In her capacity as Assistant Director at The George Washington University’s (GW) Africa Center for Health and Human Security, Alyson is responsible for developing the Center's programmatic areas throughout Africa and facilitating collaboration both within and without the University. Prior to working at GW, Alyson worked at the U.S. State Department with both the G8 Summit Planning Organization and the U.S. National Commission for UNESCO. In 2006, Alyson graduated from GW's School of Public Health with a Masters in Public Health, focusing on global health policy. She completed her undergraduate studies at Middlebury College in Vermont, where she majored in International Politics and Economics. She is currently a Ph.D. candidate in GW’s School of Public Policy and Administration in the field of international development administration. Her interests are in multidisciplinary and cross-sectoral development strategies in sub-Saharan Africa. She is a member of the African Studies Association and the Society for International Development.