Agenda
USmax Corporation 
Conference Center, 1st floor
3060 Williams Drive, Fairfax, VA 22031 (Dunn Loring Metro)
Focus: SDF 2024-2026 Class Launch, Employment Onboarding, USmax Intro, Setting Your Intention for Success
8:45 - 9:15am
Check-in, Materials Distribution, Coffee/Refreshments, Meet and Greet
9:15 - 9:30am
Welcome and Setting the Stage
Overview of SDF and its aims; orientation objectives – what it is and what it isn't – and highlights of opportunities ahead.
- Cynthia Robinson, Director of Fellowships, USmax / SDF Executive Director
9:30 - 9:55am
Fellows’ Icebreaker
- Lenore Webb, Professional Development Manager, SDF
10:00 - 12:30pm
SDF Fellows as Institutional Support Contractors/Employment
Fellows employed via USmax, led by Amy Lourenco/Kathy Cori, HR Management, USmax
Fellows employed via SSI, led by Brandy Jones, Sr. Vice President for HR, SSI
10:00 - 10:40am
Deltek Set-Up and Log-On, Timesheet Overview
USmax Operations Staff, USmax; Brandy Jones, SSI
Security Clearance Responsibilities and Requirements (all fellows)
USmax Operations Staff
10:40 - 10:55am
BREAK
10:55 - 12:20pm
HR Orientation – I-9 Document Collection, ADP Overview, Policy Review, Benefits Overview
- Amy Lourenco/Kathy Cori, HR Management, USmax
- Brandy Jones, SSI HR
12:20 - 12:30pm
Leadership Introduction
- David Pak, USmax President
- Erin Pak, USmax CEO
12:30 - 1:30pm
Welcome Lunch Onsite – Networking with Fellows
1:30 - 2:15pm
Fellowship Expectations
Fellowship Roles, Relationships as ISCs with USmax/SSI and USAID, Ethics, Administrative Processes, Performance Management
- Kira Mock, Fellowship Program Manager, SDF
Professional Development, Fellowship Ambassador Responsibilities, Mentoring Opportunities
- Lenore Webb, Professional Development Manager, SDF
MEL and Performance Evaluation
- Megan Guidrey, MEL Manager, SDF
2:15 - 2:30pm
BREAK
2:45 - 4:45pm
The Many Ways Fellows Contribute to USAID’s Success: Creating a Win-Win Experience
This interactive session addresses establishing a Fellowship Mindset, setting goals and milestones, and strategies to achieve them. Fellows will also brainstorm and map their own fellowship professional development plan (PDP), addressing both hurdles and opportunities.
- Esther Zeledón, PhD and Paul Rivera, PhD, Be.Act.Change
4:45 - 5:00pm
Q&A, Wrap-up and Preparation for Days 2-5 in Washington, DC
- Cynthia Robinson, Director of Fellowships, USmax / SDF Executive Director
George Washington University
University Student Center – Room 405
800 21st Street, NW, Washington, DC 20052 (Foggy Bottom Metro)
Focus: USAID Welcome, Overview, Priorities, Navigating the Agency
8:45 - 9:00am
Check-in, Coffee, Morning Networking
9:00 - 9:30am
Fellow Connections Icebreaker - “Speed Bonding”
To facilitate connections, Fellows will be paired to chat and exchange answers to questions about one another, rotating partners over three rounds.
- Lenore Webb, Professional Development Manager, SDF
9:30 - 10:00am
USAID Welcome & Fellowship Context: A History of Engaging Scientists and Engineers
The leader of the S&T Fellowships Team introduces the context behind USAID’s work with scientists and engineers over the past 42 years to address international development challenges. She will also introduce senior leadership from the Bureau for Inclusive Growth, Partnerships and Innovation, who will provide further insights into USAID structure, priorities, and advances.
- Michelle L’Archeveque Jones, Senior Science & Research Program Manager, USAID IPI/ITR/R S&T Fellowships Team Lead
10:00 - 10:15am
Welcome from Senior Leadership, Bureau for Inclusive Growth, Partnerships, and Innovation
- Michael Metzler, Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator, USAID/IPI
10:15 - 10:45am
USAID Overview: Agency History, Mission, Structure, Priorities
This session will provide an overview of key international development issues at USAID such as agriculture and food security, climate and environmental protection, global health, why these are important, and how USAID is engaging with them.
- Mohamed Abdel-Kader, Chief Innovation Officer and Executive Director, USAID/ITR
10:45 - 11:00am
BREAK
11:00am - 12:15pm
Navigating USAID: The Inner Workings of the Agency
Have you been wondering how USAID actually operates? This session will discuss the structure and processes that support Agency operations, and provide you with the foundational knowledge and skills to navigate it effectively as a Fellow. We’ll share everything from key terminology to email etiquette to tips for navigating bureaucracy to help you confidently begin your tenure at USAID.
- USAID S&T Fellowships Team
12:15 - 1:15pm
Networking Lunch with S&T Alumni Fellows: Advice on Best Practices in S&T Fellowships
1:15 - 3:15pm
Localization: A Pillar of Successful, Sustainable Global Development
Featuring two former USAID leadership staff and S&T Fellowship alumni with in-depth knowledge and experience, this session compares historical and current research practices in locally led development to illustrate the power and impact of this approach on successful and sustainable social, cultural, and scientific partnerships and projects.
- Esther Zeledón, PhD and Paul Rivera , PhD, Be.Act.Change
3:15 - 3:30pm
Break
3:30 - 4:45pm
Inclusive Development and the Role of Gender Equality in Global Stability and Well-Being
An international expert on this critical topic at USAID will lead this session on the importance of inclusive development, addressing gender issues, disabilities, mental health, ethics of research overseas with marginalized communities, and related challenges USAID is facing globally.
- Abir Aldhalimi, PhD Senior Inclusive Development Advisor, USAID
4:45 - 5:00pm
Q&A, Evaluation, Wrap-up
- Lenore Webb, SDF
George Washington University
Science and Engineering Hall – Room B1270
800 22nd St Street, NW, Washington, DC 20052 (Foggy Bottom Metro)
Focus: Federal Policy Realm, Federal Budget Process, Interagency Collaboration, Navigating Challenging Conversations at USAID
8:45 - 9:00am
Check-in, Coffee, Morning Networking
9:00 - 10:30am
The Wild, Wacky, Wonderful World of Policy
This session provides historical context for the U.S. federal policymaking system, and reviews the many stakeholders that influence policy and examples of the different ways they engage.
- Charles Cushman , PhD, Dean, U.S. Naval Community College
10:30 - 10:45am
Break
10:45 - 12:15pm
USAID within the Broader Executive Branch and Connections to the Legislative Branch
Dr. Lara Campbell will focus on how the President of the United States receives S&T input to set and carry out an evidence-informed agenda and policies; highlights the executive branch coordinating function of the President’s Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and the expert consulting role of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST).
Dr. Ryan Shelby will outline how the U.S. Congress impacts the advancement and use of S&T across the nation and internationally through legislation and funding. He highlights the role of various House and Senate committees with jurisdiction over S&T generally and foreign assistance specifically and clarifies Congressional oversight of USAID and its impact on the Agency’s global development mission and activities.
- Ryan Shelby, PhD, Congressional Liaison Officer, USAID
- Lara Campbell , PhD, Executive Director, PCAST, The White House
Welcome from Dr. Erica Gralla, Associate Professor, School of Engineering and Applied Science, George Washington University.
12:15 - 1:15pm
Networking Lunch with USAID S&T Alumni, Speakers
1:15 - 2:15pm
The Federal Budget Process: Let’s talk about how you get paid - from Congress to Contract
This session covers the specifics of the federal budgeting process as it relates to executive and legislative branch agencies and their impact on USAID. Includes an interactive exercise.
- Maggie Linak, PhD, Program Officer and Senior Scientist, IPI/ITR/R, USAID S&T Fellowships Team
2:15 - 3:15pm
Role-Play Scenarios - Navigating Challenging Conversations at USAID
This session utilizes real-life scenarios and gives Fellows opportunities to practice and ask questions to handle unfamiliar or awkward situations at USAID. These include following proper procedures and protocols, cultural expectations, responding respectfully and diplomatically to decisions you may not agree with.
- S&T Fellowships Team, USAID
3:15 - 3:30pm
Break
3:30 - 4:00pm
Presidential Election Years: Impact on US Government Operations, Policies, Civil Service, USAID and You!
With the 2024 election just around the corner, this session provides examples of transitions from past elections and how they have impacted USAID operations and participating S&T Fellows
- Maggie Linak, PhD, Program Officer and Senior Scientist, IPI/ITR/R, USAID S&T Fellowships Team
4:00 - 4:45pm
Q&A, Fellows Connection and Reflection, Wrap-up
- SDF Team
George Washington University
Science and Engineering Hall – Room B1270
800 22nd St Street, NW, Washington, DC 20052 (Foggy Bottom Metro)
Focus: Science for Evidence-Informed Policy, Decision-Making, and Action in International Development; Impact of Effective Partnerships
8:45 - 9:00am
Check-in, Coffee, Morning Networking
9:00 - 9:30am
Recap and Feedback, Q&A
- Lenore Webb, SDF Team
9:30 - 10:30am
Science for Evidence-informed International Development
This session will provide an overview of how USAID uses evidence to inform decision making and the policies that support this work. Fellows will learn about some ways that USAID brings research and evidence to USAID programming, and efforts to strengthen research capacity in the countries where we serve. Focusing on real-life examples, this session will also explore scientific integrity, including the operational realities that can make evidence use challenging.
- Emmanuella Delva , PhD, Managing Director for Research Policy, Innovation, Technology, and Research (ITR) Hub, USAID
10:30 - 10:45am
Break
10:45 - 12:00pm
Translating Science to Inform Decision-Making & Action: Workshop Part I
This session provides an overview and interactive simulation using ASU’s Participatory Technology Assessment for Just and Inclusive Decision- Making/Policy (pTA), which ASU has used with ongoing projects with global governance implications.
- Mahmud Farooque, PhD, Associate Director, Center for Science, Policy & Outcomes (CSPO), Arizona State University
- Amanda Borth, PhD, Associate Researcher, CSPO, Arizona State University
12:00 - 1:00pm
Networking Lunch
1:00 - 2:30pm
Translating Science to Inform Decision-Making & Action: Workshop Part 2
Fellows will have the opportunity to review and discuss the implications of their simulation activity in a real-world setting.
- Mahmud Farooque, PhD, Associate Director,CSPO, Arizona State University
- Amanda Borth, PhD, Associate Researcher, CSPO, Arizona State University
2:30 - 2:45pm
Break
2:45 - 4:00pm
Getting the Work Done: USAID and Implementing Partners - Foreign Governments, HEIs, NGOs, Private Sector
USAID works with more than 4,000 public, private, and nonprofit organizations in 100+ countries, which are essential to helping USAID address its mission related to democratization and ending poverty across the globe. Representatives from USAID and implementing partners will share how these partnerships help USAID expand its reach.
Moderator:
- Genevieve Maricle, Senior Humanitarian-Development-Peace Advisor, Office of Policy, USAID
Panelists:
HEIs: - Matt Bunyi, Director of Executive Education and Strategic Initiatives, Duke University
NGOs: - Emily Bondank, PhD, Water and Sanitation Advisor, USAID
Private Sector: - Adam Tomasek , Private Sector Engagement Hub, USAID
4:00 - 4:30pm
Wrap-up, Q&A, Feedback
George Washington University
University Student Center – Room 309
800 21st Street, NW, Washington, DC 20052 (Foggy Bottom Metro)
Focus: Applied S&T at USAID - R2A Framework, Advice from Host Office Managers and Former Fellows, A Call to Action
8:45 - 9:00am
Check-in, Coffee, Morning Networking
9:00 - 9:30am
Recap and Feedback, Q&A
- Lenore Webb, SDF
9:30 - 12:30pm (break included)
Pathways that Advance Evidence-Based Scientific Thinking at USAID: Introduction to R2A Framework (Interactive Workshop)
USAID Trainers trained by the Research Technical Assistance Center (RTAC) will conduct a workshop on the Research 2 Action (R2A) Framework, a planning resource that helps scientists and engineers develop research utilization goals and objectives. Fellows will be guided to look for application to their discipline, research, and future career goals.
- USAID S&T Fellowships Team
12:30 - 12:45pm
Group Photos (3rd Floor Terrace pending weather conditions)
12:50 - 2:30pm
Networking and Celebration Lunch
2:30 - 3:30pm
Advice from USAID Host Office Managers and Former S&T Fellows: Fostering a Win-Win Environment for a Mutually Beneficial Fellowship
This session is led by experienced Host Office Managers and former S&T Fellows at USAID. They will provide perspectives - as USAID managers and Fellows - on expectations, communication, and proactive practices that contribute to a successful fellowship experience.
Moderator:
- Cynthia Robinson, Director of Fellowships, USmax / SDF Executive Director
Panelists:
- Tyrell Kahan, DVM, Supervisory Agricultural Development Officer, Bureau for Resilience and Food Security, USAID
- Meera Venkatesan, PhD, Malaria Division Chief and Agency Lead for President’s Malaria Initiative, USAID
- Zachary Baquet, PhD, Strategy and Learning Advisor, Learning Team Lead, Bureau for Resilience and Food Security, USAID
3:30 - 3:45pm
BREAK
3:45 - 4:30pm
Closing Perspectives: A Call to Action
This final keynote, led by a former Chief Scientist and S&T Fellow at USAID, will emphasize the value of moving science “beyond the lab and academic halls” to contribute to public service. Fellows will be guided to reflect on and generate their own skills list and approaches as they pursue a rewarding career in international development at USAID.
- Ticora Jones, PhD, Chief Science Officer, Natural Resources Defense Council, former Chief Scientist and Managing Director for Research, USAID
4:30 - 5:00pm
Next Steps, Feedback, Wrap-up
This final session provides a summary of next steps in the fellowship, expectations going forward, upcoming events, resources and support available from the SDF program staff to help make the most of the year.
- Cynthia Robinson, Director of Fellowships, USmax / SDF Executive Director
- Lenore Webb, Professional Development Manager, SDF
- Michelle L’Archeveque Jones, USAID