Merissa Khurma

About

Merissa Khurma has extensive leadership experience in strategic communications and community engagement, strategic management, social and economic development, gender equality, and foreign policy. She has worked in a range of development projects in the Middle East and Africa that focused on workforce development, youth and women empowerment, fiscal reform, governance and the Syrian refugee crisis. Additionally, Merissa served as Director of the Office of HRH Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein (2010- 2013) and as Press Attaché and Director of the Information Bureau at the Embassy of Jordan in Washington, DC (2003-2010). Merissa has a Masters of Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School of Government, a Master of Science in International Security and Foreign Policy from Georgetown University, and a Bachelor of Art in Political Science from McGill University. She is currently a non-resident fellow at New America Foundation and an executive board member of the Jordanian American Association of Washington, DC (JAADC). She speaks Arabic, English and French.

Experience

• Founder and CEO at Amena Strategies
  Sep 2025 - Present · 1 yr 3 mos

• Associate Fellow at Middle East Institute
  Aug 2025 - Present · 1 yr 4 mos

• Non Resident Fellow at Baker Institute Center for the United States and Mexico
  Feb 2024 - Present · 2 yrs 10 mos

• Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University Walsh School of Foreign Service
  Jan 2019 - Present · 7 yrs 11 mos

  Washington DC-Baltimore Area

• The Wilson Center (6 yrs 10 mos)
  • Program Director
    Nov 2018 - Aug 2025 · 6 yrs 10 mos

  • Washington DC-Baltimore Area
    The Wilson Center • Washington, DC Director, Middle East Program (MEP) Nov 2018 – Sep 2025 Responsible for directing strategy, fundraising, and communications for the Middle East Program to advance policy impact and program sustainability. Reported to the Senior Vice President and CEO, led the MEP team and 1,000+ fellows in the network, and managed an annual budget of $1.5M. Directed strategy and program design to position the Middle East Program as a leading voice in policy research and regional engagement. Developed and executed fundraising and sustainability strategy, securing $5M+ in multi-source funding to ensure long-term growth and programmatic continuity throughout the tenure. Spearheaded high-impact MENA initiatives and communications campaigns, increasing audience reach and stakeholder engagement by 100% across digital and traditional platforms. Managed the MEP team and fellows network, enhancing program delivery, fostering collaboration, and expanding policy research capacity by 150%. Published policy analysis on MENA geopolitics and economic trends, contributing to thought leadership and influencing regional and international discourse. Cultivated strategic partnerships with international organizations in the region and various Mideast and European diplomatic missions, expanding the program’s external collaborations and policy influence network by 120%. Represented the organization in top-tier media (CBS, BBC, WashPost, FT, LA Times) and high-level forums across Europe, MENA, and beyond, elevating the program’s public profile and shaping discourse on regional policy priorities.

    Merissa Khurma is project manager of the Middle East Special Initiatives at the Wilson Center. She was a non-resident fellow in the International Security program at New…

  • Middle East Program Director
    Nov 2018 - Apr 2025 · 6 yrs 6 mos

  • Washington, United States · On-site
    I led the Wilson Center’s Middle East Program, overseeing its strategy, research agenda, stakeholder engagement, and communications. I rebuilt the program to become a unique and trusted platform for diverse regional voices, shaping policy conversations across Washington and beyond. From curating public dialogues to guiding policy research, I focused on bridging perspectives and advancing pragmatic, evidence-informed recommendations. In this role, I’ve raised $5M+ in multi-source funding, expanded our partnerships with international organizations and diplomatic entities, and launched new initiatives on gender, digital transformation, and economic development in MENA. I’ve also strengthened our communications reach, which has grown our audience engagement by >120%. I built a high-performing team that continues to deliver innovative work despite resource constraints. Through media appearances and high-level forums across Europe and MENA, I represented the company’s program’s insights and elevated its impact on global policy debates.