Our Partners
Neil Boothby, Director, GC-DWC
Dr. Neil Boothby is a globally recognised expert on children affected by war, displacement, and extreme poverty. With over 25 years of fieldwork for UNICEF, UNHCR, and Save the Children, he has worked across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Eastern Europe. Former Director of the Program on Forced Migration and Health at Columbia University, his research focuses on building pathways out of adversity for vulnerable children. He is the recipient of numerous humanitarian awards, including the Red Cross Humanitarian of the Year and Duke University’s Humanitarian Service Award.
Hannah Chandler, Associate Director of Programs, GC-DWC
Hannah Chandler is a public health professional with extensive experience in global education, humanitarian research, and program development. She led initiatives such as Project Sampoorna in India and contributed to successful proposals securing $50 million in funding. Her background includes work with MSF, Johns Hopkins, and Columbia University’s National Centre for Disaster Preparedness. A published researcher and curriculum developer, she has created academic content for the University of Notre Dame and Osmania University, focusing on child development and adversity.
Dr. Nikhit D’Sa, Director of Research and Learning, GC-DWC
Dr. Nikhit D’Sa is a developmental psychologist whose research explores how relationships and learning environments impact children’s development in crisis-affected and low-resource settings. His work spans Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) integration, education technology, teacher well-being, and home-school-community collaboration. He co-developed global tools such as the International Social and Emotional Learning Assessment (ISELA), Holistic Assessment of Learning and Development Outcomes (HALDO), and Well-being Adaptive Social Systems Evaluation Tool for Schools (Well-being ASSETS). Currently, he is innovating game-based SEL assessments. Through research-practice partnerships, Dr. D’Sa works with NGOs, governments, and faith-based organisations to co-create data-driven solutions grounded in improvement science.
Dakota Peterson, Research Associate, GC-DWC
Dakota Lyn Peterson supports MEL efforts across projects, specializing in data management, analysis, and visualization. Her background includes teaching and nonprofit roles as a data analyst and database manager. She discovered her passion for early childhood education while teaching in Ecuador. Dakota holds degrees in Sociology and Spanish Literature from Gonzaga University, and a Master of Global Affairs from the University of Notre Dame, where she was a Keough Family Fellow. She is currently pursuing a Master’s in Information Management at the University of Washington to further her impact in education and development.
Brooke Parker, Communications Associate, GC-DWC
Brooke Parker is a communications specialist with expertise in content strategy, visual design, and social media across nonprofit and private sectors. She translates complex ideas into accessible narratives and holds a B.S. in Psychology from Grand Valley State University. Previously, she served as Marketing Director for a nonprofit supporting employment for individuals with developmental disabilities. Passionate about youth mental and physical wellness, Brooke uses strategic communication to amplify mission-driven work and catalyze social change.