Raneem Hamad
I am a Sudanese American who was raised in Iowa City in the United States. I lived in New York City for four years before coming to Madrid, and I see myself returning there eventually. I enrolled in the Master in International Development to progress towards my goal of working at the UN on development and human rights projects. At IE University, I’ve had invaluable opportunities to learn firsthand from UN professionals and experienced professors, seeing both the practical and theoretical sides of international development.
“During the Master in International Development, I have gained so much knowledge and many practical skills. I feel that I'm prepared to share these gains with my communities and give back.”
Working towards a career in human rights and international development
Describing herself as a Black Muslim woman with a global perspective, Raneem Hamad believes her experiences of living around the world have played a signifcant role in developing her passions for social justice and community empowerment. Indeed, Raneem’s life and studies have so far taken her to three different continents; she’s lived in Oman, Sudan, the United States, and Spain.
Raneem has already established a strong background in international development. She recently graduated from Columbia University, an Ivy League institution in New York, with her bachelor’s degree in Human Rights and Public Health. During her undergraduate years, she was an active member of the university community as the Vice President of both her sorority’s chapter and Columbia University’s NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People).
In addition, Raneem has been involved in a variety of social justice and community empowerment projects. She was a research assistant at the Columbia University Medical Center while studying, and recently conducted a research project on policing and community safety at the University of Iowa.
For Raneem, defining experiences of the past two years have deepened her desire to pursue a career in human rights. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and her community experiences of organizing with the Black Lives Matter movement strengthened her passion for justice and equality. When she discovered the Master in International Development at IE University, Raneem realized the program would offer exactly what she needed to achieve her career goals.
Throughout her time at IE University, Raneem has had the opportunity to learn from professionals from the very organization that she hopes to one day be a part of: the United Nations. These inspiring encounters, along with the extensive experience of her professors, have given her the perfect balance of practical and theoretical knowledge.
One of the most useful things that she’ll take away from her time in the Master in International Development is an in-depth, agile knowledge of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In particular, closely studying the SDGs have shown her the importance of private and public sector integrations in communities that are working towards these types of goals.
For those considering the Master in International Development student, Raneem emphasizes the centrality of the SDGs in the program content, suggesting that prospective students should have a strong interest in this field. Anyone that feels connected to the SDGs is sure to feel right at home in the program.
Raneem’s long-term goal is to work directly with the UN on projects and missions related to the SDGs. She credits the IE Talent & Careers team for their efforts with helping her work towards this goal, and she continues to make the most of all the opportunities that come her way. With continued determination and hard-work, Raneem sees herself working with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sudan, her home country, making impactful changes through community empowerment. Considering how far she has come already, we’re confident that Raneem will continue to succeed in chasing her goals.
