Our Fantastic Team
Rebecca Ballard Rebecca has an extensive background in international labor rights and corporate social responsibility research, writing, and advocacy. She spent over a year in Asia where she worked with nonprofits including Heifer International, Oxfam International, and Amnesty International... Learn More
Mary Donovan
Mary recently graduated from University College London with a Master’s degree in Human Rights. She has been interested in writing for as long as she can remember, but became specifically interested in blogging and social media in 2011 when she interned for Provisions Library. Learn More |
Katie Zombo Katie is excited to learn more about the filming process along with gaining insight into human rights issues and how to promote fair practices of corporations. Katie has previously worked on creating promotional videos and materials for the Smithsonian National Museum of American History and for p.h. balanced films... Learn More Kate Ryan
Kate is an American writer and creative developer who was born in Seattle and raised in Southeast Asia. Upon returning to the States, she graduated from Florida State University Film School in 2006 and has since worked for a variety of companies including Disney… Learn More |
Past Team Members
Dominique Amiri Dominique graduated from The University of Virginia in December 2013 with a B.A. in Foreign Affairs and a minor in Film Studies. She decided to major in Foreign Affairs when she took a human rights course that introduced her to injustice around the world. Learn More Betsy Walters
A recent graduate of the University of Connecticut School of Law, Betsy always knew she had to work in the human rights field. She is originally from Austin Texas, and is an Austinite... Learn More Erin Florence Dean
Erin graduated from The George Washington University in 2005, with a B.A. in History. She then went on to earn her M.A. in Film Studies from Chapman University in 2009. Learn More Richard Fields
Richard was born and raised in Prince George’s County, MD. Throughout his academic studies, Richard developed an appreciation for not only the art of filmmaking, but also... Learn More Jason Gaines
Jason is currently a junior at American University studying in the School of Communication. Originally hailing from Northbrook, Illinois, near the city of Chicago, Jason is interested... Learn More Caroline Godfrey
Caroline is a self-proclaimed fine Virginia blend, raised between Charlottesville, VA and her mother’s native Sweden. She is a newcomer to the DC area, having spent... Learn More Tahirah Green
Hailing from Washington D.C., Tahirah was a grant writing intern with p.h. balanced films in the Summer of 2012. She has now entered her final year at Carnegie Mellon University and looks forward to graduating next May with... Learn More Olaoluwa Ibrahim
Olaoluwa is currently a graduate student, majoring in International Political Economy at the University of Pittsburgh; Graduate School of Public and International Affairs... Learn More |
Molly Knight
Molly was born and raised in Akron, Ohio and is currently a student at Kent State University. Molly will graduate in 2013 with a degree in Political Science, and also with minors in Electronic Media Production and Theatre. She has always had a passion for film and media and wants to combine that with her political... Learn More Allison Korotkin
Allison moved to D.C. after graduating from Allegheny College with a B.A. in Communication Arts. While focusing on video and film production at Allegheny, she... Learn More Franny Mestrich
Franny is currently a high school student at School Without Walls. She has always been passionate about human rights issues and making the world a better place. She has... Learn More Rachel Pafe
Rachel is a recent graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park with a degree in art history and art studio. She currently holds the position of Research Assistant at Vessel, a non-profit contemporary art organization, in which she developed the grant writing skills she... Learn More Lindsey Sitz
Lindsey earned her B.A. in Psychology from St. Mary’s College of Maryland in 2005. She has always had a passion for working with children and a plan to earn her Masters in Social Work. Instead, she decided to leave for a three-month trip to South America. She spent this time volunteering with children in an impoverished Argentine village, as well... Learn More Jason Schulman
Jason received his M.A. in American History from Emory University in Atlanta. Before that, he graduated from Columbia University with a B.A. in History and American Studies. Jason has a passion for film (he has worked in quite a few... Learn More Cassandra Waters
Cassandra recently graduated from Georgetown University Law Center. She is excited to be part of a dynamic team promoting corporate accountability and human rights... Learn More |
Dominique Amiri
Dominique graduated from The University of Virginia in December 2013 with a B.A. in Foreign Affairs and a minor in Film Studies. She decided to major in Foreign Affairs when she took a human rights course that introduced her to injustice around the world. Dominique also took up an interest in film and found that documentary film could work with the human rights field as an advocacy tool for international issues. Dominique appreciates the p.h. balanced films' approach to corporate responsibility, and she is excited to be learning how to craft compelling films to further this cause. Coming from a theoretical film background, she is currently gaining technical experience in the studio. She’s happy to be living in the DC area and enjoying myriad opportunities to pursue her interests.
Rebecca Ballard
Rebecca has an extensive background in international labor rights and corporate social responsibility research, writing, and advocacy. She spent a year and half in Asia where she worked with nonprofits including Heifer International, Oxfam International, and Amnesty International and focused on advancing labor and human rights. Rebecca also completed a legal fellowship in nonprofit advocacy and served as a Labor and Employment Attorney for the Department of Commerce. She also was a senior staff member of the North Carolina Journal of International Law and Commercial Regulation and published in the area of human rights. Rebecca is a graduate of Duke University and the University of North Carolina School of Law. She is passionate about sound nonprofit management and organizational design and is in the process of completing an Executive Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Georgetown University. She loves international travel, film, and living in Washington, DC with her husband and their rescue dog, Penny.
Kate Ryan
Kate is an American writer and creative developer who was born in Seattle and raised in Southeast Asia. Upon returning to the States, she graduated from Florida State University Film School in 2006 with a B.F.A. in filmmaking and writing. Post graduation she moved to Los Angeles where she interned for Scott Free Productions and Scott Rudin Productions before getting a job as a literary agent's assistant at William Morris Agency (now William Morris Endeavor). In 2008 she started working for a start-up production company that was soon bought by Disney and became a staff writer, writing and assisting in producing numerous web shows with tens of millions of accumulated views. Since launching her freelance career she has worked for a variety of companies including Disney and Benefit Cosmetics, as well as a range of independent producers. A documentary she helped co-produce about the relativity of achievement - "Day of Small Things" - premiered in London in November, 2013. She has a passion for human and civil rights and enjoys travel, dance, languages, weapons training and horseback-riding. And mac-and-cheese.
Katie Zombo
Katie is originally from Arlington Heights, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, and is currently a student at American University. With a passion for Film and Media Arts and Criminal Justice, she is excited to learn more about the filming process along with gaining insight into human rights issues and how to promote fair practices of corporations. Katie has previously worked on creating promotional videos and materials for the Smithsonian National Museum of American History and for p.h. balanced films through a first-year course, and is ready to continue in this line of work. She loves penguins, traveling, and is a major Chicago Blackhawks fan.
Anna Rohwer Anna has an international development background and a passion for promoting human rights globally. After graduating from the Templeton Honors College at Eastern University with a BA in Business Management and BS in Economic Development, she managed a U.S.-based advocacy and fundraising campaign on behalf of a Norwegian development organization. Her involvement in a media trip to Bangladesh to document the organization’s work in empowerment, education, and microfinance for vulnerable girls solidified her desire to pursue a career in human rights. Anna then worked for a philanthropic consulting firm for three years, engaging in strategic communications and grant management on behalf of clients. She recently earned a master’s degree in Globalization and Development from the University of Manchester in England, where she wrote her dissertation on the impact consumers have on shaping labor conditions in Bangladesh’s garment industry. Anna’s interests include anti-human/labor trafficking, ethical consumption, supply chain transparency, and corporate accountability. A California native, Anna has traveled to 28 countries and lived in 4. When she’s not traveling or working, she’s practicing photography, blogging, hosting costume dinner parties, or thrifting. One day, after Anna’s visited all seven continents and 50 U.S. states, she’d like to write a book about her life’s adventures. In the meantime, she’s educating people on how to be more responsible consumers and socially conscious global citizens. |
Past Team Members
Mary Donovan
Mary recently graduated from University College London with a Master’s degree in Human Rights. She has been interested in writing for as long as she can remember, but became specifically interested in blogging and social media in 2011 when she interned for Provisions Library, writing about the intersection of art and social change. After two summers with p.h. balanced films, Mary is excited to contribute again! Working with p.h. balanced films inspired her to study human rights and pursue a career in the field. Her area of focus is human trafficking and anti-slavery efforts.
Betsy Walters
Betsy is a recent graduate of the University of Connecticut School of Law who always knew she had to work in the human rights field. She is originally from Austin, Texas, and is an Austinite to the core—she loves the outdoors, great food and live music, and carries with her the imperative that every individual can and should commit themselves in whatever way possible to improving their community, their country, and the world. Betsy's passion has become the Business and Human Rights field, which recognizes that businesses—and through them, consumers—have an incredible capacity to infringe on or dramatically improve respect for human rights around the world. Betsy came to p.h. balanced films from the Business and Human Rights Program at Human Rights First, where she focused primarily on the information and communications technology (ICT) and the private security sectors. Now, Betsy is excited for a new challenge in the field she loves: joining p.h. balanced films to inform consumers and harness the capacity of citizens and business leaders to make positive, lasting changes in the protection of human rights.
Erin Florence Dean
Erin graduated from The George Washington University in 2005, with a B.A. in History. She then went on to earn her M.A. in Film Studies from Chapman University in 2009. Since obtaining her degree, Erin has begun her teaching career as an Adjunct Professor at the George Washington University. In addition to her passions for film and all things chocolate (fair-trade of course!), Erin also has a keen interest in Social Media. She participates in several online networking communities, including: Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr, as well as maintaining a personal blog. While teaching a course in Russian Film at The George Washington University, Erin consults with p.h. balanced films on the growing field of Social Media.
Richard Fields
Richard was born and raised in Prince George’s County, MD. Throughout his academic studies, Richard developed an appreciation for not only the art of filmmaking, but also the powerful potential of various media on the nation and its ability to reach specific sectors of the community. He cultivated this passion through several projects, telling the stories of personal experiences in documentary form in addition to taking on creative fictional endeavors. In 2011, Richard earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Community Health and is now working on his Masters in Film & Video in the American University School of Communications.
Jason Gaines
Jason is currently a senior at American University studying in the School of Communication. Originally hailing from Northbrook, Illinois, near the city of Chicago, Jason is interested and passionate about the art of filmmaking and the creativity that goes into it. Jason is putting his skills to use in a positive way as an intern at p.h. balanced films, while also learning more about human rights topics in general. Although Jason could never make it to the NBA, he loves playing sports and rooting for his hometown Chicago sports.
Caroline Godfrey
Caroline is a self-proclaimed fine Virginia blend, raised between Charlottesville, VA and her mother’s native Sweden. She now back in Charlottesville, having spent the last five years in Paris and Amsterdam. In 2012, she graduated cum laude from the International Masters Program of Social and Cultural Anthropology at the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam. Using a participatory field-based approach, Caroline’s research explored the intersection of identity politics, migration, and globalization in Chiapas, Mexico, and its specific impact on the cultural development of indigenous youth. Caroline brings her familiarity with the development process of empirical research to p.h. balanced films, including the design of data collection, analysis, and report writing. Caroline has additional work experience in the commercial and non-profit Arts sector. Recognizing the power of art to catalyze social change, Caroline is excited to expand her knowledge of visual media production. Caroline enjoys traveling, gardening, backpacking, and horseback riding. She lives vicariously through stories by William Sommerset Maugham.
Tahirah Green
Hailing from Washington D.C., Tahirah was a grant writing intern with p.h. balanced films in the Summer of 2012. She has now graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a BS in International Relations and Politics and a BA in Creative Writing with a minor in Film and Media Studies. She is infatuated by the connections between the arts and social change. Her love of film and human rights advocacy drew her to p.h. balanced films, where she explored the possibilities of activism through media. She is currently pursuing her Masters in Development Studies at L'Institut de hautes études internationales et du développement (IHEID). When not inducing writer’s cramp from working on screenplays and prose pieces, she indulges in her addiction to science fiction and comic books.
Olaoluwa Ibrahim
Olaoluwa is currently a graduate student, majoring in International Political Economy at the University of Pittsburgh; Graduate School of Public and International Affairs (GSPIA). He graduated from Lincoln University in 2011, with a B.A. in Political Science and International Relations. His core interests include international human rights, sustainable development strategies and globalization. He has always had an interest in filmmaking and has begun his first screenplay. In the past two years, he has written two pages in his yet unfinished manuscript.
Molly Knight
Molly was born and raised in Akron, Ohio and graduated in 2013 from Kent State University with a degree in Political Science, and also with minors in Electronic Media Production and Theatre. She has always had a passion for film and media and wants to combine that with her political activism. She comes from a big family in a small town and wants to explore writing and film making. As an intern for p.h. balanced films, Molly learned about the impact of consumers on human rights issues and the political history of the city. Within days of arriving in Washington, D.C., she discovered the joy of dark chocolate and swears she’ll never return to milk chocolate.
Allison Korotkin
Originally from Detroit, she moved to D.C. after graduating from Allegheny College with a B.A. in Communication Arts. While focusing on video and film production at Allegheny, she discovered her passion for visual storytelling and decided to pursue documentary film upon graduation. Previously, Allison worked for Pendragwn Productions as an Editor/Associate Producer, as well as the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) as a Communications Assistant. She is excited to have such a great opportunity with p.h. balanced films, and hopes to learn more about effectively creating change through film while telling stories that truly make a difference.
Franny Mestrich
Franny is currently a high school student at School Without Walls. She has always been passionate about human rights issues and making the world a better place. She has also always loved stories, and even wrote a novel in 2012. She found her passion for film a few years ago, when she realized what an amazing medium for storytelling it is. Franny is overjoyed to be working with the p.h. balanced films team to combine those two passions!
Rachel Pafe
Rachel is a recent graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park with a degree in art history and art studio. She currently holds the position of Research Assistant at Vessel, a non-profit contemporary art organization, in which she developed the grant writing skills she now applies to p.h. balanced films. Rachel specializes in institutional critique within the contemporary cultural system, with a specific interest in corporate responsibility. Rachel started her tenure as part of the original p.h. balanced films’ team with a focus on grants before shifting to social media.
Lindsey Sitz
Lindsey earned her B.A. in Psychology from St. Mary’s College of Maryland in 2005. She has always had a passion for working with children and a plan to earn her Masters in Social Work. Instead, she decided to leave for a three-month trip to South America. She spent this time volunteering with children in an impoverished Argentine village, as well as perfecting her “Spanglish.” She met a handful of incredible people that inspired her to explore—to go towards happiness always—even if it means taking a risk. Upon returning home, Lindsey decided to take that risk. She moved away from the comfort of a job that she loved—working as an Assistant teacher at a school for children with Asperger’s syndrome—and towards the unknown—the world of new media and video production. As a video intern at p.h. balanced films, Lindsey explored the power of film as a means to create social awareness and incite change. She has an affinity for sushi, rabbits, and brightly colored clothing.
Jason Schulman
Jason received his M.A. in American History from Emory University in Atlanta. Before that, he graduated from Columbia University with a B.A. in History and American Studies. Jason has a passion for film (he has worked in quite a few video stores), internationalism (he has lived in Australia and Israel), and education (he has taught middle-school and college students). He quickly jumped into the world of documentary filmmaking and international human rights, which he came to through his interest in issues of narrative, identity, and social activism. As a grants intern, Jason made great contributions to bringing the work of p.h. balanced films to fruition.
Cassandra Waters
Cassandra recently graduated from Georgetown University Law Center. She is excited to be part of a dynamic team promoting corporate accountability and human rights in the public debate. While in law school, she interned with the International Corporate Accountability Roundtable, International Rights Advocates, the AFL-CIO, and the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights. Before law school, she worked in communications for the SEIU, studied the electoral system in El Salvador, and catered events in a variety of silly outfits. She is passionate about social justice and barbecue sauce.