Professor Iqbal Z. Quadir, Founder and Director
Professor Iqbal Z. Quadir is the founder and director of the Legatum Center for Development and Entrepreneurship at MIT. In the 1990s, Quadir founded Grameenphone, which provides effective telephone access throughout Bangladesh. Full bio >
William Guyster, Fellowship Program Manager
Will Guyster came to the Legatum Center with 15+ years of experience in fields of small business development, financial management, disaster recovery, and international development. He has worked institutions as varied as The World Bank, the Academy for Educational Development, Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, and the US Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service. Immediately prior to the Legatum Center, Will lived in Ghana and ran Good Morning Africa, an organization he founded to fight poverty in Africa through the development of locally-owned and socially-responsible business. He has also submitted articles for dissemination at the United Nations, Columbia University, The World Bank, and the USDA on topics as varied as Food Dependence in Central Asia and East Africa, African Democratization in the 1990s, the World Bank’s Poverty Reduction Process, and the World Bank’s Economic Growth Indicators. Will is a graduate of Columbia University where he focused on Political Economy, International Development, and Globalization.
Agnes Hunsicker, Marketing and Events Manager
Agnes Hunsicker joined the Legatum Center in 2010 as the Marketing and Events Manager. She previously worked for Bank of America, where she specialized in event marketing, managing a wide range of educational and social programs as well as events linked to the Bank's extensive community programs and sponsorships. Prior to joining Bank of America, she held various management positions with the Massachusetts Horticultural Society and firms in the horticultural industry. Agnes is a graduate of Boston College.
Londa Jensen, Fellowship Program Associate
Londa Jensen joined the Legatum Center as the Fellowship Program Associate in the fall of 2012. She received her B.S. in Business Administration with a minor in Arabic and Middle East Studies from the University of Southern California. She recently completed her M.A. in Intercultural Relations from Lesley University. She has lived and worked abroad in Egypt and Iraq focusing on education and entrepreneurship. She currently volunteers with NEGMA, an organization in Boston that focuses on development projects in a post-Revolution Egypt.
Kavan O'Connor, Marketing and Events Associate
Kavan O’Connor received a B.A. in English from the University of Harford. After graduation, he moved to Boston and began his career in marketing, database management, and event planning. In 2006, he joined the United States Marine Corps Reserve where he was stationed at Fort Devens. He served in Iraq, helping to train the Iraqi army. Upon his return, Kavan worked for the Boston Athletic Association, supervising the Mile Marker Program of the Boston Marathon. Kavan comes to the Legatum Center from DMSE, a national event planning company specializing in expositions and athletic events.
Anna Omura, Operations Manager
Anna Omura joined the Legatum Center as the Operations Manager after working in West Africa as a natural resource management extension agent for the Peace Corps. Previously, Anna was a founding partner in Breaking the Mold Candle Company in Denver, CO. She is a magna cum laude graduate of Boston University, where she studied public relations. Anna is currently on the board of directors for the Boston Area Returned Peace Corps Volunteers.
Abigail Rich, Assistant to the Director
Abigail Rich came to the Legatum Center as a Summer Fellow with New Sector Alliance, a non-profit consulting firm. She has previously worked with the Chicago Appleseed Fund for Justice, Zolla/Lieberman Gallery, the Chicago Artists' Coalition, and the George Warren Brown School of Social Work. She graduated from Washington University in St. Louis, Phi Beta Kappa in art history and anthropology.
Tonya Williams, Administrative Assistant, Operations
Tonya Williams joined the Legatum Center in April 2013. Tonya’s business experience encompasses roles in operations, technology and administration. Her previous work experience includes Digital Globe, Suffolk University and Tenebraex. Tonya was also a licensed real estate agent and co-owner of a small property management company in Boston for 6 years. She studied liberal Arts at Howard University in Washington D.C and most recently Human Resources at the Northeastern’s School of Professional and Continuing Education. Tonya is active in the Canton, MA community and enjoys volunteering for the local school district.
