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Institute for African Development

Cornell University

People

More than 40 IAD-affiliated faculty from across Cornell conduct research and teach courses related to African development, and more than 300 IAD graduate fellows now work in government, NGOs, academic institutions, and international organizations on the African continent—a testament to the institute's diverse constituency and impact.

Judith Van Allen

Regional Scholar Affiliate

Judith Van Allen is a Regional Scholar Affiliate at the Institute for African Development at Cornell University and a long-time activist-scholar. She received her B.A from Stanford University and her Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, in political science and political theory.

Kurt Waldman

Assistant Professor, Department of Global Development

Kurt Waldman is an assistant professor in the Department of Global Development at Cornell University. He studies judgment and decision making related to environmental sustainability, climate adaptation and food security.

Kota Watanabe

Independent Scholar

Kota Watanabe is a diplomat-turned-political scientist studying contested state building and civil war in contemporary Myanmar, currently based in New York City. He earned his PhD in Development Studies from SOAS University of London in February 2025.