Our Story
Aurora is led by Dr. Katie McLain and Dr. Elise Rainer. Both Drs. McLain and Rainer are former diplomats with the U.S. Department of State, where they managed and oversaw numerous human rights, democracy, rule of law, and women’s empowerment programs. Upon leaving diplomacy, both became trained academics and now assist many international nonprofits and global organizations to implement effective community-based programs. They have extensive experience in performance evaluations of democracy assistance global projects, as well as electoral and political empowerment programmes. They have worked throughout the Middle East, North and East Africa, Europe, and Latin America and offer over 20 years of experience in the democracy, human rights and governance sector.
Dr. Katie Mclain
Dr. McLain has a PhD in History from Montana State University where her research focused on the history of illicit drug controls in the United States. Her background includes work with the U.S. State Department and the U.S. Department of Justice on domestic and international counter-narcotics and crime prevention programs. She works as a consultant with local communities and organizations to build and fund substance use prevention and justice sector programs. Dr. McLain currently manages the Montana Community Action Network, supporting ten nonprofit organizations working to combat poverty across Montana. Her area expertise includes rule of law programming, Central America security sector, community policing, international drug policy, poverty reduction programs and community action.
Dr. Elise Rainer
Dr. Rainer is an assistant professor of international relations and former diplomat with the U.S. State Department, U.S. Mission to the United Nations, and USAID. Her work has shaped U.S. human rights foreign policy and human rights and democracy programs in North Africa and the Gulf. With a Ph.D. in International Studies, Dr. Rainer offers qualitative research methods expertise and writing and editing experience with multiple publications in peer reviewed journals. She was a Fulbright Scholar and Presidential Management Fellow and has curriculum design experience for online and in-person university courses. Her expertise includes gender and diplomacy, human rights and security, the Kurdish diaspora, nationalism, European Union institutions and Scandinavian politics, LGBTI rights, and U.S. foreign policy formation.