The SIPA Pan-African Network (SPAN) is a student group based in Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA). We are committed to the professional development of our members.
We seek to create an informal community of support and provide a platform for students interested in the economic, political, and social development of Africa and its Diaspora. We are an open membership group— we represent SIPA students from a variety of interests and disciplines (economic and political development; human rights; economic policy; environmental policy; security policy; and media to name a few), as well as from a variety of ethnicities and countries from around the globe.
To learn more about SPAN’s mission, please click here.
SPAN Executive Board 2011
Foday Sackor – President
fs2397@columbia.edu
Foday Sackor is a SIPA Masters of International Affairs student concentrating in Energy Management. Prior to attending SIPA, Foday worked as a Management Consultant for the Accenture Management Consulting Group in Reston, Virginia. Foday holds a Bachelors in Business Administration from the University of Maryland, College Park – School of Business. Foday is a native Liberian but have spent the majority of his life either living, working, or studying in Ghana, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Ivory Cost, and the United States. Foday is passionate about the SPAN organization and equally excited to serve alongside his SPAN teammates. Foday’s ultimate dream is to one day see a United Africa.
Modupe Onemola- Vice President
mo2431@columbia.edu
Modupe Onemola, is a Master of International Affairs student with a concentration in Economic and Political Development and a regional focus on Africa. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Economics with a minor in French from Hunter College in New York City. Prior to SIPA, she interned at the Permanent Mission of Nigeria to the United Nations.
Rich Greene – Treasurer
rtg2115@columbia.edu
Osione Itegboje – Events Chair
ooi2103@columbia.edu
Osione Itegboje is a Master’s of International Affairs candidate with a concentration in International Finance & Economic Policy with a specialization in International Media, Advocacy and Communication. Prior to attending SIPA, he worked in the advertising sector with Draft FCB in Nigeria. Osione holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Baylor University in Waco, Texas.
Karen Attiah – Co- Communications Chair
kna2106@columbia.edu
Karen Attiah is a Masters of International Affairs student concentrating in Human Rights with a specialization in International Media, Advocacy and Communications. Prior to attending SIPA, she was a Fulbright scholar to Ghana where she researched the role of phone-in radio in the 2008 elections. Karen has held internships at the Center For Democratic Development in Ghana and America Abroad Media in Washington D.C. The daughter of Ghanaian immigrants, Karen holds an undergraduate degree in Communication Studies from Northwestern University in Illinois. She is passionate about media development and journalism in Africa.
Giancarlo Cavallo- Co- Communications Chair
gc2373@columbia.edu
Giancarlo Cavallo is a SIPA Master of International Affairs student, concentrating in Economic and Political Development. He has worked as Project Development Specialist for the United States African Development Foundation. Prior to SIPA, Giancarlo spent roughly a year living and traveling in West Africa, working with local NGO’s in Senegal and Liberia, and exploring the land and culture of Mali and Guinea. Before that, he taught mathematics for three years at Jane Addams High School in the South Bronx. Giancarlo holds a Master of Science in Education from Pace University and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Boston University. His love of Africa started with music.
Larcus Pickett- Alumni Chair
lnp2109@columbia.edu
Larcus Pickett is a first year Master of Public Administration student, with a concentration in Energy and Environment. Prior to SIPA she worked for the non-profit organization Water for People in Malawi, where she developed the monitoring and evaluation system for the Blantyre Peri-Urban Water and Sanitation Program. Larcus also served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Guinea as a secondary school math teacher. She is African American – Seychellois, born and raised in Northern Virginia. Larcus served as a Division I student-athlete and earned her Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Howard University.
Nanzia Mbaga – Curriculum Chair
rnm2118@columbia.edu
Nanzia Mbaga is a first year MPA-Development Practice student from Tanzania. Prior to SIPA she spent the last year working as a financial consultant at “Deloitte and Touche” and was also a project assistant for “Youth initiatives Kenya,” A Dutch NGO working with youth in informal settlements to develop business projects. She founded a project to educate children “Change is Me” in Kibera Slum (Nairobi). She holds a dual degree in Law and Economics from the university of Leicester in the UK.