Rachel is a second-year master’s candidate focusing in Conflict Resolution and Southwest Asian & Islamic Civilization, with a particular interest in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Prior to Fletcher, Rachel interned at The Carter Center and CARE, was a Teach For America corps member, and volunteered with the Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Commission Diaspora Project. Rachel graduated with a BA in Middle East Studies from Brown University. She just returned from a summer in Jerusalem, and will write her thesis on the implementation of UN Resolution 1325 among Israeli and Palestinian women’s groups in Israel, and the potential for greater female involvement in formal negotiations.

Lauren Dorgan is a first-year MALD candidate at The Fletcher School focusing on Southwest Asia and Islamic Studies and Security Studies. Before Fletcher, Lauren worked as a political reporter at the Concord (N.H.) Monitor, covering the presidential race and a wide variety of state political issues. Before that, she worked as a desk assistant at the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer. She graduated from Harvard University with a B.A. in History. She plans to enter the public sector after graduation.