Nations University Press, Tokyo and New York, was used as course material in Development at leading universities.

Steve is currently a Visiting Fellow at the Institute for African Development at Cornell and is also Adjunct Professor at the University of Cape Town. Aside from analyzing the political economy of African institutions, he is also studying, with colleagues at a number of African institutions, the “war to peace” dynamics in the Great Lakes Region of Africa–including Uganda, DRC, Kenya, Sudan, South Sudan, Rwanda and Burundi. Steve was born and raised in Uganda, but also holds Swedish nationality.

Belinda Archibong,
Assistant Professor of Economics, Barnard College

(Spring 2022)

Professor Archibong's research areas include development economics, political economy, economic history and environmental economics with an African regional focus. Her research investigates the role of historical institutions and environment in inequality of access to public services and the development of human capital, particularly in the areas of education, health and labor. Some current research studies the effects of epidemics on inequality, the economics of epidemics and vaccination, and the impacts of air pollution from gas flaring on human capital outcomes; with a focus on the ways in which institutions mitigate or exacerbate the impacts of climate change and environment on inequalities around gender and marginalized groups. Other works study the economics of prisons, the effects of protests on fiscal transfers and gender gaps in political participation, and the drivers of gender gaps in labor markets in African countries. She is a faculty affiliate at Columbia University's Center for Development Economics and Policy (CDEP), The Earth Institute at Columbia University, the Institute of African Studies, the Institute for Research in African-American Studies, the Columbia Population Research Center (CPRC), and the Center for Environmental Economics and Policy (CEEP), and is currently a David M. Rubenstein Fellow at the Brookings Institution.

Judith Aidoo

Judith Aidoo began her career as an investment banker at Goldman, Sachs, & Co. in the late 1980s. Currently, she is the Chief Executive of both Caswell Communications, Inc. in Charleston, SC, and the Aidoo Group Ltd. in New York City. She holds degrees from Rutgers College and Harvard Law School.

Elizabeth Klosty Beaujour

Elizabeth Klosty Beaujour is Professor of Russian and Comparative Literatures at Hunter College and the CUNY Graduate Center. She is the widow of Michel Beaujour, Professor of French at NYU for more than 40 years.  They began to collect African art in the early 60’s. Dr. Beaujour advises Africa House on African art programming and exhibitions.

Edward Bergman

Eddie Bergman is President of Innovative Development Services (IDS), a full service consulting firm focusing on tourism marketing and development as well as real estate management services in New York City. Eddie is also CEO of Proxima Hospitality Group, a restaurant management company which owns and manages Hill and Bay (Murray Hill, NYC).

Eddie co‐founded and serves as President of the Board of MCW (Miracle Corners of the World), an NGO devoted to empowering youth to make positive change in their communities, with a special focus on Africa.

Eddie was appointed a Goodwill Ambassador for The New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), the economic development program of the African Union, in recognition of his service as Executive Director of the Africa Travel Association, a position he held for nearly a decade (2006-2015).

Eddie is also an adjunct instructor of social entrepreneurship at SUNY Stony Brook University.  Eddie received his Masters from NYU’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study with a major in Social Entrepreneurship and his Bachelors in Hotel and Tourism Management from NYU’s Tisch Center for Hospitality, Tourism and Sports Management, where he was a Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholar.

Eddie serves on the boards and advisory boards of several international organizations in the non-profit, education and travel and trade sectors, including Shared Interest, the International Crisis Group, NYU Africa House and NYU Gallatin School of Individualized Study and has served on the boards of the Museum for African Art, the Rubin Museum of Art and the Synergos Institute.

Robert Holmes

Robert Holmes is the founder of the Robert Holmes Travel and Research Award for African Scholarship. Through this scholarship, doctoral students studying the humanities and social sciences have been able to study abroad in Africa and visit important research sites. Robert E. Holmes earned a B.A. from Washington Square College in 1966 and a J.D. from NYU School of Law in 1969, prior to practicing law in the entertainment department of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton and Garrison. Most recently, he was Executive Vice President of Sony Pictures Entertainment’s Music Group and President of its music publishing companies. Prior to his twenty-five years at Sony, Mr. Holmes was Vice President of the Arista Music Publishing Group and General Counsel of Motown Records and Filmworks. Mr. Holmes was a recipient of NYU’s Alumni Achievement Award in 1998 and Washington Square College’s Alumni Distinguished Service Award in 1992.  He is also the past President of the Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association and is an original co-founder of the Black American Law Students Association. Presently on the board of NYU Africa House, Mr. Holmes also served on the boards of the Constitutional Rights Foundation and the Liberace Foundation in Las Vegas.

Michael E. Thoyer

Michael E. Thoyer is a retired partner of Morgan Lewis LLP in New York City. He and his wife, Judith R. Thoyer, are founding members of Friends of the University of Ghana and the first contributors to Africa House. They have also generously supported the Thoyer Fellowship for African students and researchers.

Andrea Papitto

Program Director, Africa House/Center for Technology and Economic Development

Andrea Papitto has worked on development projects in Africa since 2005 when she studied at the New York University Accra campus and worked at Habitat for Humanity Ghana. Since then, she has worked on numerous projects related to Africa tourism, rural tourism development, community-led development, and ICT education in Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Morocco, Senegal, Uganda, and Zimbabwe. In 2011, she produced The Last Song Before the War, a documentary chronicling the Festival au Desert in Timbuktu, Mali and its role in sustaining peace, cultural preservation, and economic development. The film has played at Lincoln Center, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and international film festivals around the world. Before joining Africa House, Andrea was the Director of Trade Relations and Communications at the Africa Travel Association (ATA), the leading travel trade organization promoting the sustainable development of tourism in Africa. At ATA, she managed programming; research initiatives such as the Africa Tourism Monitor produced in conjunction with NYU Africa House and the African Development Bank; communications; and media relations for the organization. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a Master’s in Tourism Management with a focus on African destinations from New York University.

Ismail Conkeroglu

Grants Manager

Ismail Conkeroglu is a member of the Finance Team serving as Grants Manager for Africa House/CTED/DRI. He has an impressive background managing higher education restricted funds for over 17 years. In his previous position as Senior Accountant of Restricted Funds at New York Medical College, his portfolio spanned best practices associated with multiple funding sources, participation in annual audits, federal drawdowns and monthly financial closings. He specialized in management of funds from industry and pharmaceutical awards, donors, designated purpose funds, faculty practices, loans, scholarships, student awards, faculty recruitment and endowment spending accounts. Ismail received his M.E. in Management from Stevens Tech specializing in the incorporation of technology in completing financial functions.

Alexander Csandi

Student Program Assistant (Research)

Alexander Csanadi is a second-year Master’s in Economics student with undergraduate degrees in Economics and International Studies and a certification in Community-Based Research from American University in D.C. Prior to coming to New York, he completed a one-year James C. Gaither Junior Fellowship in the Africa Program of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, where he worked mostly on issues related to climate change. Previously, he was an Analyst at a boutique health economics consultancy focusing on low-and middle-income countries where he worked on projects including contracting private sector service delivery in Kenya and South Africa, and donor finance transitioning in Mauritius. He is deeply interested in the intersection of economic development, migration and climate change and believes the African continent will play an increasingly pivotal role in the global community over the coming decades.

Oyinkansola Babayode

Student Program Assistant (Events/Research)

Oyinkansola Babayode is currently pursuing a Master's in Public Health at New York University and holds a Medical degree from Babcock University in Nigeria. She is an Emerging Leader in the 2023/2024 cohort of the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health and a Young Professional with the United Nations Association of the USA. Oyin also contributes as an Advocate with the Youth Constituency of the UNFCCC (YOUNGO) as well as the United Nations Major Group for Children and Youth (UNMGCY) where she plays a pivotal role in the design, implementation, monitoring, and review of health-related sustainable development policies. Within the NYU community, she serves as Secretary and Editor at the NYU African Graduate Students Association. Her research interests are rooted in the nexus of climate change and health outcomes especially in Africa, firmly believing that climate action isn't a choice, but a prescription for a healthier world.

NYU African Graduate Students Association

Established in 2020 - in the heat of the global pandemic, the NYU African Graduate Students Association (AGSA) was created with an aim to create a hub for African graduate students across the broader NYU community. Furthermore, we are focused on increasing awareness and engaging the broader NYU graduate community on Africa-related content and thought leadership, while also promoting stronger ties between prospective African graduate students and the NYU community. Our core values are embedded in Community, Support, Advancement, Excellence, and Collective Success; and we look forward to advancing these values through our various events, initiatives, and partnerships

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NYU Stern in Africa

Established in 2007, Stern in Africa (SiA) is dedicated to providing the Stern and NYU communities increased exposure to business and investment opportunities in Africa and enhancing awareness of Africa's growing economies. SiA organizes professional, educational, and social events, enabling thought leaders, industry practitioners, and MBA students to promote investments in Africa and highlight the growing economic importance of the continent.

Association for African Development

The Association for African Development (AAD) at NYU works towards the advancement of the skills of NYU students by focusing on raising awareness and developing knowledgeable leaders with the intent of promoting African enhancement. We intend on achieving this in part by running a Speakers series with prominent industry and political leaders from across the continent presenting on the growing opportunities in a quickly transforming Africa.

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African Students Union

The African Students Union exists to provide a means for the meaningful discussion, exploration and celebration of all things politically, socially, and culturally African. We want to create an environment on campus where people who are educated on African topics or wish to be can come together to have fun, discuss and enjoy a variety of African dishes.

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Ethiopian Eritrean Student Association

The Ethiopian Eritrean Student Association aspires to promote Ethiopian and Eritrean culture throughout NYU. The club welcomes people from any background and hopes to raise awareness about the rich history of Habesha people through both social and cultural events. All students are of course welcome to our events, especially East African students from countries like Somalia and Kenya! In addition, the association also aims to strengthen the bond between Ethiopian and Eritrean students as well as their relationship to NYU by creating a presence on campus. We aim to extend this relationship outside the confines of campus and into New York City as well, creating and strengthening liaisons with alumni, nearby universities, and local East African businesses."

Black Muslim Initiative

BMI is a student-led group that was established in the fall of 2017 because the duality of being Black and Muslim often puts us in a position where we feel that we must choose between our identities. Our main goal is to shed light and amplify the experiences of Black Muslims within the broader Muslim community while acknowledging and accepting our history and ancestor’s legacies. We want folks to feel a sense of acknowledgment, respect and empathy being at the intersection of multiple identities and communities. In addition, we seek to integrate and create an atmosphere that is inclusive of the larger Muslim community. Ultimately, we hope we can bridge the divisions, the misunderstandings and dismantle the stereotypes alongside the ignorance that persists about Black Muslims.