Itamara Vanessa Lochard
Photography is my therapist, through it I can see and understand....
I was fortunate enough to have traveled extensively while growing up, and realized early on that ignorance regarding others’ cultures, beliefs and values is the root of most of misunderstandings and hatreds. Through my art, photography and writings, I found myself always trying to capture the essence of people, places, feelings I encountered. As a result, I decided to deepen my understanding of the world by studying theology and seriously contemplated that path while pursuing my B.S. in International Relations, Law and Organizations at the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. I continued to expand my understanding of North-South issues while working as an Intern then a Researcher at the Africa Desk of the Center for Strategic and International Studies in DC for a few years. I briefly worked as a Canvasser at Clean Water Action -- a grassroots, environmental lobbying firm in DC prior to moving to California.
Realizing I needed a few more letters behind my name to affect the change that I desired, I went to Stanford University in 1994 where I pursued a Masters in International Policy Studies and a second M.A. in Latin American Studies while working as a Researcher at Stanford’s International Institute of Studies. After I graduated in 1997, I worked at a social policy consulting firm in California before taking a year off to return to my love for travel, writing, sketching and photography. It was during a visit to Bosnia-Herzegovnia with the Croatian Mir (Peace) Foundation during the war, that I felt the need to return to my original path of understanding cultures and religions in order to positively impact international relations.
As I contemplated the best route to attain this goal, I began
“coaching”-- facilitating negotiations and conflict resolution among
business executives, and others, in Sillicon Valley, California and
assisted in the creation of leadership workshops. I came to Fletcher in
August 2001 to continue a life-long interest that examines the role of
culture, gender and religion in conflict resolution to better understand
(and shape) the dynamics of North-South issues, in particular, U.S.
Foreign Policy towards LDCs.
I created this journal and art exhibits with that vision in mind, in the
hopes that sharing the wealth of creativity in the Fletcher community will
serve in preparing us to be true leaders in our respective fields. Other
interests include hiking, gourmet cooking, dogs and salsa dancing. I hope
you enjoy this small sample of my vision through photography. I can be
reached at itamara@mac.com