Ms. Beran Samuelson is the Program Manager for Women Entrepreneurship and a Clinical Instructor at the Walker Center for Global Entrepreneurship. She is finishing her PhD in Political Science at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

Melissa Beran Samuelson

Ms. Beran Samuelson is primarily responsible for Thunderbird’s women entrepreneurship activities in Jordan including Maharat, Executive Training, and Project Artemis Jordan. She is also involved in Goldman Sach’s 10,000 Women Program in Afghanistan and Project Artemis Afghanistan.

Academic Background

PhD, Political Science, In Progress
Women and Gender Studies
University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Master of Arts, Political Science
Human Rights and Diversity
University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Graduate Certificate with Honors
Gender Issues and Economic Development
University of Melbourne, Australia

Bachelors of Arts, Political Science and International Studies
University of Nebraska-Lincoln

International Relief Experience

Afghanistan Relief Organization
Implemented Midwife training Program with Afghan Ministry of Health
Kabul, Afghanistan
2003-2004

Ray of Hope
Managed Income Generation Project for Women
Kathmandu, Nepal
2002

Crisis Recovery International
Disaster Relief and Aid Distribution for Sri Lanka, China, and New Orleans
Lincoln, Nebraska
2005-2008

Catholic Social Services
Cultural Adjustment Volunteer to Afghan, Iranian and Iraqi refugee women
2001-2002

Languages

Spanish – Conversant
Nepali – Conversant
Dari – Basic

Speaking Engagements

“Who’s Making Policy?  What Difference Does it Make?”
Delegate for Working and Knowledge Building Sessions

Women PeaceMakers Conference
Institute for Peace and Justice

“Women and Social Change in the Maoist Movement of Nepal”
Paper presented at the Princeton Institute of International and Regional Studies
Princeton University

“International Mindset for a Multicultural World”
Panel Discussion Leader
Nebraska International Multicultural Exchange Conference

“Islam and the Family in Afghanistan”
Guest Lecturer for Family Sciences Class
University of Nebraska-Lincoln

“Kathmandu and Kabul: Linking the World with Study Abroad”
Invited Keynote Speaker
Phi Beta Delta Award Ceremony

Awards and Honors

Phi Beta Delta, International Education Honor Society, Present – 2005
Graduate Assistantship, Department of Political Science, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2004-2005
McKelvie Scholarship Award Recipient, 2001-2002
Pi Sigma Alpha – National Political Science Honor Society, 2001
Golden Key National Honor Society, 2000
National Society of Collegiate Scholars, 2000
National Merit Scholarship Recipient, 1998-2002