Matt Gordner

Co-Founder at Tanmiya for Social Change
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Contact Information
us****@****om
(386) 825-5501
Location
Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia, TN
Languages
  • English Native or bilingual proficiency
  • Arabic Limited working proficiency
  • French Limited working proficiency
  • Hebrew Limited working proficiency
Skills

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Credentials

  • People Power: The Strategic Dynamics of Civil Resistance
    International Center on Nonviolent Conflict
    Jan, 2021
    - Oct, 2024
  • Training of Trainers: Case Study Methods for Public Policy Education
    Stanford University
    Dec, 2017
    - Oct, 2024
  • Advanced Undergraduate Teaching and Pedagogy
    University of Toronto
    Jan, 2015
    - Oct, 2024
  • Inter-faith Dialogue
    University of Toronto
    May, 2013
    - Oct, 2024
  • Advanced Undergraduate Teaching
    University of Alberta
    Nov, 2009
    - Oct, 2024
  • Student Leadership Seminar
    University of Alberta
    Sep, 2009
    - Oct, 2024

Experience

  • Tanmiya for Social Change
    • Tunisia
    • Professional Services
    • 1 - 100 Employee
    • Co-Founder
      • 2022 - Present

      Tanmiya for Social Change is a Tunis-based consultancy firm led and staffed by experts in the fields of research, training, curricular development, capacity building, and monitoring and evaluation. A partnership of longstanding personal and professional relationships between like-minded change-makers, Tanmiya’s leadership team are academics, educators, development practitioners, and journalists with decades of individual experience in democracy, development, and human rights promotion. Tanmiya’s ethos is to contribute to meaningful and lasting change across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) derived from our diverse skill sets, professional backgrounds, and expertise specializing in the region, not to mention personal commitments to improve the lives of our friends, families, and communities who live here. Our approach is human rights-based, our analytical lens is intersectional, and our added value is rooted in our capacity to deliver analysis based on local knowledge production from interdisciplinary frameworks and with multilingual capabilities. Show less

  • The Munathara Initiative
    • Senior Strategist
      • Sep 2020 - Nov 2022

      I was responsible for various aspects along the program cycle, including long-term institutional development, program conception and implementation, project management, fundraising, partnership development, grant-writing, risk management, M&E, and reporting. I spearheaded the establishment of Munathara's Public Interest Media wing. I oversaw research and analysis for the Public Sphere Matrix program, and led the organization of the European Union-sponsored "Civic Horizons" program (ongoing) which aims to address shrinking spaces of civil society in Jordan, Morocco, Lebanon, Iraq, Tunisia, and Libya. I conducted the M&E and wrote the final report for "Tunisia Decides," the first free and fair electoral debates program in the Arabic speaking world. I helped create the first inclusive town hall in the region -- on Tunisia's draconian drug Law 52. I found creative and technological solutions to system-wide, sectoral, and structural problems facing shrinking spaces of civil society in the region. I anticipated trends and developments that used new technologies to promote more direct forms of democratic participation. I helped promote healthy and vibrant public spheres, supported strong and robust networks within civil society, and anticipated growth and development for independent media. Show less

  • University of Toronto Scarborough
    • Canada
    • Higher Education
    • 700 & Above Employee
    • Instructor
      • Sep 2019 - Dec 2019

      I taught a 3rd year course on "Protest Politics in the Middle East and North Africa" and a 2nd year course on "Comparative Politics: Revolutions, Democratization, and Authoritarianism." I taught a 3rd year course on "Protest Politics in the Middle East and North Africa" and a 2nd year course on "Comparative Politics: Revolutions, Democratization, and Authoritarianism."

  • SMU - South Mediterranean University (MSB- MedTech-LCI)
    • Tunisia
    • Higher Education
    • 100 - 200 Employee
    • Chair of Student Affairs
      • Dec 2017 - Aug 2019

      I managed the Student Affairs and Student Life Departments for +1200 undergraduate, MBM, and EMBA students in which I oversaw the Student Affairs Manager and Student Life Coordinator, as well as the Student Life Team. I created and implementing new rules and regulations related to academic and behavioural misconduct, including benchmarking, writing policies, and delivering professional development seminars on ‘Sexual Harassment in the Workplace,’ ‘Mental Health Awareness,’ ‘Exam Adjudication,’ ‘Classroom Management,’ and ‘Academic Integrity: Plagiarism and Professional Development.’ I Chaired Academic and Behavioural Committees for student misconduct, as well as Conduct Committees related to suspensions and expulsions. I liaised and worked closely with the Advising and Counselling Centre for underperforming students. I Created evaluation systems for internal scholarships, awards, and grants, and I developed sections of the Student Handbook that pertained to either Student Affairs or Student Life. Finally, I taught a first year course on "Study and Research Methodologies." Show less

    • Senior Lecturer of History and Politics
      • Sep 2017 - Aug 2019

      I taught second and third year courses on "Political Economy in the Middle East and North Africa," "Society and Politics in the Middle East and North Africa" and "Citizenship and Youth Politics in Tunisia," in addition to a first year course aptly titled "Methodology."

    • Visiting Lecturer
      • Jan 2017 - Jun 2017

      I taught courses on "A Political Economy of Tunisia: From the Pre-Colonial Period to the Present," and "Citizenship and Youth Politics in Tunisia." I taught courses on "A Political Economy of Tunisia: From the Pre-Colonial Period to the Present," and "Citizenship and Youth Politics in Tunisia."

  • American Political Science Association
    • United States
    • Non-profit Organizations
    • 1 - 100 Employee
    • 2016-2017 Middle East and North Africa Civil Society Fellow
      • 2016 - 2017

      My research for APSA's MENA Civil Society Fellowship centred on the connection between informal and formal modes of political organization. Advancing ‘youth’ as an analytical category with implications throughout the MENA region for both democratization and radicalization, my work demonstrates the interstices wherein youth find political expression despite their social, economic, and political disenfranchisement and marginalization. My research for APSA's MENA Civil Society Fellowship centred on the connection between informal and formal modes of political organization. Advancing ‘youth’ as an analytical category with implications throughout the MENA region for both democratization and radicalization, my work demonstrates the interstices wherein youth find political expression despite their social, economic, and political disenfranchisement and marginalization.

  • Trudeau Foundation
    • Canada
    • Non-profit Organizations
    • 1 - 100 Employee
    • Scholar
      • 2012 - 2016

      Each year, the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation rewards outstanding doctoral candidates who are enrolled or about to be enrolled in a social sciences and humanities program and who are doing research in areas related to our four themes. This award, the most prestigious of its type in Canada, has continuously attracted the very best scholars in the social sciences and humanities, individuals with a passion for public engagement and who are likely to become leading national and international figures. The award supports interdisciplinary research and original fieldwork by providing a substantial yearly allowance for research and travel, enabling the Scholars to gain first-hand contact with the diverse communities that can enrich their studies. Moreover, each Scholar is paired with a distinguished Trudeau Mentor selected by the Foundation among the most eminent Canadian practitioners in all sectors of public life. The Scholarship also offers the opportunity to interact with an exceptional community of leaders and committed individuals in every field of the social sciences and humanities, to participate in events organized by the Foundation and to hold their own workshops, through available financial support. Candidates are evaluated based on their academic achievement, which must be on par with the highest standards of the world’s most prestigious doctoral scholarship programs. Future scholars must also demonstrate an ability to engage in lively exchange with other researchers and scholars, and have an expressed desire to contribute to public dialogue. Show less

  • The Peace by Piece Initiative
    • Canada
    • Political Organizations
    • Founder and Executive Director
      • Sep 2009 - Aug 2015

      The Peace by Piece Initiative is an organization dedicated to bringing about positive political, social, and economic change by empowering and inspiring individuals and communities to engage in constructive, meaningful, and inclusive discussion, debate, and dialogue on sensitive and pressing issues of local and global scope. Through the facilitation of conferences, workshops, and other educational activities, The Peace by Piece Initiative provides its members and participants with the tools, knowledge, and guidance necessary to cultivate dispositions of mutual empathy, respect, and dignity in promoting appreciation for and understanding of our qualitative differences and shared horizons. Through these means, our ends are to represent, instantiate, and bring about a progressive society of peacemakers and peacekeepers, issue-by-issue, piece-by-piece. Our primary issues include: Middle Eastern and African politics, the Palestinian/Israeli conflict, state-sponsored and Islamic terrorism, gender and sexual politics, the environment and sustainability, and dialogical theory. Show less

  • The University of Toronto
    • Canada
    • Teaching Assistant
      • Sep 2012 - May 2015

      Leading seminars, grading essays and exams, invigilation. Leading seminars, grading essays and exams, invigilation.

  • Consultancy Africa Intelligence
    • South Africa
    • Research Services
    • 1 - 100 Employee
    • Senior Analyst
      • Nov 2009 - 2015

      Researching and writing briefs and tailored political analyses for CAI Conflict and Terrorism, Africa Watch, and African Conflict Monthly Monitor reports. Providing consultancy on regional and international security and conflict resolution, democracy and democratic transitions, and human rights. Researching and writing briefs and tailored political analyses for CAI Conflict and Terrorism, Africa Watch, and African Conflict Monthly Monitor reports. Providing consultancy on regional and international security and conflict resolution, democracy and democratic transitions, and human rights.

  • The Dorot Foundation
    • Fellow
      • Jun 2011 - May 2012

      The Dorot Fellowship seeks to enliven the American Jewish landscape by seeding the community with a cadre of outstanding young lay leaders who will create new forms, and reinvigorate existing forms, of Jewish expression. The Dorot Fellowship seeks to enliven the American Jewish landscape by seeding the community with a cadre of outstanding young lay leaders who will create new forms, and reinvigorate existing forms, of Jewish expression.

  • University of Alberta
    • Canada
    • Higher Education
    • 1 - 100 Employee
    • Teaching Assistant
      • Sep 2007 - Dec 2009

      Facilitating seminar discussions, aiding in course development, and delivering guest lectures. Grading assignments and essays. Proctoring mid-term and final exams. Courses:History of Political Thought (2009), Canadian Politics (2008), Political Philosophy (2008), Middle Eastern Politics (2008), Introduction to Politics (2008), Introduction to Political Theory (2007).

    • Research Assistant
      • Jan 2008 - Mar 2008

      Conducting research for Dr. Judith Garber on post-911 security policies in the United States, their effects on local policing techniques, and “sanctuary cities.” Providing periodical reports and briefings.

  • Palestinian Authority, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
    • Political Consultant
      • Jun 2009 - Aug 2009

      Providing political consultancy, policy briefs, and human resources for Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Khaled El-Yaziji. Conducting daily briefings and analyses on Palestinian politics, worldwide, and regional media coverage of Israeli-Palestinian politics and developments. Providing professional development workshops and research seminars. Responsible for overseeing democracy and human rights portfolios. Writing policy proposals and speeches intended for Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen). Show less

Education

  • University of Toronto
    Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Political Science and Government, Middle Eastern Politics
    2012 - 2021
  • University of Alberta
    Master of Arts (M.A.), Political Science, Middle Eastern Politics
    2007 - 2010
  • York University
    Bachelor of Arts (Honors), Philosophy and Political Science
    2002 - 2004

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