Staff

Dylan Carlson, Intern, Action Research

Dylan is currently interning part-time at the SEEP Network as part of the Microfinance Practicum, focusing primarily on the Value Chains for Urban Enterprise project. He is finishing his B.A. in International Economics at George Washington University, and is also beginning a M.A. in International Trade and Investment Policy at George Washington’s Elliott School. He has interned for Senator Maria Cantwell on Capitol Hill and for the PBN Company, a strategic communications firm specializing in Russian-American trade. Most recently, he has spent a semester studying in Madrid, Spain.

Catherine Cheng, Accountant

Catherine has over two years of experience working in accounting and finance. Prior to her position at the SEEP Network, she was staff accountant at both small and medium sized for-profit corporations as well as non-profit organizations. At SEEP, Catherine assists Robin in maintaining the financial integrity of the organization. She is in charge of the day to day accounting transactions and making sure that SEEP is maintaining good accounting practices.

Kristen Cortiglia, Senior Program Associate, Capacity Building

Kristen Cortiglia is a Senior Program Associate at the SEEP Network where she manages the financial, technical and operational activities of three country-level microfinance associations participating in the Network Strengthening Program. Kristen joined SEEP in 2006 after working on several capacity-building initiatives at the United Nations Development Programme, most notably a corporate-level gender mainstreaming training module for headquarters and country office staff. Kristen has more than five years experience working on issues related to women’s economic empowerment with organizations such as Human Rights Watch, V-Day, and the National Council for Research on Women. Kristen holds a B.A. in sociology from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA and an M.A. in international development from American University in Washington, DC.

Elizabeth Diebold, Intern, Capacity Building

Elizabeth provides part-time support to the Practitioner Learning Program in Youth and Workforce Development as well as the Building Alliances for HIV/AIDS-Impacted Communities PLP. She also assists with the Market Development Working Group in Economic Recovery after Crisis. Originally from Kansas City, MO, she has lived in Spain and has spent significant time in Germany, Japan, and the Netherlands. Elizabeth earned a BA in English, Peace Studies, and Women’s and Gender Studies from the University of Missouri and is currently pursuing a MA in International Economic Relations from American University.

Diana Dezso, Program Manager, Capacity Building

Diana is the Program Manager for Capacity Building and Associate Director at SEEP. She manages SEEP’s work with regional and country-level microfinance networks, as well as SEEP’s training and information dissemination services. In addition to her programmatic role, Diana assists in the development of SEEP’s institutional policy and strategic decision-making. Diana comes to SEEP from ACCION New York, the largest microfinance organization in the United States, where she developed the client financial education and technical assistance program. She has also worked with CAPA, a microfinance project of World Vision International in Romania. Diana has a Masters degree in Public Administration from New York University’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service.

Kimberly Jessen, Intern, Special Projects

Kim provides part-time program support to the Special Projects Team. Her experience abroad includes working at an orphanage in the Dominican Republic, conducting research in Panama, and studying in Spain. She also interned with the International Relations division of the US Olympic Committee. After college, Kim lived in Colorado for four years where she completed a fellowship in non-profit management with El Pomar Foundation and worked for the American Cancer Society doing fundraising and volunteer management. Kim has a BA in International Studies from UNC-Chapel Hill and is pursuing her MA in International Development at George Washington University.

Jeanne L. Long, Members Services Coordinator

Before joining SEEP, Jeanne was a Systems Administrator within the IT Security Department of Marriot International. While working at the Young Americas Business Trust (YABT), an NGO affiliated to the Organization of American States, she focused on social and economic development for the youth in the Western Hemisphere. Jeanne received her B.A. in Sociology, Anthropology and Spanish from St. Mary’s College of Maryland.

Rathi Mani, Intern, Capacity Building

Rathi graduated with a B.A. in International Relations and Spanish from Washington University in St. Louis. After teaching English in Chile post-graduation, Rathi moved to D.C. to intern with the Inter-American Dialogue researching social inclusion policies for Afro – Latinos. More recently, she spent the summer of ‘07 working with a small micro-finance NGO in Zanzibar in East Africa. Rathi is currently finishing her second year in the International Development Master’s program at American University. Rathi currently provides part-time program management support to the Capacity Building Team at SEEP.

Laura Meissner, Program Manager

Laura manages the Practitioner Learning Programs in Youth and Workforce Development and SEEP’s Strategic Alliances for HIV/AIDS Impacted Communities. She also serves as the co-facilitator of SEEP's economic recovery guidelines initiative under the MDWG, and manages the expansion of SEEP’s FRAME Tool for financial performance reporting. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Laura has lived in West Africa and Central America, as well as having conducted work for SEEP in Benin, West Bank/Gaza, Paraguay, Ethiopia, South Africa, and Iraq. Laura received her B.S. from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and her M.A. in International Development from American University.

Jenny Morgan, Senior Program Associate, Capacity Building

Jenny recently joined SEEP from the domestic microfinance sector where she managed OnTRAC (Training, Resource and Advising Center) at ACCION New York. Hailing from Alabama, Jenny has also lived in Ecuador and Italy. She received her MPA, with a specialization in nonprofit management, from New York University and her BA in International Studies from Middlebury College.

Robin Munson, Director of Finance

Robin has over twenty years of experience working in financial management for non-governmental organizations. Prior to her position at the SEEP Network, she was Director of Finance for PACT, a non-profit international development organization and was the accountant for FSI USA, a NGO working on development issues in Russia. At SEEP, Robin maintains the financial integrity of the organization. She prepares and analyzes the budget, interfaces with external auditors, and manages human resources.

Melissa Nussbaum, Special Projects Manager

Melissa manages SEEP’s special projects particularly relating to membership, fundraising, action research and capacity building. Currently, she manages grant programs focused on delivering financial services for isolated populations, value chains for the poor, and sustainable ecotourism in Central America. Before coming to SEEP, Melissa was a USAID Fellow for Save the Children-US in Vietnam, where she provided technical assistance and training in micro finance and Business Development Services (BDS) for micro enterprises. She also has five years of experience managing strategy, organization and human resources development programs in the private sector. Melissa has a Masters in Public Policy from Georgetown University and a Bachelor of Arts from Boston College.

Sabina Rogers, Intern, Capacity Building

Sabina provides part-time program management support to the Capacity Building Team at SEEP. Her previous international work experience includes leading community development and gender equity advocacy as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Togo, West Africa; and managing sports development and leadership training clinics for youth in Afghanistan. Sabina holds a B.A. in History and French from The Johns Hopkins University and a MS in Development Management from American University’s School of International Service.

Bill comes to SEEP with over 25 years of experience in Latin America and the Middle East, including extensive work with SEEP members ACCION and NCBA. Bill joined the SEEP staff in 2007, having previously served on SEEP’s Board of Directors in 2006.