2. With the realization that…
• I have passion for tackling global issues
related to poverty and inequality.
• Teaching in Title 1 schools, while important,
was not going to change the way the U.S. or
the world does education.
• I wanted to learn groundbreaking ways to
address major issues related to global
poverty.
5. • Commissioned in 2008, the MDP is an innovative
interdisciplinary graduate program sponsored by
the MacArthur Foundation.
• MDP was formed with the idea that the field of
Development needed a new kind of leader trained
to address global issues of human development
through interdisciplinary, multi-faceted approaches.
• See globalmdp.org for further information.
6. I was accepted to Emory’s
Inaugural Class of the MDP
program – set to graduate in 2012.
7. Why a risk??
• Unlike an MPH, MBA, MPA, etc. – an
MDP is foreign to potential employers.
– Upon graduation, I would be in the
first cohort from Emory and the second
cohort in the U.S. to graduate.
• As a brand new academic program
there are bound to be bumps in the
road.
• This program took $$$$$ would such
an investment yield a worthwhile
return??
8. Negative Outcomes of this Risk
• Priority was often placed on theory over practice,
rather than there being a MUCH NEEDED balance
between the two.
• Nine of our twelve member cohort have yet to find
employment. (Notice our graduating class below)
9. Positive Outcomes of this Risk
• As part of the inaugural class, I helped to develop
and shape the Emory MDP program.
• I have made an excellent network of friends and
fellow “development practitioners”.
• Field placements with CARE-Ethiopia and The Carter
Center have provided me with a diversity of “hands
on” development experience.
10. Unexpected Outcomes of this Risk
Through my work as a MDP student, I
have come to the conclusion that there
are major ethical issues with most
development programs, and therefore,
am uninterested in a career which
supports typical development
initiatives. This is a positive outcome in
some ways in that it demonstrates my
growth of thought regarding
international development and non-
*image taken from:
thebluevinecollective.org
profit work. Yet, negative in that my
career prospects seem, at present,
greatly limited.
11. For Acumen Fund this risk…
• Demonstrates my passion and dedication for
addressing global poverty issues.
• Provides me the perfect background to a be a
dynamic addition to the Acumen Fund team
as a Two-Year Program Analyst.
• Displays my intense interest in gaining the
knowledge and skills the position will provide
through working as the go-to person in
support of the Business Development and
Portfolio teams of Acumen Fund.
12. Quite frankly, only time will tell if this risk was
worth the investment, but until that time
comes, I am confident in my ability to positively
contribute to the Acumen Fund team, and
humbled by the idea of having the opportunity
to be a part of that team.
Haley
Holt
