MADELINE KANE

College of Arts and Science

Bachelor of Science, May 2010

Concentration: Global Development, Spanish and Latin American Cultures

Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service

Master of Public Administration, May 2011

Dual Degree

Bio and Resume (.pdf)

Madeline Kane is pursuing a self-designed honors major in Global Development. She is interested in U.S. policy formation that promotes economic empowerment for poor women, both domestically and abroad.

Madeline became engaged in this issue through Oxfam America at New York University, where she advocated for equitable international trade and aid policies. Through her work with the New York City Fair Trade Coalition, she saw the power of entrepreneurship help poor artisans. While volunteering in a Costa Rican village, she saw an opportunity to put this principle in to practice, and helped a group of women develop their artisan business.

In order to take a closer look at the effects of trade liberalization and development aid in Latin America, Madeline studied rural development at the University of Guadalajara. After discovering a children's aid organization in the city, Madeline got involved to help the children's parents improve their financial situation. Her efforts helped spawn Mnini (www.mnini.org), an artisan cooperative for indigenous women living in the slums outside Guadalajara.

Back in New York, Madeline interned with Domestic Workers United, a legislative advocacy group for the nannies and housekeepers of New York. In the summer of 2009, she worked on Capitol Hill in the office of Senator Robert Casey, where she tracked international trade and labor legislation.

Madeline was named a Goldman Sachs Global Leader in 2008. She is pursuing her Masters of Public Administration in order to further her vision of changing U.S. policy to empower poor women.