The Asfari Institute for Civil Society and Citizenship at the American University of Beirut is proud to announce the new cohort of Senior International Fellows, namely Professor Charlotte Bunch (USA), Ms. Geeta Misra (India), Professor Khaldoun AbouAssi (USA), and Mr. Ziad El Sayegh (Lebanon).

Our new fellows are joining us during very difficult and challenging times in Lebanon and the region. They will bring in their wisdom, experience, and scholarly expertise in fields related to feminist movements, social justice, gender and sexuality, public policy, and non-profit sectors, as well as forced migration and good governance. 

As we welcome our new Senior International Fellows, I would like to express our gratitude for the knowledge and commitment they bring with them.

Lina Abou-Habib
Director
Asfari Institute for Civil Society and Citizenship
American University of Beirut

Learn more about the fellows

Charlotte Bunch

Dr. Charlotte Bunch was the Founding Director of the Center for Women’s Global Leadership at Rutgers University. She has been a leading activist, writer, and organizer in the feminist and human rights movements for over five decades. A distinguished Emeritus Professor in Women’s and Gender Studies, she co-founded Quest: A Feminist Quarterly and has served on numerous boards, including the (Association for Women’s Rights in Development (AWID), Urgent Action Fund, and Human Rights Watch. Bunch has edited nine anthologies and authored key works like Passionate Politics and Demanding Accountability. She played a central role in UN World Conferences on Women and civil society efforts to recognize women’s rights as human rights, among others. She has received many honors inculcating induction into the National Women’s Hall of Fame and the White House Eleanor Roosevelt Award.

Geeta Misra

Ms. Geetanjali Misra is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of CREA, an international feminist human rights organization based in New Delhi. She works at the activist, grant-making, and policy levels on issues of sexuality, reproductive health, gender, human rights, and gender-based violence. Her activism centers structurally excluded people and emphasizes the power of art to change hearts and minds. She is recognized for her work in exploring feminist fault lines, holding space for complicated conversations among movements, and leading from the Global South.

Khaldoun AbouAssi

Dr. Khaldoun AbouAssi is Provost Associate Professor of Public Administration and Policy in the Department of Public Administration and Policy at American University. His primary research focuses on refugee camp governance as well as public and non-profit management, examining organizational capacity, resources, and inter-organizational relations. His research is enriched by 15 years of professional experience working for public, nonprofit, and donor agencies in the Middle East.

Ziad El Sayegh

Mr. Ziad El Sayegh is an expert on public policies, migration, and refugees, and the current Executive Director of the Civic Influence Hub (CIH). He has served in numerous advisory roles, including with the UNDP, UNHCR, and the Lebanese Presidency of the Council of Ministers, contributing to labor policies, social protection, as well as the political landscape concerning refugees. He is also a member of several coordinating committees between Lebanon and international organizations. His research spans across public policies, Christian-Muslim dialogue, and religious freedom. He has co-authored works such as “We Choose Abundant Life” (2021) and “Médiations et Migrations” (2019), and frequently publishes articles in regional outlets like Annahar and AlHayat.