ELECTIONS - Officer Candidate statements

1. ASSOCIATION CO-CHAIRS
(3 candidates)

Satish Jha
I would like to help energize the Fletcher Community in Washington DC area as a vibrant, engaged community that can help connect hundreds of Fletcher Alums in DC region on an on-going basis. Nothing will please me more than to see this Group becoming a support structure for helping every Fletcher Alum move beyond they would in normal course of life. Of course, I will be glad to carry out the responsibilities associated with the role as needed. However, my goal will be to build on the momentum created so far and take it to the next level of energy and togetherness.

Uzma Wahhab
I am running for an Acting Co-chair position, and, in the alternate, a Programs Committee co-chair. My goal is to continue the good work that is already being carried out by the Fletcher Club in providing alum an opportunity to stay connected to one another and to develop an active Fletcher community here in DC.
Since graduating, many Fletcherites have expressed how much they miss being a part of a community with diverse intellectual interests. While at Fletcher, we all experienced the benefit of hearing multiple perspectives on the hot button issues. Ultimately, I believe that exposure to these perspectives help all of us develop better analytical tools with which we can understand our work, the world around us, and both "big P" and little "p" politics.
I hope that I can help serve the needs of the alumni community here by organizing events that give Fletcherites the opportunity to socialize, continue to learn, and expand their networks in DC.

Kevin Newman
Working with the Committee members, as Co-Chair I would target three main areas: 1) outreach & inclusion of alumni who graduated over 10 years ago, 2) focus on developing functional groups who shared expertise, particularly targeting areas where there may be overlap, e.g. cooperative role of development / diplomacy / military in a changing global engagement, and 3) active cooperation with other Fletcher Alumni clubs, as well as other APSIA or professional schools. We have perhaps the most powerful latent network in DC of like-minded globalists that has never been fully utilized. Let's begin sharing our collective experiences, professionally and personally, by bringing in older alumni and our colleagues currently living away from DC. I ask for your support to be the next Co-Chair of the Fletcher Alumni Association of DC.

2. TREASURER
(1 candidate)

Arturo Ramos
I am a 2001 graduate of the Fletcher School and have served as the Washington Fletcher Club's Treasurer for the past three years, a role which I enjoy and endeavor to fulfill to the best of my ability. Serving as Treasurer allows me to contribute my skills and energy to a community that is an important part of my life in Washington D.C. and to build upon the work of past club officers who have brought the club together. Should I continue as Treasurer I will work to make the Club's finances more transparent and build upon past fundraising successes to strengthen the Club's financial position so as to allow it to continue valuable programs and activities.

3. SECRETARY
(no candidates)