Hear from Students & Alumni

CMES is home to approximately 50 graduate students in our AM and joint PhD programs. Our network of over 700 alumni have gone on to distinguished careers in academia, NGOs, business, government, journalism, and more. Meet a few of our students and alumni here and learn about their research and experiences at CMES.

Student Profiles

Soup kitchen operating after Turkey earthquakes

On the Ground Following the Earthquakes in Turkey and Syria: Q&A with Deren Ertas

March 28, 2023

Deren Ertas is a PhD candidate in history and middle eastern studies at Harvard. She was in Istanbul doing research when, beginning on February 6, 2023, a series of powerful earthquakes struck areas of southern and central Turkey and northern and western Syria. Following is a conversation with Ertas about her experiences in the aftermath of  these devastating events.... Read more about On the Ground Following the Earthquakes in Turkey and Syria: Q&A with Deren Ertas

Mouhanad Al Rifay

Q&A With Mouhanad Al Rifay

April 26, 2021

CMES AM candidate Mouhanad Al Rifay is a Syrian-American award-winning documentary filmmaker, humanitarian, and human rights activist. At CMES he is focused on journalism and nonfiction narrative writing and developing further expertise in Middle East–focused critical political and cultural commentary. After graduating from the University of Maryland, College Park, in 2014 with a BA in Psychology, International Development, and Conflict Management, Al Rifay managed various USAID-funded programs at leading international development organizations in Washington, DC. He also co-founded...

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Alumni Profiles

Hassan Al-Damluji

Q&A with Hassan Al-Damluji

January 22, 2016

Hassan Al-Damluji, CMES AM ’08, is Head of Middle East Relations at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. He is responsible for the foundation’s Middle East strategy across program areas and serves as the lead Middle East adviser to Bill and Melinda Gates.... Read more about Q&A with Hassan Al-Damluji

Q&A with Naghmeh Sohrabi

Q&A with Naghmeh Sohrabi

November 21, 2013

Naghmeh Sohrabi is the Charles (Corky) Goodman Professor of Middle East History and the Associate Director for Research at the Crown Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Brandeis University. She completed her PhD in History and Middle East Studies at CMES in 2005.... Read more about Q&A with Naghmeh Sohrabi

Q&A with Kyle McEneaney

Q&A with Kyle McEneaney

November 21, 2013

Kyle McEneaney graduated with an AM in Middle Eastern Studies in 2007. Since graduating he has worked in consulting and investment banking, specializing in Iraq’s emerging economy. He is currently based in Dubai and works with an Iraqi group of companies focused on the oil and gas sector in Iraq.... Read more about Q&A with Kyle McEneaney

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