Current Student Profiles

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.

Kaitlyn Bell | MALD 2027

Kaitlyn Bell is a first-year MALD candidate at The Fletcher School focusing on conflict and political communication and design. She holds a BA in Political Science, International Studies, and Middle East and North African Studies from the University of Michigan. Prior to Fletcher, she worked with a United Nations agency managing Congressional relations, producing situation reports, and connecting developments on the ground in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon to U.S. policymakers. In addition, she has worked in media and risk analysis covering the U.S. and Middle East, as well as with a Jerusalem-based human rights NGO, and on various programs and research projects in the region.

Olivia Grimmer | MALD 2026

Olivia is a first-year MALD student studying international negotiation and conflict resolution as well as regional studies with a focus on the Middle East. 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.

Simon Khairallah | MALD 2027

Simon is a first-year MALD student studying conflict resolution and human security. He graduated from Colgate University with a BA in Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies in 2025, with minors in Political Science and Peace and Conflict Studies. As an undergraduate, he worked as a research assistant on Middle East issues, supporting research on Egyptian governance and MENA sociopolitical trends. Additionally, Simon has spent significant time traveling and studying in the region, including multiple visits to Lebanon and a six-month study abroad in Amman, Jordan, in 2023. He is passionate about MENA affairs, especially the political dynamics of post-civil war Lebanon and the management of the Syrian refugee crisis.

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.

Laith Mustafa | MALD 2026

Laith Mustafa is a first-year MALD candidate at The Fletcher School, with strong interests in great power competition, realist political thought, and the role of emerging technology in shaping Mutual Assured Destruction. He holds a BA from the University of California, Berkeley (Philosophy and Classics). His research explores the relationship between technology and power/knowledge. In a separate line of inquiry, he investigates the conceptual relationship between medicine and statecraft, drawing on Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, al-Fārābī’s al-Madīna al-Fāḍila, and the works of Galen. Beyond these core academic pursuits, Laith is also interested in the Greco-Arabic tradition, political theory, and classical Arabic poetry. He serves as president of Cinéma Central, Fletcher’s film society.

Farris Nasrullah | MALD 2027

My name is Farris Nasrullah, and I am a first-year MALD student with a focus on Conflict Resolution and International Law. I have experience in the non-profit sector, having the opportunity to be a part of two NGOs on the outreach and creative side. I had the opportunity to help in the development of social media drafts and help in the development of email marketing material. I have always been interested in Middle Eastern Affairs and history. During my undergrad I focused on the region to understand more about it through taking classes and research. That time was a component in influencing me to come to the Fletcher school. I am looking forward to being a part of the Fares Center and have the opportunity to be involved.