Shanavian (Smith) Houser, an Atlanta, Georgia native, graduated with honors from Spelman College in 2010 with a BA in international studies. She interned with the Peace, Programs, and Development department at The Carter Center under former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and went on to work with Habitat for Humanity International, where she contributed to donor relationship-building, developed innovative data reporting tools, and advocated for affordable housing worldwide. Before coming to Yale, she worked at CARE (Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere), an international nonprofit focused on development, supporting programs focused on sexual, reproductive, and maternal health, primarily in the West Africa region. During her time at Yale, she focused on the relationship between the public and private sectors, with an emphasis on how foundations and corporate social responsibility programs can better create sustainable solutions towards development. She is currently the Program Officer, Public-Private Partnerships at the CDC Foundation in Atlanta.