Alumni Chapter Board

Charles Davidson, President

2019, PhD Peace and Conflict Resolution

Charles Davidson joined the Carter School as research faculty in June of 2020 after completing his Ph.D. at the same institution.  His doctoral research focused on insurgent group collective action frames among Iranian Kurdish rebels. His past research also included Syrian refugee / government relations in Jordan, religion in the United States, and community level peacebuilding in war-torn societies.  

Charles directs the Political Leadership Academy and is research faculty at the Carter School. He is also scholar-practitioner of conflict resolution focusing on civil war, insurgency, and vulnerable populations with over a decade of experience in economic peacebuilding in war-torn countries working most recently in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and previously in Iraq, Afghanistan, Uganda, Colombia, and Burundi. He has conducted scholarly research in Iraq, Jordan, Indonesia, Tunisia, and across Europe.

Cindra Rehman, Director At Large

2001 - Peace and Conflict Resolution, M.S. 

Cindra Rehman, is a newly elected director on the Carter School Alumni Chapter Board. Rehman is currently a partnership coordinator in the Diversity, Development and Outreach Team of the National Partnership Office. She has been a federal employee for 23 years and has worked for the IRS, Bureau of Land Management, Bonneville Power Administration and now for the second time in her career, with the Forest Service.

Cindra graduated in 2001 with a master's degree in conflict resolution from the Institute of Conflict Analysis and Resolution (ICAR) before it was renamed Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution and has experience in grants and agreements. She enjoys going running when its not raining and spending time with her three adult children in Vancouver, Washington.  

Kristin Christakis, Director At Large

2012 - Malta Dual Degree Program M.S./M.A.

Kristin Christakis is a 2012 graduate of the Malta Dual Degree Program (MS/MA). She is currently the senior manager, corporate trust, at Boston Consulting Group (BCG), and is based in Atlanta, Georgia. She has previously held roles at Wiley, a global publisher, where she developed and managed their social impact program, as well as Athenahealth, Stanford University, and the Carter Center. Additionally, Kristin helped launch the Heartland Initiative, a nonprofit organization focused on business and human rights. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends (and pup!), practicing yoga and Pilates, reading, traveling, and scuba diving.

Hussein Halane, Treasurer

2005 - MS in Conflict Analysis and Resolution

Hussein Halane, MA '05, graduated with a degree in conflict analysis and resolution from School of Conflict Analysis and Resolution (renamed the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution in 2020). Halane is serving a second term as treasurer for the Carter School Alumni Chapter Board. 

During his career he served as minister of finance and treasury in and previously worked for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and as former East Africa director for the Save the Children NGO. He has worked in various capacities to include entrepreneurship, government, and the private sector. He also has personal interest in global investments.

Ce Garrison, Vice President

2012 - BA Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution 

Ce Garrison, BA '12, graduated with a degree in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution, from Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution. Garrison believes alumni have a responsibility to students to speak of the numerous pathways available in this widely applicable and multidisciplinary area. The alumni have a unique platform to be mentors and supporters of students and their dreams while geographically connecting alumni everywhere, which creates a network that supports continued growth of a professional group of colleagues. 

Garrison is active in community and organizations such as: Alpha Phi Omega, CARmunity (Conflict Analysis and Resolution student group), Environmental Action Group, Animal Rights Collective, GMU Organic Garden Association, and Progressive Student Alliance.

Caroline Echea, Secretary

2022 - Conflict Analysis and Resolution 

Caroline Echea, BA '22, graduated from the Carter School with a degree in Conflict Analysis and Resolution. Echea joined the alumni chapter to serve students and alumni a variety of ways such as networking, sharing experiences, insights, and opportunities with fellow and future alum. Her goal is to continue to help the alumni chapter build a supportive community, connect alumni globally and encourage alumni to stay engaged. As a recent graduate she also encourages mentorship opportunities and finding career resources for students that offer guidance, advice, and support. Part of her focus will be on inspiring fellow alum to be involved in creating programming, events, and initiatives in alignment with the school's mission and the field of conflict analysis and resolution.

Mark Finney, Director At Large

2002 - MS, Conflict Analysis and Resolution 

Mark Finney, MA '20, received his master's in conflict analysis and resolution from the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution. He strives to combine the insights and methodologies of conflict theory and mass communication theories into a broad approach for understanding international conflict and the relationship between conflict and media, focusing on news writing, media theory, conflict analysis, and media literacy.

He believes he can best serve students and alumni by working to have a more engaged and active alumni chapter, which organizes and disseminates ideas, examples and opportunities to its members, can have a goal that provides useful structure for alumni in the field, classroom, and lab. This shared work can contribute to building peace, identifying and addressing the underlying causes of conflict, and providing tools for peacebuilding on the local, national, and global stages.

Photo credit: Emery & Henry College, Media and Communication Department