Mary Dakim is a second-year graduate student in the International Development program at Gallaudet University, Washington DC. She was born and raised in a small farming village near Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria. In 2007, Ms. Dakim completed her undergraduate studies, earning B.S. and B.A. degrees respectively in Economics and Finance and Elementary Education from Gallaudet University.  Currently, she is teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) at the English Language Institute (ELI), a sub-unit of the Center for International Programs and Services (CIPS) at Gallaudet University. Most recently, Mary joined the Department of Business at Gallaudet as an Adjunct faculty member teaching economics to undergraduate and graduate students. 

Ms. Dakim completed her practicum at the United States International Council on Disabilities (USICD) as part of her academic requirements for the International Development program. During her fall practicum at the USICD, Ms. Dakim worked with a team of librarians and disability experts to gather useful and quality resources for the Global Disability Rights Library (GDRL). 

Mary is currently doing her internship at ACCION International which is a private, nonprofit organization with the mission of giving people the financial tools they need to work their way out of poverty. By providing "micro" loans, business training and other financial services to poor men and women who start their own businesses, ACCION helps people work their way up the economic ladder, with dignity and pride. Read a bit of her blog here.