Current Democracy Fellows
Democracy Fellowships provide professional development through practical experience working with democracy and governance programs. Fellows work in such activities as:
- Providing policy analysis and expert advice
- Developing democracy strategies, evaluation methodologies, and indicators
- Providing technical comment on USAID plans or activities
- Helping USAID contractors to provide electoral planning assistance; work with civil society organizations; or strengthen legislatures, local governments, and the rule of law.
Robert Dahl
USAID/DCHA/DRG | Elections and Political Transitions Team
Washington, DC | November 2011 – Present
Robert Dahl serves as a Democracy Fellow in the Elections and Political Transitions Team (EPT). The primary focus of his fellowship is on constitutional design in post-conflict and post-authoritarian countries.
Robert has extensive experience as a practitioner in political law and as a consultant to democratic development programs throughout the world. He served as Executive Assistant to a member of the U.S. Federal Election Commission from 1985 to 1991, and practiced law in the U.S. in the areas of political finance regulation, officeholder ethics rules, and general election law.
For 20 years, Robert has also been a legal policy advisor to democratization projects in numerous countries in Central Europe and the former Soviet Union, and in Central, South and Southeast Asia (particularly Indonesia). His consulting work has been primarily in the areas of election complaint adjudication and dispute resolution, political finance regulation and transparency, electoral systems, constitutional design, and electoral law reform.
Robert Dahl received a J.D. from the University of Chicago and a M.A. in political science from the University of Maryland.
Leah Maxson
USAID/DRG / SPANS | Special Programs to Address the Needs of Survivors
Washington, DC | November 2011 – Present
Leah Maxson serves as a technical advisor for disability under the SPANS programs within the Human Rights Team (HT). In this role, she works to advance disability and further inclusive development programs and practices within the Agency and its Field Missions.
Leah has extensive experience as a community organizer and teacher in schools for the deaf in Africa, Asia, and the United States. She was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Kenya and uses both American Sign Language and Kenyan Sign Language.
Leah Maxson received a B.A. in Deaf Education from Kent State University and an M.A. in International Development with a focus on working with people with disabilities from Gallaudet University.
William Mishler
USAID/DCHA/DRG | Learning Team
Washington, DC | June 2012 – Present
William Mishler serves as Senior Survey Expert for the Learning Team (LT). He facilitates the collection, analysis, and use of high quality, public opinion surveys in DRG Assessments and will assist both the DRG Center and various field missions in collecting and analyzing survey data in order to enable evidence based decision making in the development and evaluation of DRG programs.
William previously held tenured positions at Duke University, SUNY Buffalo, and the University of South Carolina, where he was James B. Byrnes Professor of Government and served on two occasions as Director of the Political Science Program at the National Science Foundation. A specialist in public opinion and survey research, he has conducted and analyzed more than 100 surveys in 25 countries, including most of the post-communist regimes in Eastern and Central Europe and the former Soviet Union and, more recently, in several emerging Asian democracies.
William is the author of seven books and 60 articles broadly focused on the dynamics of popular support for democratic institutions and leaders.
William Mishler received a Ph.D. in Political Science from Duke University and is on leave from the University of Arizona, where he is Professor of Political Science and Editor of The Journal of Politics.
Jill Moss
USAID/DCHA/DRG | Civil Society & Media Team
Washington, DC | April 2013 – Present
Jill Moss is a USAID New Media Development and Internet Freedom fellow. In this role, she helps design and implement Internet freedom program in transitional countries, focusing specifically on the integration of information communication technologies (ICT) in civil society and among independent media. While at USAID missions overseas, Jill also provides digital security and privacy support to indigenous journalists.
Prior to becoming a Democracy Fellow, Jill was a member the Broadcasting Board of Governors’ Internet Anti-Censorship Team -- a critical program for distributing US international broadcast elements (VOA, RFERL, RFA, MBN & OCB) into denied cyber environments.
Jill is also a doctoral student studying strategic communication at George Mason University. Her research interests include ICT diffusion and adoption, business models for journalistic startups and mobile technology. In addition, she has taught journalism and radio news as an adjunct in the GMU Communication Department. Her pedagogical approach is based on 12 years reporting experience with the Voice of America.
Jill started her career on Capitol Hill working as press secretary for her Nebraska Congressman. She’s been involved in several political campaigns, and served as a United States Peace Corps volunteer from 1997 to 1999. She has a double-major B.A. in journalism and communication studies from the University of Iowa, and an M.A. in international education from GMU.
Andrew Solomon
USAID/DCHA/DRG | Human Rights Team
Washington, DC | April 2013 – Present
Andrew Solomon serves as a technical advisor for transitional justice on the Human Rights Team. His work is focused on the development of guiding principles, best practices, data collection, and technical tools that assist the DRG Center and field missions address the development challenges resulting from mass atrocities and systematic human rights abuses.
An expert in justice and rule of law promotion, Andrew has extensive experience contributing to innovative technical assistance activities and conducting field-work in developing, conflict-affected, and post-conflict environments throughout Europe, Central and South Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.
Prior to his fellowship, Andrew supported the development of justice and security sector doctrine at the US Department of State through BlueLaw International. He also served as Deputy Director of the Brookings Institution’s IDP Project, where he advised the Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General on Internal Displacement. He has also held senior positions at the American Society of International Law and the American Bar Association’s Central European and Eurasian Law Initiative. In addition, Andrew worked in the legal departments of the Office of the High Representative in Bosnia, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and the Coalition for International Justice. He has also participated in more than fifteen election observation missions in Europe and Eurasia for the OSCE and IFES.
Andrew sits on the Council of Experts for the International Network to Promote the Rule of Law (USIP/INPROL) and serves as Co-chair of the Transitional Justice and Rule of Law Group of the American Society of International Law. A frequent lecturer and presenter to academic and policy audiences, Andrew has also published numerous articles on rule of law and justice topics.
Andrew Solomon earned a J.D. from the Catholic University of America Law School; an M.A. in international affairs from American University; and a B.A. in political science from Temple University.