Killings in Nairobi hit home
A recent Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) graduate visiting Kenya to deliver her first child was among more than 60 people killed by Somali militants in the weekend attack on a shopping mall in Nairobi. Elif Yavuz, 33, a Dutch national described as “unique” and “hilariously funny” by an HSPH faculty member who worked closely with her, received a doctoral degree last spring. She was killed along with her partner, Australian architect Ross Langdon. “She was warm. She was very intelligent, hilariously funny, unique, a really unique person,” said Jessica Cohen, assistant professor of global health, who was Yavuz’s thesis adviser and collaborated with Yavuz on projects. “We all feel the loss very strongly because she was so special.” Cohen learned of Yavuz’s death early Sunday from friends involved with the Clinton Health Access Initiative, where Yavuz worked. Yavuz and Cohen had conducted research with group in the past. HSPH Dean Julio Frenk...