Middle East Policy has been one of the world’s most cited publications on the region since its inception in 1982, and our Breaking Analysis series makes high-quality, diverse analysis available to a broader audience.
The Board of the Middle East Policy Council (MEPC) today announced that Ms. Bassima Alghussein has been appointed as the organization’s new Executive Director, effective January 1, 2021.
Ms. Alghussein joins the MEPC with over a decade of diverse policymaking experience in Washington. Her background spans the legislative and executive branches of government, prominent global think tanks, the media and consulting. She has served on Capitol Hill; as a White House appointed advisor in the Obama Administration; and led Congressional Affairs for the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Most recently, she founded Alghussein Global Strategies, a government affairs consulting firm. She is a sought after thought leader who frequently appears on international news outlets reaching audiences in over 40 countries worldwide. In the community, Ms. Alghussein is a Truman National Security Project Political Partner, a board member for Women of Color Advancing Peace & Security (WCAPS) and a member of the Young Global Leaders’ Council at the Meridian International Center. She has been recognized as a “Next Generation National Security Leader” and as a “Global Influencer in Foreign Policy.” Ms. Alghussein earned her MA from the Georgetown School of Foreign Service and her BA, cum laude from Mount Holyoke College. She is a proud Palestinian-American.
“I join the Board in expressing our gratitude for Dr. Mattair’s 11 years of leadership as Executive Director and wish him the very best for what is a well-deserved retirement. Next year will be the MEPC’s 40th anniversary and we are lucky to be welcoming someone with Ms. Alghussein’s passion for entrepreneurship, U.S. policy, and the rich and complex issues facing the region,” said Amb. Richard Schmierer, Chairman of the Board of Directors and President of the Middle East Policy Council.
“U.S. policy in the Middle East will be in transition in 2021 and the insight provided by the MEPC’s three core programs is needed more than ever. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to build upon the Council’s 40 year history as it continues to inform and shape U.S. policy in the region in the 2020s,” said Ms. Alghussein.
The Middle East Policy Council was founded in 1981 to contribute to the understanding of the political, economic and cultural issues that affect U.S. interests in the Middle East. This is accomplished through three core programs – the quarterly journal Middle East Policy, the most influential policy publication on the region; the Capitol Hill Conference Series for policymakers, offering multiple points of view on complex Middle East issues; and the Council’s outreach to U.S. educators and students – as well as through our dynamic digital platforms and active media engagement. Stay tuned for updates on new initiatives building upon these three programs as the MEPC expands its policy influence in the U.S. and MENA region in the coming decade.
Middle East Policy has been one of the world’s most cited publications on the region since its inception in 1982, and our Breaking Analysis series makes high-quality, diverse analysis available to a broader audience.
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One of the most frequently cited journals on the Middle East in the field of international affairs, Middle East Policy has been engaging thoughtful minds for more than 40 years with high-quality, diverse analysis on the region.
The Board of the Middle East Policy Council (MEPC) today announced that Ms. Bassima Alghussein has been appointed as the organization’s new Executive Director, effective January 1, 2021.
Ms. Alghussein joins the MEPC with over a decade of diverse policymaking experience in Washington. Her background spans the legislative and executive branches of government, prominent global think tanks, the media and consulting. She has served on Capitol Hill; as a White House appointed advisor in the Obama Administration; and led Congressional Affairs for the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Most recently, she founded Alghussein Global Strategies, a government affairs consulting firm. She is a sought after thought leader who frequently appears on international news outlets reaching audiences in over 40 countries worldwide. In the community, Ms. Alghussein is a Truman National Security Project Political Partner, a board member for Women of Color Advancing Peace & Security (WCAPS) and a member of the Young Global Leaders’ Council at the Meridian International Center. She has been recognized as a “Next Generation National Security Leader” and as a “Global Influencer in Foreign Policy.” Ms. Alghussein earned her MA from the Georgetown School of Foreign Service and her BA, cum laude from Mount Holyoke College. She is a proud Palestinian-American.
“I join the Board in expressing our gratitude for Dr. Mattair’s 11 years of leadership as Executive Director and wish him the very best for what is a well-deserved retirement. Next year will be the MEPC’s 40th anniversary and we are lucky to be welcoming someone with Ms. Alghussein’s passion for entrepreneurship, U.S. policy, and the rich and complex issues facing the region,” said Amb. Richard Schmierer, Chairman of the Board of Directors and President of the Middle East Policy Council.
“U.S. policy in the Middle East will be in transition in 2021 and the insight provided by the MEPC’s three core programs is needed more than ever. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to build upon the Council’s 40 year history as it continues to inform and shape U.S. policy in the region in the 2020s,” said Ms. Alghussein.
The Middle East Policy Council was founded in 1981 to contribute to the understanding of the political, economic and cultural issues that affect U.S. interests in the Middle East. This is accomplished through three core programs – the quarterly journal Middle East Policy, the most influential policy publication on the region; the Capitol Hill Conference Series for policymakers, offering multiple points of view on complex Middle East issues; and the Council’s outreach to U.S. educators and students – as well as through our dynamic digital platforms and active media engagement. Stay tuned for updates on new initiatives building upon these three programs as the MEPC expands its policy influence in the U.S. and MENA region in the coming decade.