Reporter/Writer
Freelance
Total years of experience :20 years, 8 Months
• Writing on political, economic and religious issues appearing in numerous international publications such as: The European, Monocle, Huffington Post, The Daily Caller, STRATOR, The Diplomatic Courier, The Diplomat, Think Africa, Religion Dispatches, Egyptian Independent, JO Magazine (Jordan), Asian Journal of Public Affairs, Strategic Outlook (Turkey), The Arabist and Al Borsa (Egyptian affiliate of Forbes magazine)
• Cited in publications such as The Daily Beast, The Middle East Institute, and Salon magazine
• Interviewed by Agence France Presse (AFP) and media outlets in Russia, Turkey and Hong Kong on political and business issues
• Academic book reviews for Insight Turkey, Strategic Outlook and Asian Journal of Public Affairs among others
• Researched and wrote entries on “anarchism” and “ethnic groups” for The Encyclopedia of Islamic Political Thought published in 2012 by Princeton University Press
Asked to conduct research on Central Asia for an upcoming political encyclopedia
• Worked with a researcher from the Carnegie Center in writing a prospective liberal draft of a Syrian constitution which was submitted to the Syrian National Council in April 2012
• Occasional consultant to a Central Asian Diplomat on Middle East affairs and energy issues
• Researching and creating analytical reports looking at the investment potential of various business sectors in Bahrain and Ghana
• Interviewing CEOs, government figures & members of the royal family in both countries
• Researched and reported on the energy sector, analyzing major business issues to develop weekly publications and a 200 page annual report on both countries
• Interviewed CEOs, ambassadors and government officials
• Managed a staff of local hires and coordinated efforts with offices in other countries
• Worked in the communications department; media monitoring, editing & reporting from Prague and Cairo
• RFE/RL’s Cairo Correspondent from May 2011 to September 2011, covering Egypt’s political transition and protests on Tahrir Square
• Interviewed major political figures in the Arab world such as the Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari and 2011 Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Tawwakol Karman
• Editor of RFE/RL’s Echoes of the Uprising microsite which focused on the 2011 Arab world protests; Editorial Assistant of RFE’s Afghanistan-Pakistan blog Gandahara and; blogger for RFE/RL’s Kazakhstan blog Transmission
• Conducted research on Sufism for Radio Mashaal and drafted a policy brief on the Pashto language media environment
• Provided instruction to general education for secondary school students in the Garden Grove School District of California.
• Reported on a wide range of topics including business, politics, human rights, culture and environment
• Covered President Mubarak’s visit to the U.S and interviewed Georgian Ambassador to Cairo on the anniversary of the 2008 Russo-Georgian War
• Graded essays, developed lesson plans and taught lecture sections on U.S History courses.
• Provided accountability for donor spending and oversight
• Standardized departmental memorandums of understanding
• Reported on social development programs in Palestinian refugee camps
• Surveyed perceptions towards Hollywood films and popular culture events for a national market research company
• Selected locations for polling activities related to Hollywood movies and cultural events
• Managed teams of 2-4 employees and coordinated activities with offices in other States
• Phi Delta Gamma Graduate Honor Society • Thesis Research Topic: The International Rivalry Between Iran and Saudi Arabia
• Scholarship from the Strategic Language Initiative • Studied abroad at Qasid Language Institute in Jordan (Summer 2008)
• Golden Key and Phi Alpha Theta Honor Societies • UCI Mediation Program - Certified Mediator by the state of California