About
Devon is an agricultural development specialist with a diverse skillset covering multiple aspects of project planning, implementation, and management. He is currently the program manager for the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Crop Improvement (ILCI).
In his previous role as a project manager for two gender-focused projects, Devon helped coordinate efforts with partner organizations, worked on strategic visioning, and streamlined processes to enhance project implementation. For the jointly-managed ‘Gender-responsive Researchers Equipped for Agricultural Transformation’ (GREAT) project, Devon worked closely with colleagues at Uganda’s Makerere University. On the ‘Advancing Women in Agriculture through Research and Education’ (AWARE) initiative, Devon led a weekly, global newsletter and coordinated student travel grants and on-campus speakers. Previously at Global Development, through work on the ‘Improving and Scaling up the System of Rice Intensification in West Africa’ (SRI-WAAP) project, Devon led communications, designed and developed project websites, set up a mobile data collection and GIS-based monitoring and evaluation system, led technical field trainings, led donor reporting, and co-wrote project technical manuals.
Originally from Seattle, Devon’s passion for social and ecological justice has led him to work broadly at tackling difficult challenges in society. Prior to joining Global Development, Devon’s work included serving in the Peace Corps in both Niger and Benin, and farming, environmental and political work in the US. At home in Ithaca, NY, Devon has been active in local food planning efforts, including as a member of the Tompkins County Food Policy Council and formerly as a board member for the Ithaca Community Gardens. Devon has a Master’s in International Agriculture and Rural Development from Cornell, and is working on a Master’s in City and Regional Planning, with a focus on municipal climate change mitigation. He lives in Ithaca with his wife and small child and enjoys biking, hiking, gardening, and caring for fruit trees.
