As a proud child of Algerian immigrants, Yasmine’s experiences and background growing up as a first generation American have been instrumental in shaping her passion for refugee and migration issues. Yasmine pursued her undergraduate studies at the George Washington University, graduating summa cum laude with a degree in International Affairs, concentration in conflict resolution and minors in History and Arabic Studies.

Throughout Yasmine’s educational and professional journey, she has worked to cultivate a deeper understanding of migrant and refugee issues and lived experiences. She has volunteered with Syrian and Palestinian refugees, helping them cultivate tools to assimilate while striving to help them preserve their sense of self, culture, and identity. More recently, she has taken the role of the fundraising director for an interfaith coalition of D.C.-area advocates focused on supporting refugees facing identity-based persecution in East Africa. Her work aims to boost advocacy and monitor efforts for overlooked refugee populations.

Yasmine’s decision to pursue the MIMR at Georgetown is deeply rooted in her dedication to advocating for social justice for Palestinians. The worsening humanitarian and refugee crisis in Gaza has significantly shaped her career ambitions, making this cause a central driving force in her professional journey. She hopes to gain valuable expertise and experience in this program that will unlock new career doors for her. As forced migration continues to rise, Yasmine hopes to work in a direct service capacity to improve the conditions and experience of migrants and displaced peoples. She chose SFS’s MIMR program because of the renowned faculty and their inspiring work in the field of international migration, the opportunity to work directly in the field during the summer practicum, and the diverse cohort that will allow for meaningful discourse.