Young Alumni Award Citation

Marija Ignjatovic Bateman '03

With this presentation of Ohio Wesleyan University’s Young Alumni Award, the Ohio Wesleyan Alumni Association Board of Directors is proud to recognize Marija Ignjatovic Bateman for her leadership in international humanitarian and environmental efforts.

Marija graduated from OWU in 2003 with a degree in International Studies. She was involved in Kappa Kappa Gamma, the Wesleyan Council on Student Affairs, the Women’s House, worked as a tour guide for the Office of Admissions, and more.

She’s worked as Special Assistant to the Deputy Special representative of the Secretary-General for Political Affairs United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) and supported Her Royal Highness Princess Katherine of Serbia’s efforts to develop the Serbian health sector through Lifeline Humanitarian Organization.

She worked on the U.N. Development Program, focusing on relief efforts for countries affected by tsunamis in the Indian Ocean, and served on the U.N.’s Western Balkans team for programs in Montenegro and Croatia, spending a month in Kosovo and two in Bosnia.

She is co-author on a 2011 United Nations White Paper Report of the United Nations Integrated Water Task Force for Iraq titled “Managing Change in the Marshlands: Iraq’s Critical Challenge.” Since 2014, Marija has been supporting the United Nations response to the Syrian crisis and the conflict in Yemen. She has worked on a number of initiatives, including projects that have used renewable energy to provide access to electricity and protection for refugees and internally displaced people affected by the conflicts in the Middle East.

For her dedication to leadership in global betterment and impact on environmental issues, the Alumni Board is pleased to present Marija with the Young Alumni Award.