Current Fellowship Recipients
Anthony Avice Du BuissonFellowship Recipient
Anthony Avice Du Buisson, SIS/MA’26, is pursuing a Master’s degree in global governance, politics, and security at SIS. He holds dual degrees in Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts, majoring in politics and international relations, from James Cook University, Australia, where he graduated with honors.
His professional journey includes significant contributions as a writer for prominent publications such as The Times of Israel and The Jerusalem Post, where he analyzes critical social, political, humanitarian, and conflict issues in the Middle East. Anthony’s work focuses on understanding how conflict destabilizes environments and impacts ethnic communities in Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Iran and Kurdistan. This analysis extends beyond the region into policy, as evidenced by his contribution to the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies Europe Journal of Global Affairs in 2022, titled “Rethinking Refugee Policy in Europe: “Fortress Europe” and Its Consequences,” which examines the interplay between security concerns and humanitarian issues.
Anthony’s dedication to raising awareness of these critical issues extends to his advocacy work. As an advocate for the Kurdish diaspora in Australia through Kurdish Lobby Australia, he demonstrates his passion by raising awareness about the plight of people impacted by war and on the important of the Kurdish cause. His advocacy was significantly enriched by his travels to Iraqi Kurdistan in 2019, where he engaged with journalists and individuals affected by humanitarian crises, deepening his understanding of the region's complexities.
His passion and advocacy culminated in receiving the Mustafa Barzani Peace Fellowship in recognition of his contributions to international affairs. This fellowship provides essential support for his master’s studies and offers opportunities for academic and professional enrichment at American University by connecting him with experts, scholars, and policymakers in security and international relations.
Currently, as a research assistant at American University, Anthony supports vital research on international relations and security, aiming to highlight the multifaceted challenges facing individuals in the Middle East and Europe. He aspires to work in the future for think tanks focused on the region, such as the Institute for the Study of War and the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
Meghan BodetteFellowship Recipient
Meghan Bodette, SIS/MA’26, is pursuing a Master’s degree in International Peace and Conflict Resolution at SIS. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University. She is a co-founder of and the Director of Research at the Kurdish Peace Institute.
Meghan is fluent in Kurmanci and has spent significant time conducting research on the ground in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and in the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria. Her work centers on understanding how just, democratic, and peaceful resolution to the transnational Turkish-Kurdish conflict can be achieved. She has briefed officials from governments and international institutions on her research findings, been published by major think tanks, including the Wilson Center and the New Lines Institute for Strategy and Policy, and been interviewed by national media, including NPR and NowThis, as well as Kurdish-language media like Rudaw, Channel 8, and Ronahi TV.
The Mustafa Barzani Peace Fellowship will advance and facilitate Meghan's efforts to build the case for justice and peace in all four parts of Kurdistan through research, analysis, and global and local outreach. She is honored to have the opportunity to both further her own education and produce knowledge that aims to benefit the Kurdish cause and global peace and stability through this critical program.
Shivan GoyaniFellowship Recipient
Shivan Goyani, SIS/MA’26, is pursuing a Master’s degree in U.S. Foreign Policy and National Security at SIS. His academic path has been shaped by determination, a passion for global politics, government policy, and a determined advocacy for the recognition and statehood of Kurdistan.
Arriving in the United States in 2015, Shivan faced the challenges of adjusting to a new culture and learning English. He earned an associate degree in Peace and Human Rights from Dallas College, followed by two bachelor’s degrees in International Studies and Human Rights from Southern Methodist University (SMU).
At American University, Shivan’s studies focus on the role of U.S. foreign policy in shaping national and international security dynamics. He is especially interested in how international relations impact the Middle East and the broader U.S. role in international diplomacy. Shivan’s goal is to become both a professor and a diplomat, contributing to the future of U.S. foreign policy and its relations with the Middle East.
Diyar KurdaFellowship Recipient
Diyar Kurda, SIS/MA’26, is pursuing a Master’s degree in U.S. Foreign Policy and National Security at SIS. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Water Resources Engineering from the University of Kurdistan Hewlêr and currently serves as Rudaw Media Network’s Washington Bureau Chief.
An award-winning Kurdish journalist, Diyar works for Rudaw, the largest Kurdish media outlet. He began his career at Rudaw as an editor on the International Desk and, in July 2020, became head of the Planning Department. In 2022, he relocated to Washington, D.C., where he now leads Rudaw’s bureau in the U.S. capital.
Diyar regularly covers both the U.S. State Department and the White House. He attends daily press briefings and asks questions on critical issues concerning the Middle East, including Iraq, Syria, Iran, and Kurdish affairs. As a member of the Foreign Press Pool at the White House, he has covered high-level events and asked questions directly to U.S. Presidents. Most recently, on July 31, 2025, he attended President Trump’s signing of an executive order in the Roosevelt Room and posed a question on U.S. policy toward Iran.
He is an active member of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the White House Correspondents’ Association, and the National Press Club, a leading organization for journalists and communication professionals in Washington, D.C.
In May 2025, Diyar was elected as a Member-at-Large of the White House Foreign Media Group (WHFMG), which represents the largest number of foreign correspondents covering the White House. WHFMG advocates for international journalists, promotes press freedom, and serves as a liaison between the foreign press corps and the U.S. administration.
Throughout his time in Washington, Diyar has conducted numerous interviews with current and former U.S. officials focused on Middle Eastern affairs. He has also interviewed multiple members of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate.
In October 2024, the Association of Foreign Press Correspondents in the USA (AFPC-USA) named Diyar one of the top Middle East correspondents based in the United States. His reporting was praised for its impact and professionalism. The President of the Kurdistan Region, Nechirvan Barzani, and the U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, Alina L. Romanowski, both extended congratulations on this recognition.
Additionally, in December 2024, Diyar received the Vivian Award from the National Press Club in recognition of his contributions and support for the Club’s International Correspondents Committee.
Sirwan Kajjo
Fellowship Recipient
Sirwan Kajjo, SIS/MA’26, is pursuing a Master’s degree in Global Governance, Security, and Politics at SIS. His research interests include Kurdish identity politics, Middle East security, and Islamist militancy.
He has worked with Voice of America (VOA), covering U.S. foreign policy, Kurdish affairs, press freedom, and conflict in the Middle East. He is also a fellow at the Middle East Forum, where he writes about Kurdish politics, Syria, and U.S. engagement in the region.
A native of Amuda, Syria, Sirwan is the author of Nothing But Soot, a novel set in Syria. He has also published many policy papers and research articles with various think tanks.
Issa Sofi
Fellowship Recipient
Issa Sofi, SIS/MA’27, is pursuing a Master’s degree in International Affairs Policy and Analysis at SIS. He received a Bachelor degree in Petroleum Engineering at the University of Kurdistan-Hawler (UKH) in Erbil, Iraq in 2017. He also earned a certificate of access program, a two year program at UKH in 2013.
During the last decade, he has been working in media and journalism, where he focused on the Kurdish Issue in the Middle East. He has written for several local and foreign news outlets. In 2018, he joined Rudaw Media Network as a news producer in Erbil, Kurdistan Region of Iraq. He continued that role until mid-2022 and it widened his insight to think more critically.
In 2022, he transitioned to the United States and started working as a correspondent for Kurdistan 24 TV. From Washington, D.C., he focused on U.S. foreign policy toward the Middle East, particularly its implications for the Kurdish people. Covering press briefings at the State Department and Pentagon, he sought to shed light on how American policies impact his region. This role has allowed him to engage with U.S. officials, scholars, and think tank experts, deepening his understanding of the intricate connections between global power dynamics and local struggles. Through his work, he has interviewed dozens of high-profile figures, including U.S. officials, members of Congress, and international representatives.
His goal in pursuing a degree in the International Affairs Policy and Analysis program at SIS is to build on his existing experience and approach regional issues with greater depth and precision. He also seeks to refine his understanding of international policy, deepen his analytical capabilities, and develop innovative strategies to address the complex challenges in his region.
Former Fellowship Recipients
Maveen MallahFellowship Recipient
Maveen Mallah, SIS/MA’25, recieved a Master’s degree in comparative regional studies at SIS. She received her bachelor's degree in comparative international studies from San Diego State University. As a regional studies student, she is interested in specializing in the Middle East.
Her professional journey includes working as a research assistant with the Mustafa Barzani Scholar of Global Kurdish Studies at American University. As part of the Global Kurdish Initiative for Peace, she coordinates campus events, facilitates discussions between Kurdish scholars, and is a part of the ongoing effort to raise awareness of Kurdish issues. Throughout her academic career, she has researched Kurdish state-building efforts and is interested in topics including Kurdish diaspora, nationalism, and the historical and sociopolitical factors shaping Kurdish identity and self-expression.
The Mustafa Barzani Peace Fellowship has exposed Maveen to a plethora of faculty and students who are conscious of the Kurdish struggles and events at American University that celebrate the Kurds.
Rewan IbrahimFellowship Recipient
Rewan Ibrahim, SIS/MA’25, recieved a Master’s degree in international peace and conflict resolution at SIS. He received his bachelor's degree in international politics and government affairs from George Mason University.
His professional experience includes serving as an assistant to the US Military-Peshmerga affairs during the fight against ISIS. Since 2015, he has been an active Kurd in the Washington, DC, area. Over the past few years, he has participated in numerous events and activities to support the development and visibility of Kurdish society.
The Mustafa Barzani Peace Fellowship has immense significance to Rewan as it will allow him to explore more opportunities to serve Kurdistan.
Dilek Mustafa DoskiFellowship Recipient
Dilek Mustafa Doski, SIS/MA’24, recieved a Master’s degree in global governance, politics, and security at SIS. She holds a bachelor's degree in government from Suffolk University, Boston.
Her professional journey includes roles as a research assistant with the Wilson Center's Middle East Program and as a diplomatic intern for the Kurdistan Regional Government's Representation in the United States. The Wilson Center recently published her article, titled “Kurdistan and the United States: ISIS Defeated, What Comes Next?" to emphasize the significance of the US partnership in anti-ISIS operations. The article delves into the security challenges confronting the Kurdistan Region.
Dilek's commitment to fostering peace and diplomacy shines through her participation as a fellow in the prestigious Mustafa Barzani Peace Fellowship, where she conducts research on Kurdish studies and the broader Middle East region. Being a Kurdish scholar at American University, Dilek organized a panel discussion featuring the former KRG Higher Representative to the United States, Bayan Sami, and SIS professor Keith Darden. In this event, she moderated discussions on state building and the Kurdish national identity. This valuable opportunity was made possible through the support and accessibility provided by her fellowship.
Tanvi Dani
Fellowship Recipient
Tanvi Dani, SIS/MA’24, recieved a Master’s degree in international peace and conflict resolution at SIS. She holds a bachelor's degree in global affairs with minors in peace and conflict resolution and Spanish from OP Jindal Global University, India.
Her professional journey includes working full time as a research analyst with Windward US, where she researched and reported on Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing Activities in the Indo-Pacific Region. She is passionate about interfaith peacebuilding, inter-communal dialogue, and justice on the international level as a means of conflict resolution. In the past, she has researched and published articles on Kurdish civil rights and socio-political struggle, with a keen focus on the Turkish-Kurdish conflict.
The Mustafa Barzani Peace Fellowship was one of the most important factors in enabling Tanvi to complete a master's degree in the US. The financial assistance received through the fellowship enabled her to focus solely on academics, research, networking, internship, and other social opportunities available at SIS. Being a Kurdish scholar through the Mustafa Barzani Peace Fellowship also allowed her to connect with incredible people in Kurdish civil society and academic space inside and outside of AU and learn more about the culture. As an Indian, she understands and appreciates the Kurdish struggle for an autonomous homeland and hopes to highlight the nuances of the struggle for statehood through her training in conflict resolution, international negotiation, and peacebuilding.