Alyson Zandt

Alyson grew up in Raleigh, N.C., and graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in May 2009 with degrees in political science and international development.

As a student at UNC, Alyson served as the co-chair of the UNC Chapter of Nourish International, a student organization that explores innovative solutions to global poverty by connecting socially engaged college students with entrepreneurial developing communities. Through the organization, Alyson worked with the community of Ciudad de Dios, Peru, and another partner organization to construct a potable water system spanning over three kilometers.

Alyson also completed a field study program in Vienna and the Balkans on the role of international organizations in post-conflict societies and spent a semester interning with the City of Cape Town’s Office of Social Development while studying global health in South Africa.

During her Autry year, Alyson worked on the State of the South report, the Pathways Out of Poverty program, and MDC’s strategic philanthropy engagements. Since her fellowship, she has stayed at MDC and is now a program manager. Her current projects include Passing Gear Philanthropy and several of MDC’s community college-focused initiatives, including the Center for Working Families and the Developmental Education Initiative.