Director of Field Research

• Feb 2022 - Present

At the planet's first legal think tank dedicated to climate migrants, I coordinate and lead geographically and thematically-specific research projects on climate migration across the globe. In 2022, I founded the world’s first International School on Climate Migration, a summer school co-hosted by Earth Refuge and the SOAS Department of Development Studies, that brings together more than 150 participants and experts across geographies and disciplines to unpack how we problematize and respond to climate migration in the 21st century.

Director of Governance

• Jun 2021 - Feb 2022

Development Consultant

• Apr 2021 - Jun 2021

Human Rights, Migration and Conflict Resolution Program Coordinator

• Jul 2020 - Present

Senior Advisor to the Executive Director Promotes collaboration, partnerships and secures funding opportunities for the MENA Studies Division’s programming, events, and respective outputs: publications, policy briefs and recommendations Designs, through consultation and collaboration, the Human Rights, Migration and Conflict Resolution Program: its mission, objectives, programming and aims to promote intercultural dialogue, human rights and minority awareness, as well as best practices for advocacy, activism and structural transformation, with an acute focus on the Maghreb Region and on Morocco in particular

Editor & Podcaster - Violence, Conflict and Development Blog & Podcast

• Oct 2021 - Sep 2022

Acting Executive Director

• Apr 2021 - Aug 2021

Provided leadership and strategic direction for the research, designed and implemented Diar foundation/DRDA strategic frameworks, planned, and programmed, including the development of resource mobilization strategies to optimize the impact of large and complex programming interventions in line with Africa and donors’ strategic prioritiesDeveloped, implemented and managed a robust strategic plan for organizational restructuring, including in the areas of non-profit management and administration, human resources, fundraising, partnerships and programming Led the identification, assessment and strengthening of appropriate partnerships and donor relations through the appropriate application of partnership principles, tools, and approaches and ensures effective project budgeting and efficient use and stewardship of project materials and financial resourcesEnsured technical assistance and capacity strengthening for project teams and partners in project management standards and related Diar foundation/DRDA, business development and operational activities and develops training curricula, and delivered trainings in addition to hiring, mentoring and motivating Programme Managers, Communications staff, Business Development Specialists and the Sub-Regional Head of ProgrammesCultivated and maintained proper conditions for learning; establishing a safe environment for sharing of ideas, solutions, and difficulties and promoting accountability, learning and knowledge to oversee the application of Diar foundation/DRDA standards and policies, as well as cross-sectoral and cross-department learning

Head of Programmes

• Dec 2020 - Apr 2021

Director Of Development

• Dec 2020 - Apr 2021

Consultant

• Nov 2020 - Jan 2021

Designed an online course for human rights and minority rights activists in Egypt on ‘Gender and other Grounds for Intersectional Discrimination.’ Developed course materials which encourage activists to account for gender and other intersecting forms of discrimination in their advocacy efforts at the grass-roots levelBolstered the aims of the project: to strengthen the minority rights knowledge, advocacy skills and the organizational capacities of activists in the Middle East, and to enhance cooperation between minority community groups and mainstream civil society organizations

Managing Editor

• Mar 2020 - Jun 2020

Managed a team of Central European University graduate student associate editors in revising and corresponding with journal contributorsJune 2020, 'The Activist' Edition, can be digitally found in the link provided. In addition to serving as a Managing Associate Editor, I also submitted a Photo Essay which is included in the journal entitled, "500 Years of Resistance in the Americas." Managed a team of Central European University graduate student associate editors in revising and corresponding with journal contributorsJune 2020, 'The Activist' Edition, can be digitally found in the link provided. In addition to serving as a Managing Associate Editor, I also submitted a Photo Essay which is included in the journal entitled, "500 Years of Resistance in the Americas."

Human Rights Researcher

• Jan 2020 - Mar 2020

Researched and reported on human rights violations (experiences of violence, marginalization and discrimination) committed against non-Hungarian LGBTQI+ persons residing in Hungary Assisted in the strengthening and developing a mobile application to advocate for LGBTQI+ youth rights in Hungary Edited and revised the organization’s ‘Good Practices’ contribution to a forthcoming collaborative publication between the Surt Foundation (Spain), Bundersverband Trans (Germany), Transgender Equality Network Ireland, and the University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia (Spain), funded by the European Commission’s Erasmus+ Programme, entitled, ‘TransVisible: Methodological Innovation in Career Counseling for the Economic Empowerment of Trans Women.”

Housing Outreach Worker

• Apr 2019 - Jul 2019

Built and maintained relationships with 35+ clients who were either chronically or episodically homeless, 70% of whom were Indigenous womenOptimized case management and employed the Housing First model across local civil society organizations, collaborating with service providers to increase the continuum of and access to housing, care, income assistance and disability, health services, drug and alcohol treatment and recovery, and counseling and education support servicesAdvocated on behalf of clients with alleged claims under the Residential Tenancy ActWorked from a feminist, anti-oppression and inter-generational trauma-informed framework to provided emotional support and self-empowerment to clients and fellow service providers

Peer Support Worker

• Sep 2018 - Apr 2019

Oversaw daily operations of the 24-hour, low-barrier shelter which accommodates up to 150 women per night with severe mental health and addictions issues and uses a harm-reduction strategyPromoted principles of peer support and self help to empower women in securing their practical needs and encouraged the identification and addressal of barriers to self-advocacyManaged crisis and hostile interactions between, within and among various groups and individuals, including by mentoring a variety of self help coping skills and individualized-focused, relationship-building emotional supports

Advocacy Team Manager

• Jan 2019 - Jun 2019

Managed a team of five undergraduate student participantsDeveloped understanding of the volume and nature of attacks on higher education communities and scholars by identifying, assessing and tracking violations of academic freedom and other relevant human rights in the following situations: killings, violence and disappearances; wrongful imprisonment/detention; wrongful prosecution; restrictions on movement; retaliatory dischargeMonitored the arbitrary detention of Saudi Arabian scholar and women’s rights activist, Dr. Hatoon Al-Fassi by recording and analyzing developments in her case, corroborating primary and secondary source materials, and exchanging information across the professor’s network in the interest of advocating for her releaseCreated petition e-1894 (Hatoon al-Fassi) calling on the Canadian Government to formally denounce the arbitrary detention of the activist, met the 500 signature deadline and witnessed the petition’s tabling in the Canadian House of Commons in April 2019Composed a human rights report on the situation of Dr. al-Fassi’s detention, advocacy initiatives undertaken and and practical recommendations for future advocates continuing with the casePresented on the situation of Dr. Hatoon al-Fassi’s arbitrary detention and advocacy initiatives undertaken and participated in a workshop hosted at NYU on advocating for scholars at risk, academic freedom, and human rights more generally within the framework of the U.S. Government’s House and Senate and advocated for the denunciation of the professor’s arbitrary detention in meetings with U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, staffers of U.S. Senators Cory Booker, the Canadian Embassy, and the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission(In partnership with the University of British Columbia, Canada)

Partnership, Team Manager

• Jan 2019 - Apr 2019

Planned, organized and facilitated a discussion panel event, entitled: ‘Indigenous Women’s Rights in Canada and Canadian Feminist Foreign Policy: Balancing Progressive Victories and Obstacles for Effective Change,’ consisting for 6 experts from local universities as well as the Deputy Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern AffairsConducted interdisciplinary research on the implementation of Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy, colonial politics of assistance, and relative notions of feminism in order to propose human rights-informed questions for the panelists, and to promote critical community engagement of the policy(In partnership with the University of British Columbia, Canada)

Administrative Assistant

• Jan 2012 - Aug 2018

Assembled and ordered all company marketing materials for sales teamUpdated the statuses of the current bidding projectsMaintained order of all company invoices and sales orders by performing a weekly audit(Seasonal Employment) Assembled and ordered all company marketing materials for sales teamUpdated the statuses of the current bidding projectsMaintained order of all company invoices and sales orders by performing a weekly audit(Seasonal Employment)

Researcher & Editor

• Mar 2018 - Jun 2018

Department of Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies (WGSS)Researcher for Dr. Susan Shaw (WGSS Dept) Fact checked, revised, and edited introductory level women’s studies course textbook, presented information for further research and revision and drafted and wrote sidebars for textbook publication by Oxford University Press (OUP) for Gendered Voices, Feminist Visions (2018)

Researcher

• Jan 2018 - Mar 2018

Department of Ethnic StudiesContributed to the work of the Ethnic and Social Minorities Advisory Group formed under Oregon House Bill 2845, which requires the Ethnic and Social Minorities Advisory Group to develop ethnic studies standards to propose to the State Board of Education with the goal of increasing cultural competency via recognizing the histories, contributions and perspectives of ethnic and social minorities in public schools K-12

Wage Claim and Legal Action Assistant

• Jun 2017 - Sep 2017

MLK Jr. Worker's Center Cultivated relationships with 60+ predominantly undocumented, migrant workers at the MLK Jr. Worker Center, a hub for homeowners and employers seeking temporary workersChallenged the exploitation of day laborers by promoting dignity and justice between employers and day laborers; combating ethnic, national, and racial discrimination and monitoring labor and civil rights abuses to improve working conditions and recover unpaid wages via individualized casesConducted intakes for experiences of wage theft and offered legal advising; directly contacted employers to enhance accountability, and filed claims in collaboration with Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industry when neededPromoted the expansion of democratic rights within the community via outreach to day laborers on designated street corners not utilizing Voz’s services, encouraging use of wage claim services as well as workers and migrant rights more generallyCollaborated with local organizations such as Unite Oregon, the General Consulate of Mexico and the ACLU of Oregon in order to develop effective, evidence-informed advocacy strategies to combat discrimination against undocumented workers and promote legal rights education in the face of increasing ICE raids

Peer Facilitator at the Hattie Redmond Women & Gender Center

• Sep 2016 - Jan 2017

Office of Diversity and Cultural Engagement (OSU) Assisted in researching, developing, and implementing a varied program calendar of events that promote cultural awareness and social justice, including as a member of the sexual assault awareness month committee Built relationships for Diversity & Cultural Engagement collaboration and advocated for marginalized women, non-binary and LGBTQ+ persons on campus and in the local community Office of Diversity and Cultural Engagement (OSU) Assisted in researching, developing, and implementing a varied program calendar of events that promote cultural awareness and social justice, including as a member of the sexual assault awareness month committee Built relationships for Diversity & Cultural Engagement collaboration and advocated for marginalized women, non-binary and LGBTQ+ persons on campus and in the local community

Women’s Rights Delegate

• Sep 2016 - Sep 2016

Consulted with 10+ community organizers, activists, victim’s advocates and women-led human rights organizations in country in order to identify and examine corruptive, criminal barriers to the promotion and defense of legal accountability for genocide, other international crimes, as well as high rates of femicide committed against the Indigenous populationVisited an on-site resistance camp outside of Guatemala City, 'La Puya,' where the local Indigenous community is protesting large-scale development projects which destroy their habitat and poison their fields, food, water and other natural resources which can be founded on their lands