October 9, 2007

Rob Leventhal, Director of the Europe and Eurasia Division of the ABA Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI), leaves his post after more than six years of contributions to the region’s rule of law and criminal law technical assistance and anti-corruption programs. His next position will be with the U.S. Department of State Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.

Reflecting on his time at ABA ROLI, Leventhal noted how many lasting professional and personal relationships he has made, stating that “It’s been a real privilege to work with so many experienced and committed professionals, both in Washington, D.C. and in our overseas offices.” 

When asked about a recent development of which he was particularly proud, Leventhal cited the creation of the Bulgarian Institute for Legal Initiatives (BILI), an NGO that ROLI helped establish toward the end of its 15-year presence in Bulgaria.  BILI, which is largely run by former ROLI staff, continues to provide technical legal assistance to the Bulgarian legal community and is a model for other countries where ROLI expects to graduate its programs in the coming years. 

 As Mr. Leventhal bids ABA ROLI farewell, several new hires join the team in different capacities. Tamara Senikidze comes to ABA ROLI as Program Associate for Georgia and Azerbaijan. Originally from the Republic of Georgia and Tajikistan, Ms. Senikidze received a B.A. in Criminal Justice from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and an M.A. from Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) with a concentration in International Law and International economics. She spent the first years of her graduate study in Bologna, Italy, and has experience with non-profit and governmental organizations both overseas and in the United States.

Marjan Horst Ehsassi also joined the ABA ROLI in September 2007 as Senior Program Manager for Algeria, Bahrain, Lebanon, Morocco, and Oman. Previously, Marjan was a consultant for the World Bank Social and Economic Development Group, where she assisted with the preparation of a Report on Female Entrepreneurship in the Middle East and North Africa. Prior to the World Bank, she founded and served as the Executive Director for the National Iranian American Council in Washington, DC. Marjan has experience as a Litigation Associate in New York City for three years where she represented plaintiffs in pro bono civil liberties cases. She holds a L.L.B. from McGill University Faculty of Law and a B.A. in International Relations from University of Toronto. She is a native speaker of English, French and Farsi.