Bassema Yousef

Bassema Yousef

Strategic Advisor

Bassema Yousef is Alfanar's Strategic Advisor. Bassema is a management consultant and social impact and public policy strategist with over 15 years of experience developing and leading organizational strategy, public-private partnerships, program design, and strategic partnerships. Prior to joining Alfanar as senior strategic partnerships and outreach advisor, Bassema worked with both public and private sector organizations, which include Pivotal Ventures (a Melinda Gates Company), the Mayor's Office of the City of New York, the United Nations, the International Rescue Committee, and Booz Allen Hamilton, where she closely supported Federal Government clients such as the Executive Office of the President, USAID, and the Department of State.  Bassema earned her bachelor’s degree in political science and economic development studies from Smith College and went on to obtain a master's degree in public administration, with an emphasis on management and international development, from Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs.  She has also completed coursework at the American University of Cairo and holds professional certifications from Georgetown University and New York University.  In her spare time, Bassema sits on the board of and volunteers with organizations that included Human Rights Watch, New York Cares, NaTakallam, Synergos Social Entrepreneurship’s Arab World program, and Seeds of Peace. Bassema founded the AMY Fund in 2021, which aims to empower and uplift refugees by increasing their access to higher education and to raise refugee awareness through policy and advocacy efforts in the United States.