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42 | Faculty Fellows
These Notre Dame professors with a formal association to the Pulte Institute are integral to applying an 
interdisciplinary approach to the complex problems that contribute to poverty. These fellows come from diverse 
backgrounds and offer vast expertise to address key issues. Below are just two of the more than 70 academic 
experts lending their knowledge and research to our work:
Rachel Svetanoff, a foundation 
partnerships consultant at UNICEF 
USA, exemplifies the transformative 
impact of strategic collaboration 
in international development. As 
a visiting associate at the Pulte 
Institute, she works with Paul Perrin 
to tackle global challenges. Her 
research focuses on how foundation 
partnerships advance sustainable development goals by fostering cross-
sector collaboration to drive meaningful change. She has developed key 
guidelines for building resilient partnerships, emphasizing shared values, 
clear communication, and mutual accountability.
RACHEL
SVETANOFF
TOM WEIN
Policy and Practice Visiting Associates
The Policy and Practice Visiting Associates Program engages experienced policy experts to produce 
influential publications addressing global challenges. Associates spend time on campus collaborating to 
develop evidence-based policy work. Meet two of our distinguished associates who bring expertise in 
addressing global challenges:
Tim Weninger, Associate Professor of Computer Science and Engineering at Notre Dame, 
directs his research towards artificial intelligence and social media. His work investigates 
how humans interact with and manage information online. Prof. Weninger’s projects aim 
to understand how humans interact with AI systems and enhance media literacy online. 
His research contributes to fostering informed citizenship and promoting just systems 
globally and Pulte’s commitment to impactful research addressing societal challenges.
TIM WENINGER
Jaimie Bleck, an Associate Professor of Political Science at Notre Dame, specializes 
in African politics with a focus on democratization, civil society, and education. 
Her research delves into themes crucial to Pulte’s mission: poverty alleviation, 
sustainability, education, and effective governance. Currently, her work on 
informal social networks in Mali explores how these networks foster democratic 
citizenship, offering valuable insights aligned with Pulte’s commitment to 
promoting just systems and effective states.
JAIMIE BLECK
Tom Wein, Director of the IDinsight 
Dignity initiative, stands at the 
forefront of promoting dignity 
within international development. 
As a visiting associate at the Pulte 
Institute, he collaborates with 
experts to identify practices that 
uphold the dignity of communities 
in development programs. His 
research, including the 2024 
report “Most Promising Practices for Affirming Dignity in International 
Development,” provides actionable insights that can transform how 
development organizations operate. Wein also advocates for incorporating 
dignity into monitoring and evaluation. His work is a reminder that 
development efforts are most effective and just when they honor and 
uphold the inherent dignity of every individual.
Pulte Faculty Fellows
Leaders and Innovators
Partnership for Global Impact
The Pulte Institute for Global Development

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