faculty

Andrea Da Silva is a global policy and market strategy leader with more than 20 years of experience at the intersection of international trade, digital economy, regulation, and economic development. She holds a dual Master of Arts in International Development and Master of Business Administration in International Business from American University, as well as a dual Bachelor of Arts from New York University and Hunter College, with majors in Social and Anthropology Studies and a minor in Russian. Andrea has held senior leadership roles in the U.S. government, including founding and leading the first Office of E-Commerce and directing global trade and policy initiatives across digital services, intellectual property, and creative industries. Her work has spanned multilateral negotiations, large-scale program and grant management, climate and sustainability policy, and international market entry strategy. Andrea brings a deeply applied, globally informed perspective to teaching, grounded in real-world policy design, cross-sector collaboration, and institutional leadership.

Bakhrom Rikhsiboev is a data analytics and business intelligence professional with experience applying statistical modeling, machine learning, and data visualization to real-world business and financial problems. He holds a Master of Science in Data Analytics from Western Governors University and a Bachelor of Science in Economics with Finance from the University of Westminster. Bakhrom has worked as a Business Intelligence Analyst designing end-to-end data pipelines, developing interactive dashboards, and translating complex datasets into actionable insights for organizational decision-making. His professional background also includes applied quantitative analysis in financial markets, where he uses data-driven strategies, risk management, and performance evaluation. Bakhrom brings a practical, hands-on approach to teaching analytics, emphasizing how data informs strategy, operations, and outcomes.

Betsy Garcete holds a Master's in Business Management from the Catholic University of America. She founded ZOPHIA, a custom clothing business for women in Washington, D.C., following her graduation in 2010. With a diverse background spanning various sectors, Betsy has experience in managing operations, design, and teaching art. She is particularly passionate about promoting women in business, sustainable fashion practices, and the principles of design thinking. Now, she brings her expertise to the classroom, teaching the innovative processes of design thinking and positive psychology.

Dr. Carlos Sotomayor Beltran is a multidisciplinary researcher and educator with a robust background in the physical sciences and engineering. He earned his Doctor in Natural Sciences (PhD) from Ruhr University Bochum in Germany and a Master of Science in Physics from Curtin University in Australia. A widely published author, Dr. Sotomayor Beltran’s diverse research portfolio includes contributions to astrophysics, geophysics, public health and research ethics. For the last eight years, he has held faculty positions at several Peruvian universities. His teaching expertise encompasses a broad spectrum of technical subjects alongside specialized coursework in the scientific method.

Frank is an experienced investor, corporate strategy executive, and advisor. He has held senior-level roles leading domestic and international teams responsible for organic and inorganic strategic initiatives such as: financial planning, mergers and acquisitions, equity investments, partnerships, integration, carve-outs, program management, and business development resulting in more than 100 deal closings and + $ billions of value creation for shareholders of both public and private companies. A graduate of The Wharton School General Management Program and The University of Maryland, with a B.S. in Finance and an MBA, Frank is passionate about helping students understand how financial strategy shapes real-world business and economic outcomes. In his teaching, he focuses on translating complex financial concepts into practical insights that students can apply to business decisions and strategic problem-solving.

Gil Mitchell is an award-winning artist, educator, and theatre professional. As a teaching artist, he’s worked for institutions such as the American Shakespeare Center and the Shakespeare Theatre Company. His classes combine classical education with contemporary knowledge, giving students a foundation of invaluable training that will be useful no matter what their chosen field. Gil holds a BA in Performing Arts and an MLitt in Shakespeare and Performance from Mary Baldwin University, and is a recent graduate from the George Washington University and the Academy at the Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Classical Acting MFA program. On his days off, Gil spends his time advocating for the use of the Oxford Comma.

Mr. Nguyen holds a BA in Political Science and History from the University of California (UCLA) and an MBA from the University of California, John E. Anderson Graduate School of Management, and the National University of Singapore, as well as a M.A.L.D from Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy, Tufts University. Mr. Nguyen is an experienced marketing and brand strategy consultant. He is teaching the New Venture Creation course at NewU.

Maaza Saeed is a psychologist and researcher specializing in emotion regulation, decision-making under emotional states, and applied mindfulness-based and behavioral interventions for mental health. She holds a Ph.D. in Psychology from Shaanxi Normal University in China, as well as a Master of Science and Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Management and Technology and Government College University in Pakistan. Dr. Saeed has taught psychology and clinical intervention courses at universities in China and internationally, including instruction in cognitive behavioral therapy techniques and adult psychological disorders. Her research has been published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at the American Psychological Association, with a focus on cross-cultural perspectives on mental health, resilience, and well-being. She brings an academically rigorous and globally informed approach to teaching psychology.

Peter is an IT Executive with nearly 25 years of industry experience, serving the United States federal government organizations including the Defense Finance and Accounting Service, the United States Marine Corps, the District of Columbia Courts, and the Federal Judiciary. Mr. Smolianski held hands-on roles including Systems, Database, Applications, Storage, and Network Administrator and leadership positions including Chief Technology Officer, Chief Information Security Officer, and Director of Information Technology, Presently, Peter's "day job" is the Director of Information Technology for the United States Bankruptcy Court, District of Maryland. In addition to his industry experience, Peter has been authoring and teaching technology related courses for various DC area graduate, undergraduate, and professional schools for over a decade. Mr. Smolianski has earned a Master of Science in Information Systems from the University of Maryland Baltimore County, graduating with a 4.0 GPA, and is a certified Project Management Professional, ITIL practitioner, and CompTIA technologist.

Shanelle Bailey is a Licensed Psychology Associate in Washington, DC, with a Master's degree in Clinical Psychology with a concentration in Forensics from Montclair State University. She also holds dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Psychology and Justice Studies, with a concentration in Crime and Criminology and a Pre-Law minor, from James Madison University. With a strong background in both clinical and forensic settings, she currently serves as a School-Based Clinician with Onyx Therapy Group, where she provides individual and group counseling to students from preschool through high school, integrates mental health strategies into educational plans, and collaborates with educators and families to support student well-being. Her previous experience includes leadership and advocacy roles at CASA programs in both Virginia and New Jersey, where she supervised court-involved child advocacy cases and supported volunteers in navigating complex child welfare systems. She has also held management positions in youth group homes and after-school programs, where she focused on trauma-informed care and positive youth development using the Nurtured-Heart Approach. She is passionate about mental health, youth empowerment, and community advocacy, and brings all of that to the classroom to help students build resilience, healthy coping skills, and confidence.

Dr. Viktoriya V. Zotova is a business professor with expertise in financial management, macroeconomic policy analysis, and sustainability disclosures. She is teaching undergraduate and graduate courses at Georgetown University. For nearly a decade, Dr. Zotova has worked at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), primarily on international investment policies, including emerging crypto asset regulations. She has several publications under the IMF banner. Dr. Zotova holds a PhD in Business and Management from the University of Maryland and ALM in Legal Studies from Harvard University.