Team Members | Spes Nova

Dana Nelson / Co-Lead Steering Committee

Dana Nelson is an experienced researcher and practitioner in the field of corporate responsibility, human rights advocacy, sustainable development, and micro-lending. She holds a B.A. in International Political Economy from Fordham University, where she served as President of Students for Fair Trade and the Strategic Lead for Spes Nova from 2015 to 2018. After Fordham, she received her Master’s Degree from the internationally recognized Centre of Development Studies at The University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom. There she pursued research pertaining to emerging trends in corporate social responsibility and private sector involvement in sustainable development.

After Cambridge, she was sponsored by USAID to work in Accra, Ghana with Ethical Apparel Africa to build out robust social and environmental compliance standards for the region’s emerging garment industry. Specializing in workers’ rights and safety, the project helped ensure proper treatment and dignity for the predominantly low-income, female workforce. She currently works as an Investment & Strategy Analyst at Equivico, a women-owned asset management firm focused on scaling responsible small business lending supported by the National Community Reinvestment Coalition, a reputable grassroots organization devoted to expanding inclusivity and fairness in housing, lending, and business.

Ithiel Egambaram / Co-Lead of Steering Committee

Ithiel Egambaram is a graduate student studying International Political Economy and Development at Fordham University, New York. Ithiel was born and raised in Africa’s last absolute monarchy - eSwatini, and completed his undergraduate and honors degree in Econometrics at the University of Pretoria in South Africa. Prior to co-leading the steering committee of Spes Nova, Ithiel served as an assistant lecturer at the University of Pretoria’s Department of Economics. He is interested in the issues of economic inequality and development.

Victor Sapkota / Co-Lead of Steering Committee

Victor is an international graduate student pursuing an MA degree in International Political Economy and Development at Fordham University, New York. Prior to joining Spes Nova, he interned at UNICEF in Kathmandu, Nepal. He now co-manages Spes Nova’s operations and external visibility through exploring possible initiatives for the organization. He will be interning abroad with the Catholic Relief Services starting January 2021. He is passionate about empowering local communities in the developing world to break the cycles of poverty through education and employment.

Fordham University Team Members

Elizabeth Kane / Leader of Fordham University's Fair Trade Club

Elizabeth Kane is a junior at Fordham University's Fordham College at Rose Hill studying International Political Economy, minoring in Business Administration from the Gabelli School of Business. She has been involved with Spes Nova since her freshman year, focusing on business development. She is also the treasurer of the club Students for Fair Trade where she works closely with Spes Nova to spread awareness of the fair trade movement within the Fordham community and beyond.

Julia Stusnick / Leader of Fordham University's Fair Trade Club

Julia Stusnick is a freshman at Fordham University’s Gabelli School of Business with a Marketing major. As a service learner for Spes Nova, she helps the Social Media team to accomplish its goals in expanding its outreach and raising awareness of fair trade business practices. She joined this organization because she has a passion for business that promotes social justice and empowers its employees through fair labor practices. She is looking forward to expanding her knowledge on sustainable businesses and using social media as a marketing tool. Her hobbies include photography, running, and travelling.

Girishas Team Members

Kapil Ojha / Technical Lead

Project Lead Manager

St. Thomas Aquinas College Team Members

Desiree Bermudez / Team Member

TBD

Spes Nova Corporate

Fordham University Team Members

Girishas Team Members

St. Thomas Aquinas College Team Members