Founder

Dina Kobeissi is a legal researcher, advocate, and J.D. candidate at Harvard Law School passionate about the intersections of law, public health, and human rights. In 2024, she graduated from Harvard College with a joint degree in Government and Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations. While at the College, she spearheaded initiatives to foster dialogue on women’s rights and empowerment in the Arab world and beyond. She also completed her award-winning senior thesis, Sanction Evasion and Devastation, which investigated the impact of economic sanctions on income inequality in Syria. Building on her findings, she urged for a reconsideration of sanctions, emphasizing compliance with international law and the protection of Syrians' rights to food, housing, and healthcare while navigating these laws to support recovery efforts. With her most recent project Ma3 Ba3d, she is working to mobilize the Syrian and Lebanese diaspora for impact and change in their home countries.

Syria Partnerships Director

Ahmed ElSamman is a healthcare professional holding multiple positions in both clinical and public health spaces. He graduated from Harvard with an MPH after finishing his bachelor’s in Dentistry from Cairo University. He believes good quality healthcare should be accessible for all. This led him to devote his work to improving healthcare systems and care models especially in resource constrained settings. He is really excited to work with Ma3 Ba3d towards this goal and hopes to empower locals and anyone living abroad to engage and collectively make a lasting impact.

Lebanese Partnerships Director

Nour Mrad is a recent graduate from New York University Abu Dhabi with a Bachelor's degree in Biology with a Specialization in Brain and Cognitive Science and a minor in Psychology. Her interests lie at the crossroads of health, education, advocacy, and science-backed policy making. Nour has studied in Lebanon, Abu Dhabi, New York, Bangladesh, and France, and has been exposed to a student body coming from more than 100 countries. She is thus interested in navigating how best to achieve equality through a culturally-integrative approach, specifically in the SWANA region. Nour is passionate about Ma3 Ba3d because she believes a deeper connection between the diaspora and the community is crucial for both to thrive.

Research Director

Sofia Dominguez-Trejo is an undergraduate student at New York University pursuing a bachelor's degree in International Relations and Middle Eastern Studies on the Pre-law track. Previously, Sofia has worked at the state and local level, interning for Austin's City Hall and the Texas House of Representatives. Currently, she is interning at the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies, researching the legalities of US foreign policy in the Middle Eastern region. Alongside her studies and internship, she produces weekly articles on developments in the MENA region for the IR Insider, NYU's international relations publication. She is passionate about understanding the intersection of human rights law, conflict resolution, and US foreign policy. Understanding the challenge of finding opportunities that align with one's values, Sofia was keen to join Ma3 Ba3d because she wanted to help others connect with missions they could truly support. In her spare time, you will probably find Sofia perusing through a used bookstore or wandering through the MET.

Technology Director

Mohamed Abdalhamid is an Executive MBA holder with 18+ years of experience in product management, AI transformation, and business consulting. He co-founded Cogya and SalesCubicle, helping startups and SMEs grow through practical digital strategies. He supports Ma3 Ba3d for its role in connecting regional talent with the diaspora to share knowledge and give back. In his free time, he mentors young professionals and plays traditional instruments like the oud.

Communications Director

Souheil Ayoub is a marketing professional with a Master’s from Grenoble École de Management. He has gained experience in content writing, B2B & B2C marketing, business development, and internal communications. He is passionate about Ma3 Ba3d because he believes there is so much untapped potential in Syria and Lebanon, and that as a diaspora, we have the power to create real and lasting change. He loves hybrid training, reading, and writing his weekly newsletter Letters4Life.

Recruitment Director

Shae Raven Bishara Mahoney is a certified hospice and palliative nurse and graduated from Southern New Hampshire University with a Master's degree in the Science of Nursing with a focus in population health in June 2025. He has worked in various specialties in nursing, with a focus on community health and hospice care, for 6 years. He is passionate about Ma3 Ba3d because he believes in preserving the connection between the diaspora and the old country, and looks forward to rebuilding in the near future. In his free time, he likes to write short horror fiction, sing, act, and crochet. He lives with his two cats, Pluto and Mr. Midnight.

Operations Director

Roy Badawi is a Mechanical Engineering student at the American University of Beirut, pursuing a minor in Economics. His interest in engineering, innovation, and global affairs has led him to take on leadership roles at AUB, including serving as President of the Biomedical Engineering Society, the American Society of Mechanical Engineering, and the Model United Nations Club. Representing AUB at Model United Nations conferences from New York to the Philippines sparked his passion for international affairs, policy writing, and community engagement. Motivated by recent conflicts in the region, Roy has worked with his peers to support humanitarian initiatives and collaborate with local NGOs, aiming to create meaningful change across Lebanon. Inspired by seeing Ma3 Ba3d led by students like himself, he decided to join the NGO, believing deeply in the power of his generation and the diaspora to bring transformative change to their country.