Sarah Chaney Reichenbach

4515 Willard Ave 609S, Chevy Chase, MD | 720-985-3227 | sarahchaney15@gmail.com

Personal
Statement

Flexible and focused international affairs graduate with over two years experience in international
conflict resolution and human rights advocacy, focusing primarily on genocide and mass atrocity,
government transparency and accountability, civil society development, transitional justice, and
post-conflict stabilization and peacebuilding.
Experience conducting in-depth research with primary sources at home and abroad to create
exceptional written deliverables. Ability to work professionally in the field, including in postconflict zones, to promote reconciliation and sustainable development. Experience advocating for
governmental transparency by obtaining, analyzing, and publishing declassified government
documentation. Effective utilization of social media, web development, and photography and
videography for educational and promotional purposes. Demonstrated French language proficiency.

Areas of
Expertise

Education

International human rights and humanitarian law.

Transitional justice and governmental accountability.
Genocide, mass atrocity, and human rights abuses.
Academic writing and reporting.
Social media advocacy, including blog writing and video production.
Research and program development and implementation in the field.

The George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs

M.A. in International Affairs, Concentration in Conflict & Conflict Resolution
Washington, D.C., Expected May 2016
GPA: 3.81
Capstone: "Stable Governance in Somalia: Overcoming the Challenges of al-Shabaab as a
Transnational Criminal Enterprise," with field research conducted in Nairobi, Kenya.
The University of Northern Colorado
B.A. International Affairs, Emphasis in Africa & the Middle East, Cum Laude
B.A. Theatre Arts, Cum Laude
Greeley, CO, May 2014
GPA: 3.72
Thesis: "The State of Anti-European Union Political Parties in Britain, France, and Germany."

Professional
Experience

January 2015-Present
Research Associate & Project Coordinator
National Security Archive, Washington, D.C.
Lead the Genocide Documentation Project to advocate for more robust genocide
prevention policies and protect the lives of civilians in conflict zones.
Prioritize and define research objectives for Rwanda, Srebrenica, and Darfur project
phases.
Obtain documentary evidence through hundreds of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
requests, resulting in the release of thousands of declassified documents.
Analyze declassified documents to assess governmental, military, humanitarian, and
international relationships in the face of mass atrocities.
Write and publish electronic briefing books that identify failures of the international
community and military actors in cases of mass atrocity against civilians and make
recommendations for future policy.
Maintain open and efficient communications with stakeholders at the U.S. Holocaust
Memorial Museum to facilitate projects and overlapping deadlines.

Professional
Experience
(cont.)

May 2015-August 2015

2015 Peace Fellow
The Advocacy Project, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Supported and expanded programs of the grassroots organization, BOSFAM, to forge
relationships with women survivors of the 1995 Srebrenica genocide.
Developed a strategic plan with the organizations director that revitalized their diverse
portfolio of training and community outreach programs.
Advocated for survivors economic independence and psychosocial well-being to local
and international communities in a professional and culturally-sensitive manner through
six blogs, two original videos, and hundreds of photos.
Conceptualized and executed a successful crowdfunding campaign for the repairs of their
facilities to allow women in need of a safe space to produce handicrafts and earn an
income for their families.
Produced a bi-lingual exhibition of BOSFAMs memorial quilts highlighting the
organizations peacebuilding programs at the 20th anniversary ceremony of the Srebrenica
genocide.
Served as a liaison between BOSFAM and its Washington, D.C. partner, The Advocacy
Project, to coordinate objectives and negotiate partner agreements.
June 2014-May 2015
Director Leading Research, Staffing, and PR
Results International, Washington, D.C.
Led independent policy research in various industries by collecting primary data for
writing and distributing reports.
Managed teams working on policy research, public relations, social media, and student
outreach for effective project completion by setting deadlines for, and communicating
with staff.
August 2014-December 2014
Communications Intern
Education for Peace in Iraq Center, Washington, D.C.
Monitored the developing crisis in Iraq to develop recommendations for U.S. officials,
and international and non-governmental organizations.
Identified trends, gaps, and opportunities for humanitarian assistance for internally
displaced Iraqis to support program implementation focused on IDP youth outreach and
education.
Devised a cohesive narrative of the Iraqi crisis through the organizations blogs, social
media channels, and podcasts.

Professional
Skills

Foreign Languages
English (native)
French (working proficiency in speaking and writing)
Bosnian (novice)
Research Skills
Qualitative research methods
Policy research
Legal research and writing
Database management
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, research, and appeals process

Technical Skills
Microsoft Office Suite, including Microsoft Access Database Management System
Content management system (CMS) web development, including WordPress and Joomla
Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Flickr, and YouTube
Advanced video production and editing