Bios
Joel F. Clark, Ph.D.
Joel Clark earned his Ph.D. in political science from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1998. He has presented and published many scholarly papers on American political reform, civics and global education, and state activities in international affairs.
Clark also conducts research and consults with education institutions on careers and internships, and is the author of Intern to Success (Houghton Mifflin) and Careers in Political Science (Longman). He speaks regularly to students and professional groups about career development, and his advice about internships has been profiled in yearly editions of Peterson's Internships. Clark's scholarly includes two grant projects. One project, sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities, developed web-based learning resources for Arlington County schools. A second project, sponsored by Annenberg and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, produced a 12-part video series entitled Democracy in America. Clark has helped create and direct several DC academic programs, including the University of North Carolina’s (14-campus) UNC in Washington program, and the Michigan State University and the University of Mississippi Washington, DC programs. Most recently, he was director of the UC Berkeley Washington program. Clark also developed and continues to teach a fully online course for UC Berkeley, Experiential Learning, Context, Self-Reflection and Professional Development, which is offered simultaneously to interns working around the globe.
Joel Clark earned his Ph.D. in political science from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1998. He has presented and published many scholarly papers on American political reform, civics and global education, and state activities in international affairs.
Clark also conducts research and consults with education institutions on careers and internships, and is the author of Intern to Success (Houghton Mifflin) and Careers in Political Science (Longman). He speaks regularly to students and professional groups about career development, and his advice about internships has been profiled in yearly editions of Peterson's Internships. Clark's scholarly includes two grant projects. One project, sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities, developed web-based learning resources for Arlington County schools. A second project, sponsored by Annenberg and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, produced a 12-part video series entitled Democracy in America. Clark has helped create and direct several DC academic programs, including the University of North Carolina’s (14-campus) UNC in Washington program, and the Michigan State University and the University of Mississippi Washington, DC programs. Most recently, he was director of the UC Berkeley Washington program. Clark also developed and continues to teach a fully online course for UC Berkeley, Experiential Learning, Context, Self-Reflection and Professional Development, which is offered simultaneously to interns working around the globe.
Fernando Lopez-Alves, Ph.D.
Fernando Lopez-Alves earned his Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of California, Los Angeles. Currently, he is Professor of Sociology at the University of California, Santa Barbara, His research interests and teaching areas include Political Sociology, Comparative Historical Sociology, Latin American Society and Politics, and Comparative Institutions. Lopez-Alves has published seven books as author or editor including Globalization and Uncertainty in Latin America, (Palgrave/MacMillan); Seven Scenarios for the Twentieth First Century (Siete Escenarios para el Siglo XXI), and The Origins of Democracy and State Formation in the Americas (Duke University Press). His publications also include articles in professional journals, chapters in edited volumes, and articles in newspapers and other media. Lopez-Alves is also Associate Director, Center for Global Studies, at University of CEMA, Buenos Aires, and past Director of the UC Santa Barbara, Washington, DC program. He has completed several research fellowships including positions at United States Institute of Peace, Inter-America Foundation, and Woodrow Wilson School of Public Policy and International Affairs.
Fernando Lopez-Alves earned his Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of California, Los Angeles. Currently, he is Professor of Sociology at the University of California, Santa Barbara, His research interests and teaching areas include Political Sociology, Comparative Historical Sociology, Latin American Society and Politics, and Comparative Institutions. Lopez-Alves has published seven books as author or editor including Globalization and Uncertainty in Latin America, (Palgrave/MacMillan); Seven Scenarios for the Twentieth First Century (Siete Escenarios para el Siglo XXI), and The Origins of Democracy and State Formation in the Americas (Duke University Press). His publications also include articles in professional journals, chapters in edited volumes, and articles in newspapers and other media. Lopez-Alves is also Associate Director, Center for Global Studies, at University of CEMA, Buenos Aires, and past Director of the UC Santa Barbara, Washington, DC program. He has completed several research fellowships including positions at United States Institute of Peace, Inter-America Foundation, and Woodrow Wilson School of Public Policy and International Affairs.
Steve Selby
Steve Selby’s Washington, DC experiences span the fields of communications, governmental affairs, and higher education. His specialties include strategic writing, where he crafts speeches, papers, and opinion pieces for clients including AARP, Close Up and the Benton Foundation. Selby’s advocacy roles included lobbying Congress on behalf of the Governor of Puerto Rico, focusing on programs impacting low-income populations including AFDC, nutrition assistance and Medicaid, and managing statewide campaigns for the Healthcare Association of New York State. Selby also coordinated programs with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, placing hundreds of AmeriCorps members in positions serving homeless populations throughout the country. As Senior Vice President at Squire Knapp Dunn, Selby managed strategic communications campaigns involving television, print and radio advertising, and public relations for non-profit, business and political clients which included Rockefeller for Senate, Coloradans for Responsible Growth, Iridium Satellite, the TransAtlantic Business Dialogue, the French-American Business Council, NetCoalition, and Columbia University. In the field of education, he is the founding faculty member for Michigan State University’s Washington Semester Program, where he teaches courses combining policy issues and career development skills for undergraduate students. Selby holds a degree in History from UC Santa Cruz.
Steve Selby’s Washington, DC experiences span the fields of communications, governmental affairs, and higher education. His specialties include strategic writing, where he crafts speeches, papers, and opinion pieces for clients including AARP, Close Up and the Benton Foundation. Selby’s advocacy roles included lobbying Congress on behalf of the Governor of Puerto Rico, focusing on programs impacting low-income populations including AFDC, nutrition assistance and Medicaid, and managing statewide campaigns for the Healthcare Association of New York State. Selby also coordinated programs with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, placing hundreds of AmeriCorps members in positions serving homeless populations throughout the country. As Senior Vice President at Squire Knapp Dunn, Selby managed strategic communications campaigns involving television, print and radio advertising, and public relations for non-profit, business and political clients which included Rockefeller for Senate, Coloradans for Responsible Growth, Iridium Satellite, the TransAtlantic Business Dialogue, the French-American Business Council, NetCoalition, and Columbia University. In the field of education, he is the founding faculty member for Michigan State University’s Washington Semester Program, where he teaches courses combining policy issues and career development skills for undergraduate students. Selby holds a degree in History from UC Santa Cruz.
Melody Johnson
Melody Johnson has worked in DC academic programs for over 20 years, most recently as program manager with the UC Santa Barbara Washington, DC program, where she is responsible for placing all students in DC internships. Johnson has assisted in the development, recruiting, marketing, implementation and administration of various international education exchange programs, including those in Asia and Latin America. She has also consulted with several universities in setting up DC academic internship programs. Johnson holds a degree in English from Chico State University.
Melody Johnson has worked in DC academic programs for over 20 years, most recently as program manager with the UC Santa Barbara Washington, DC program, where she is responsible for placing all students in DC internships. Johnson has assisted in the development, recruiting, marketing, implementation and administration of various international education exchange programs, including those in Asia and Latin America. She has also consulted with several universities in setting up DC academic internship programs. Johnson holds a degree in English from Chico State University.
GRAZIANO PASCALE. Senior Consultant Lawyer, Journalist, Writer. Pascale holds a Law Degree from the Law School of the Universidad de la Republica, Uruguay, and also an MA in Political Science from the same University. He has been a Fulbright Scholar at the University of California, USA, and at the Universidad de Firenze, Italy. At present, he is the Director of CONTRAVIENTO a social science and political studies weekly published in Montevideo, Uruguay.
Omar Shamoon
Director of Language Instruction
Omar Shamoon has several years of experience in the fields of language instruction and translation, including as senior instructor at 21st Century Learning Center, and as a professional tutor at Oakton Professional Center, where he taught English to international students including those participating in diplomatic exchange programs between South Korea and the U.S. Shamoon has also participated in exchange programs involving Jordan and Kuwait, and Directed the Washington Seminar for Peace, which conducted world wide contributions to help end Middle Eastern conflicts through peaceful interacting, negotiation and reconciliation. A native of Iraq, Shamoon holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government and International Politics, and a Certificate in Foreign Language Interpretation and Translation from George Mason University.
Director of Language Instruction
Omar Shamoon has several years of experience in the fields of language instruction and translation, including as senior instructor at 21st Century Learning Center, and as a professional tutor at Oakton Professional Center, where he taught English to international students including those participating in diplomatic exchange programs between South Korea and the U.S. Shamoon has also participated in exchange programs involving Jordan and Kuwait, and Directed the Washington Seminar for Peace, which conducted world wide contributions to help end Middle Eastern conflicts through peaceful interacting, negotiation and reconciliation. A native of Iraq, Shamoon holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government and International Politics, and a Certificate in Foreign Language Interpretation and Translation from George Mason University.
