Kokkalis Fellows
Mirela-Iulia Cojocaru, Romania
Born in Pitesti, Romania, Cojocaru enrolled in the two-year Master in Public Administration program in September 2009. She holds a MA in European Public Space from the National School of Political Studies and Public Administration in Bucharest, and a LLB from the University of Bucharest-Law School. Before commencing her studies at HKS, Cojocaru worked as a legal adviser for the Authority for State Assets Recovery (AVAS) at the Department of Legal Assistance and Administration-Privatization (Bucharest). She also served as an attorney at law with the “Nicolae Stanciulescu” law firm in Bucharest.
Aleksandra Drecun, Serbia
Born in Belgrade, Serbia, Drecun enrolled in the Mason Fellows/Mid-Career Master in Public Administration program in July 2009. She received a JD from the University of Belgrade-Law School. Before applying to HKS, she served as a special adviser to the minister at the Ministry for the National Investment Plan. Prior positions include, among others: secretary general to the president of the Republic of Serbia, Office of the President (under Boris Tadic); secretary-general, Ministry of Finance and Economy; coordinator of the anti-corruption activities of the Serbian Government; senior representative of the Republic of Serbia to Council of Europe Group of States against Corruption and Stability Pact Anti-Corruption Initiative; and member of the Transition Group established by former prime minister Zoran Djindjic.
Kosmas Kaprinis, Greece
A native of Thessaloniki, Kaprinis enrolled in the Master in Public Policy program in September 2008. He received a BA in Economics and International Relations at Brandeis University, and a LLB from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki-Greece. Kaprinis held internship positions with the European Commission Delegation (Washington, DC), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Greece, and the Athens 2004 Olympic Organizing Committee. He also worked as a research assistant in various projects on Southeastern Europe at the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars, the Fletcher School of Diplomacy and the Brandeis International Center for Ethics.
Angel Kelchev, Bulgaria
Born in Pazardjik, Bulgaria, Kelchev enrolled in the Master in Public Policy program in September 2009. Concurrently, he will work towards a Master in Business Administration at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Kelchev holds a BA from Stanford University. Before coming to HKS, he worked as a global technology and M&A analyst with Union Square Advisors LLC. He also served as an analyst in the same field for Lehman Brothers Inc. In addition, Kelchev initiated and lead numerous international projects with the Rotary Club and Rotaract since 2005, including a project to equip a children’s library with computers in Pazardjik; a disabilities awareness campaign in Nepal; and an initiative to eradicate blindness in Bangalore, India, among many other projects.
Ussal Sahbaz, Turkey
A native of Ankara, Turkey, Sahbaz enrolled in the Master in Public Administration in International Development program in September 2008. He holds a BS degree from the Middle East Technical University and an MA from Bilkent University, both in economics. Sahbaz currently serves as a case officer at the Turkish Competition Authority, an autonomous antitrust enforcement agency. He was involved in the establishment of Economic Policy Research Foundation (TEPAV), an Ankara-based think-tank, where he coordinated design of the initial research agenda and recruitment of the junior staff. Sahbaz also wrote speeches for the chairman of the Turkish Union of Chambers (TOBB).
George Saravelos, Greece
Born in Thessaloniki, Saravelos enrolled in the Master in Public Administration in International Development program in September 2008. He graduated with a first class BA degree in economics from Cambridge University. Prior to HKS, he worked as a foreign exchange strategist at Deutsche Bank, where he was responsible for the fundamental analysis of major currency markets. In this role, he advised the bank's largest financial, corporate and public sector clients on risks and opportunities in foreign exchange markets. He also designed and traded currency models as part of the bank's proprietary trading activities.
Simonida Subotic, Montenegro
A native of Montenegro, Subotic is a second-year student in the Master in Public Policy program, from which she will graduate in May 2010. She holds a BA from Towson University in political science and economics. Prior to commencing her studies at HKS, Subotic served as a lecturer in the Baltimore Urban Debate League, and a Refugee Program intern with Amnesty International in Washington, D.C. She also worked as a research analyst for the Regional Studies Economic Institute. During the Summer 2009 break, Subotic has an internship with the World Bank's Middle East and North Africa Vice Presidency in the Social and Economic Development group, where she is working on a case study on Lebanon's human resource management reform.
Esra Unluaslan, Turkey
Born in Bursa, Turkey, Unluaslan will enroll in the Master in Public Administration and International Development program in September 2009. She holds a BS degree in Economics and Industrial Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Before coming to HKS, she worked as a foreign exchange analyst with Goldman Sachs in New York. She also previously worked as a prime brokerage consultant with Morgan Stanley. Unluaslan is also co-founder and press representative of FINANS Network, a worldwide nonprofit organization for finance and economics professionals with the objective to advance Turkey’s economic development.