Current Student Profiles

Ahmad Al Falasi | MALD 2025

Ahmad is a second year MALD student specializing in the field of Negotiation and Conflict resolution. Had experience working for the UAE government as a Senior Researcher and project manager for International Partnerships. Worked closely with the Expo 2020 team and other government and international stakeholders at the time. Enthusiastic about Middle Eastern political history, especially on the evolvement of regional political movements such as Arab nationalism and Pan-Islamism. Leader of Arabic Language tables at the Center. 

Dana Alsheikh-Ali | MIB 2026

Dana Alsheikh-Ali is a first-year MIB student focusing on strategic management, technology, and public policy. Hailing from the United Arab Emirates, she is passionate about Middle Eastern affairs and research. She graduated from Boston University in 2023 with a B.A. in International Relations, where she concentrated in foreign policy and security studies. Prior to Fletcher, she worked as a research associate at an executive search company, and she has also interned at Expo 2020 Dubai and the City of Boston Mayor’s Office for Immigrant Advancement.

Aryama Bhattacharyya | MALD 2025

Aryama is a 2025 MALD student focusing on Conflict Resolution and Human Security. She is also a cross-registered student at the Harvard University where she focuses on Negotiation and Climate Action. In addition, she is a staff writer at Praxis – The Fletcher Journal of Human Security.  Prior to joining Fletcher, she was interning with the Global Governance Initiative. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Calcutta. 

Akshat Dhankher | MALD 2025

Akshat is a MALD 2025 student focusing on international security, economic, and technology issues. Prior to Fletcher, Akshat spent a few years with the Atlantic Council working on transatlantic security issues and US-Europe relations. He received a BS in computer science and economics from Northeastern University in 2021, with minors in international affairs and computational social science. During this time, he was a member of the Qatar Exchange Fellowship in Doha, Qatar, and organized conferences on US-Middle East/North Africa relations with the National Council on US-Arab Relations. He is originally from Amherst, Massachusetts.

Olivia Grimmer | MALD 2026

Olivia is a first-year MALD student focusing on international security, international negotiation, and conflict resolution. Prior to attending Fletcher, she received a bachelor’s degree from Grand Valley State University (GVSU) in political science. During her undergraduate career, Olivia worked as a Research Assistant and a Peer Research Consultant at GVSU. She was also a Richter Scholar at Lake Forest College. Since then, she has worked in multiple industries, gaining experience in policy analysis, copywriting, content creation, and marketing strategy.

Mohammad-Reza Jamali | MALD 2026

Mohammad-Reza Jamali is a MA in Law and Diplomacy Candidate at The Fletcher School. Hailing from Iran with a strong foundation in International Relations and Energy, he is driven by a passion to make a significant impact on global affairs.

Leen Jardat | MIB 2026

Leen is an MIB student from Palestine, interested in the intersection of international development and sustainable private sector-led interventions in support of SMEs in the MENA region. She has worked on various development projects focusing on SME capacity building, employability in emerging markets, and business development services for SMEs in Palestine and the broader MENA region.

Leen is a passionate visual artist, her paintings explore various mediums, often inspired by Palestinian folklore. Additionally, she is an alumna of United World College (UWC) Dilijan and currently leads the Palestinian selection committee for the program.

Sofia Karalekas | MALD 2026

Sofia is a first year MALD candidate studying international security, environmental policy, and business. She recently graduated from the University of Connecticut with a BA in Political Science and a BA in Human Rights, where she gained valuable research experience in analyzing armed conflict patterns during the Syrian Civil War. She is passionate about Middle East affairs and is excited to learn more about the MENA region through her work at the Fares Center this year.

Briana McGowan | MALD 2025

Briana McGowan is a second-year MALD student studying international migration & refugee studies and international legal studies. She is a Double Jumbo (B.A. ’22) who pursued studies in international relations and economics. She is involved in the Fletcher Refugees in Town project and serves as the Editor-in-Chief of PRAXIS, the Fletcher Journal of Human Security.

Maeve Murphy | MALD 2026

Maeve is a first year MALD student studying conflict resolution and human security. She is interested in the roles of shared history, memory, and memorialization in driving conflict. She graduated from George Washington University in 2021, with a BA in International Affairs and a Minor in Arabic Studies and spent these last three years working for an education nonprofit.

Frizia Rounak | MALD 2025

Frizia is a second-year MALD student specializing in International Information and Communication, with a focus on digital rights and inclusion. She studies the role of AI in enhancing access to information and safeguarding digital freedoms, aiming to bridge technology and human rights to support a more inclusive digital world. Prior to Fletcher, she worked with the Permanent Mission of Afghanistan to the UN and other organizations as a human rights and communications intern where she helped in drafting policy briefs and official statements for several sessions of the Human Rights Council. Frizia holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations from the Geneva School of Diplomacy and International Affairs.