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Student Leaders

Headshot of Rida Ejaz, a fair skinned female with long brown hair and glasses. She is wearing a purple striped shirt and is smiling directly into the camera.

Rida Ejaz (Pakistan), Religions for Peace Intern, holds a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering & Management Sciences, where she graduated with the Presidential Gold Medal. Her research interests include countering violent extremism both offline and online, and addressing ethical concerns in artificial intelligence (AI).

Under the Kroc Institute, Rida is working on building ethical frameworks for an AI chatbot developed to counter hate speech and hate crimes online. She contributes her peacebuilding expertise to communication strategies aimed at enhancing the large language model (LLM) used in the Civic Health Project.

Rida previously served as a research intern at an institute affiliated with Pakistan’s Strategic Plans Division, where she contributed articles on religious tolerance, meritocracy, and related topics published in notable outlets such as Pakistan Today, Modern Diplomacy, and The Express Tribune. She also completed an internship with an organization affiliated with UNHCR, during which she organized career counseling sessions, conducted field research in refugee camps, and contributed to a policy brief aimed at increasing educational enrollment and reducing dropout rates among Afghan refugees in Balochistan. In recognition of her efforts, she received the Balochistan Talent Hunt Award and a research grant from UNHCR for a study assessing the long-term sustainability of NGO-led entrepreneurship initiatives for refugee women in Balochistan in post-repatriation contexts. From 2018 to 2023, Rida volunteered as the Chief Executive Officer of the Balochistan chapter of a leading non-profit organization in Pakistan, where she spearheaded initiatives focused on social change and youth engagement. Additionally, as a Monitoring & Evaluation Officer for the Balochistan Human Capital Investment Project, she trained local schoolteachers and developed action plans to enhance educational skills relevant to contemporary needs.

Headshot of Khadijat Atere, a dark skinned woman wearing a hijab. She is also wearing a black dress and has glasses. She is smiling directly into the camera.
Khadijat Atere (Nigeria), Ansari Institute Graduate Student Assistant, is a master’s student at the Keough School of Global Affairs, where she focuses on the intersection of environmental sustainability, data-driven development, and social equity. She earned her bachelor’s degree in forest resources management from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria.

Khadijat’s professional experience includes working with Vertex Atlantic Architects, where she applied her expertise in urban forestry to support environmental projects. Her time at the Keough School has further deepened her passion for leveraging data to drive meaningful development outcomes. She is particularly interested in how data can be used to drive decision and advance sustainable development goals. Beyond her work in sustainability and development, Khadijat is committed to promoting religious tolerance and peacebuilding. She is passionate about fostering dialogue and understanding across diverse communities, recognizing the role of faith and inclusion in building resilient societies.

Headshot of Mohamed Salah, a fair skinned man from Egypt with dark curly hair. He has a suit jacket and tie on and is smiling as he looks off to the right.
Mohamed Salah (Egypt), Master of Global Affairs Fellowship Recipient, is a Keough School master of global affairs student. His journey journey reflects a fusion of activism, service, and advocacy. Inspired by the Arab Spring and the Egyptian January 25th Revolution, he embraced public service as his life’s mission. From 2012 to 2017, he ardently championed civil liberties and human rights as a dedicated student activist. This fervor led him to the Art of Living Foundation in India, where he delved into conflict resolution during a transformative fellowship in 2017. A year later, he pursued leadership and international cooperation at the Hansen Leadership Institute, University of San Diego, expanding his global perspective.

Returning to Egypt, Mohamed joined Save the Children Egypt in 2019, focusing on unaccompanied youth and refugee children. Simultaneously he embraced journalism, investigating global Islamophobia for esteemed media outlets, fostering understanding and dialogue. Beyond media, he assisted local nongovernmental organizations in Egypt as an independent consultant, offering invaluable evaluation and fundraising guidance. Mohamed’ss journey exemplifies his dedication to empowering marginalized communities and advocating for social equity. After finishing his master's degree in global affairs, he plans to work in data analytics and research for the government of Egypt or for a think tank that focuses on human rights and social policy reform.