As President, Stephen (he/him) focuses on Win Without War’s thought leadership and working to support and broaden the larger progressive foreign policy ecosystem. In more than a decade with Win Without War, Stephen held multiple roles, including serving as Executive Director from 2016-2021. He is a veteran of campaign politics with a strong background in grassroots advocacy, having previously worked for the global campaigning organization Avaaz, as the Executive Director of the American Hellenic Council, and on multiple federal, state, and local electoral campaigns. Stephen holds a Masters in International Relations from the London School of Economics and a BA from Tulane University, with academic expertise in humanitarian interventions and Middle Eastern politics. When not at work, you can find Stephen tweeting about Philly sports or planning his next trip back to his former stomping grounds in New Orleans.
Sara Haghdoosti (she/her) is the Executive Director of Win Without War and Win Without War Education Fund, a diverse network of activists and organizations working for a more peaceful, progressive U.S. foreign policy. A foreign policy expert with a unique background in political organizing and campaigning, Sara has spent more than a decade advocating for diplomatic solutions over failed military responses to crises involving nuclear non-proliferation, climate change, women’s rights, and democracy. At Win Without War, Sara leads day-to-day operations, development, and organizational strategy. She previously worked at the Mozilla Foundation, Change.org, and GetUp Australia. Sara brings a unique voice to foreign policy discourse as a Muslim woman who navigates the halls of power in Washington, works with grassroots organizations around the country, and has personally felt the impacts of harmful foreign policy, including the Trump administration’s Muslim Ban policy. Her debut novel is Sunburnt Veils, the story of a young Muslim woman activist in Australia.
As Deputy Director, Shayna (she/her) mobilizes more than half a million activists to find their connection to a bold, progressive foreign policy vision — and then work to make that world a reality. She has spent most of her life, either through career or volunteer activism, focused on advancing reproductive health and human rights. Previously, Shayna served as the Senior Advocacy Advisor at the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee and was president of UUSC’s UNITE HERE! Local 2661. She received a J.D. from the Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law and a B.A. from the University of Arizona. Shayna is currently a YP Ambassador at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. When not at work, she’s learning to embrace Chicago’s lake effect and spends her free time building many, many, many playlists, or with her nose in a book.
As Government Relations Director, Eric (he/him) works with Congress, the Administration, and activists globally to enact a just and progressive US foreign policy. Previously, Eric was an advocacy and campaigns officer with Crisis Action, where he coordinated international civil society campaigns to protect civilians from war; he also led The Yemen Peace Project’s engagement with Congress in 2018. Eric holds a Masters in International Affairs from The George Washington University and a Bachelor’s in Global Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Outside of work, he is either reading, riding his bike, or doing both at the same time, when he can get away with it.
As Policy Director, Sam (he/him) analyzes foreign policy issues; writes and speaks on the future of progressive foreign policy, and works closely with advocates, experts, and grassroots partners to advance a progressive foreign policy agenda. Before Win Without War, he worked at the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project, researching security and humanitarian issues in Mozambique. Sam also has an extensive journalism background analyzing security policy from a progressive perspective, including as the writer of the Critical State newsletter and as a founding editor of Fellow Travelers Blog. Sam holds a Masters in Public Affairs from Columbia University and a Bachelors in History and Political Science from Boston College. Outside of work, he can be found reading, watching soccer, or staring, brow furrowed, at a crossword puzzle.
As Operations Manager, Abbey (she/her) manages our (virtual) office and supports the operations and administrative functions of the organization. Before joining Win Without War, Abbey worked in atrocity prevention and community organizing with the Never Again Coalition. Abbey holds a BA in Peace and Conflict Studies and Religion from Colgate University. Abbey enjoys hiking, concerts, and perusing second-hand stores.
Julien Marvin Gomez (they/them) is a digital & media strategist from the Lone Star State, with experience in media relations, copywriting and editing, effective digital communication strategies, email campaigns, and more. Their background in non-profit and political/advocacy communications, plus their own lived experiences, helps them approach their work with equity, mindfulness, and empathy. Their work and activism have been noticed by organizations such as Equality Texas and ACLU of Texas, along with bylines in the Houston Chronicle, and featured in Autostraddle and OutSmart Magazine. Outside of work, Julien is either volunteering or practicing their yoga.
As Government Relations Associate, Sofia (she/her) engages Congress, the administration, and activists on U.S. foreign policy. She previously worked as a lobbyist on nuclear risk reduction and Pentagon budgeting issues with the Friends Committee on National Legislation. Before that, she got her BA in Political Science and Asian Languages and Civilizations from Amherst College. She’s particularly interested in the opportunities and obstacles posed by emerging technologies like AI-enabled capabilities for international diplomacy and national security policy. When she’s not reading up on the latest policy news, you can find her running, checking out a concert, or talking herself out of buying a new book.
Harrison Mann is a Senior Fellow at Win Without War. A former U.S. Army major and executive officer of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) Middle East/Africa Regional Center, Harrison resigned in protest of his office’s support for Israel during its Gaza campaign. He previously served as a Middle East all-source intelligence analyst and led a crisis cell coordinating intelligence support for Ukraine. Prior to DIA, he worked at the U.S. Embassy Tunis Office of Security Cooperation and led Army Civil Affairs teams combatting regional smuggling under U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) in Bahrain.
As Policy Associate, Afreen Minai (she/her) conducts research and writes on a broad spectrum of foreign policy issues. She is especially interested in US-China relations, US militarism in the Middle East, and the intersection of domestic and foreign policy. Before Win Without War, Afreen served as the Militarism and Human Rights Program Assistant at the Friends Committee on National Legislation, where she advocated for more just and humane US foreign policy. She graduated cum laude from the University of Maryland with a Bachelor’s in Government and Politics. In her free time, Afreen can be found attending flea markets, blasting music through her headphones, or taking a nap.
Sana Motorwala is the Fall ‘24 Scoville fellow at Win Without War Education Fund, where she works alongside the Policy team to research escalating conflicts, specifically in regard to the Middle East. Sana graduated from the University of Florida in 2024 with a Bachelor’s in International Studies with a regional focus in the Middle East and a secondary focus in Asia. During her time in college, Sana explored topics relating to colonization, ethno-religious conflict, migration and refugees in the Middle East, and Arabic linguistics. She has conducted research as an undergraduate exploring the relationship between settler colonialism and language maintenance as it relates to Algeria. Outside of work, Sana enjoys exploring DC, watching anime, and attending concerts.
Catherine is a junior from Carnegie Mellon University studying International Relations and History. Previously, Catherine was a Community Organizing and Policy intern at Just Harvest, a food justice non-profit based in Pittsburgh. She writes for the student newspaper, The Tartan, as well as a newsletter centered on diversity, equity, and inclusion called The Garden. Her primary interests are in Latine/Hispanic justice, dismantling the military industrial complex, and accessible information and advocacy. In her free time, Catherine enjoys cooking for her friends, curating the perfect Spotify playlists, and drinking way too much tea.
Tanaya just finished her third year at Pomona College, where she studies Politics and South Asian Studies. She is currently taking a gap year to gain experience organizing and to explore what it means to take an anti-capitalist approach to social justice. Tanaya has worked for the American Bar Association, NARAL Pro-Choice America, and a handful of grassroots organizations – she is most passionate about disability justice and dismantling the prison-industrial complex. Tanaya knows that she wants to work directly with communities affected by systemic ableism and racism, and is excited to learn about the different approaches to this work. In her spare time, she likes to read (a top favorite – I’m Telling The Truth but I’m Lying by Bassey Ikpi), cook for her friends, and binge-watch tv.
Sam is a rising senior from Princeton University, majoring in Public and International Affairs. Sam’s birthplace of Seoul, South Korea, laid the groundwork for his passion in East Asian Affairs and Conflict Resolution. In this vein, Sam studied abroad whenever he could, spending semesters in Oxford, UK and Beijing, PRC. Additionally, Sam interned with human rights organizations such as the Citizen’s Alliance for North Korean Human Rights and non-profit think tanks such as the Stimson Center. Directly working in the workplaces where policy is decided and the environments where those policies are enacted convinced him to engage in foreign policy for the sake of human well-being and peace – to seek mutual compromise and coexistence rather than zero-sum exploitation. In his spare time, Sam enjoys drawing maps, reading fantasy novels, and gushing over Korean dramas (Crashing Landing on You is really good!!).
Madelyn is a rising Senior at the College of Wooster, pursuing a major in Philosophy with a Middle Eastern and North African studies minor. Madelyn most recently worked with Penal Reform International while studying abroad in Amman, Jordan, with a focus on juvenile justice system reform. Her previous experiences include interning with one of her state’s U.S. Senators, Sen. Sherrod Brown, as well as working with the Ohio Civil Rights Commission. Her primary interests include criminal justice reform, civil rights, and foreign policy. Madelyn’s vision for herself in the future involves earning a law degree to help those wrongfully incarcerated domestically and abroad. As an Ohioan, and more specifically an Akronite, she loves LeBron James and everything he does for their community. In her free time, she enjoys watching films, yoga, knitting, and taking care of her succulents.
Maha is a recent graduate from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, where she majored in Political Science. Originally from Pakistan, she spent her childhood in various parts of the Middle East, which led to an interest in regional affairs. She has interned at legal non-profits, volunteered with immigrant communities in Minneapolis, and taken part in field research in rural Pakistan to learn more about trade policies and international labor rights through the Human Development Foundation. Her areas of focus in college were US Foreign Policy in Central Asia and the Middle East, and Islamist Politics- which led her to a month-long study aboad seminar in Istnabul, Turkey, studying the intersection of religion and politics in the country’s policymaking. Maha’s passion for progressive foreign policy stems from the personal effects of it on her family and friends, as well as the experience of growing up a “third-culture kid”. When she’s not traveling or reading books on the topic of international affairs, Maha can be found doing yoga, training for a run, or online shopping (she has a problem).
Erika recently graduated from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville where she pursued a major in Anthropology with a concentration in Disasters, Displacements, and Human Rights and a minor in Italian Studies. Her thesis centered on anti-poverty policy in America and its effectiveness in promoting human rights values, with a focus on the intersectionality between race and class. Erika has also done work in international disaster recovery, as well as the application of human rights law in foreign policy and humanitarianism. Her passion for using human rights knowledge in creating peaceful policy and capacity building brought her to Win Without War as a Development and Advocacy Intern. She is currently pursuing a career in non-profit organization and rights-based advocacy. In her spare time, Erika enjoys running around D.C., playing the ukulele, watching a good movie, and consuming as much breakfast food as possible.
Lina Eid is a Senior at George Mason University, pursuing a major in Global Affairs with a concentration in the Middle East and North Africa. Originally hailing from Hebron, Palestine, Lina interned previously with the Office of Congresswoman Barbara Lee, wrote articles for the Odyssey, and was an active member of Helping Hands for Relief and Development, Pious Projects of America, and Islamic Relief USA, among numerous other non-profit organizations. Lina’s passion to work on foreign policy issues stems from her unwavering ties to her Palestinian roots and her time living in Saudi Arabia during the tragedy of the Yemeni war. She loves to take pictures with her Nikon D3000 and to travel as much as she can.
Finn Oldfield grew up in Widnes, England and studies Philosophy and Politics at The University of Edinburgh. While in D.C., he is an exchange student at The George Washington University. Before Win Without War, Finn was an intern at PinkNews in London and a political participant of the Patchwork Foundation in Westminster. Finn is passionate about working on progressive foreign policy because as a working-class person from abroad, he is determined to challenge any and all elitist systems of oppression that endanger marginalized lives. He believes in an intersectional and peaceful vision for America and the wider world. Finn has a border terrier rescue dog, has helped fund and open a butterfly house in his home town and has recently discovered the joy of coffee (he doesn’t know how he managed before)
Kharis Murphy is a rising senior at Earlham College majoring in Peace & Global Studies. She just returned from a semester abroad in Athens, Greece, where she interned with Doctors of the World and completed research on refugee health outcomes. Kharis is excited to be working to further policies that can prevent refugee crises like the situation she witnessed in Greece. As a Quaker, she feels a responsibility to use her place of privilege to dismantle systems of oppression and build a more just, peaceful world. In her spare time, you can find Kharis in a dance studio, embroidering her t-shirts, or curled up with a good book.
Jenna Thoretz is a rising junior at Gettysburg College pursuing majors in Political Science and Public Policy. Jenna currently serves as the Events Planning Chair for the Peace and Justice Student Council at Gettysburg College and leads outreach and content planning for the Consortium of North American Peace Programs (CONAPP) undergraduate-lead conference for summer of 2020. She is originally from Connecticut and is excited to spend the summer in Washington D.C. working to advocate for a more progressive foreign policy. She is particularly interested in the intersection between militarization and gender inequality, and dismantling the oppressive and unsustainable systems that contribute to conflict domestically and abroad. In her spare time, Jenna can be found perusing the shelves of used bookstores, drinking too much coffee, and missing her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who lives at home in Connecticut.
Liam Mays is the Digital Communications Intern at Win Without War and is pursuing a dual-degree at the University of Kansas in Journalism News and Information and Film and Media Studies. Previously, Liam was a Fellow for the Sharice Davids 2018 Campaign for Congress and a Video Production Intern at Mainstream Coalition. Liam has also been published in his university newspaper, The University Daily Kansan, with a few Arts and Culture articles and he’ll be a correspondent there in the fall. He enjoys shooting photography, making short films, and graphic design. He is also an avid supporter of the Oxford comma. Liam’s long term goal is to become a documentary filmmaker.
Policy and Advocacy Intern Mariam Zahran is Southern California born and raised. She studies Political Science and has taken the semester off to temporarily relocate to Washington D.C. and work with Win Without War. Mariam has previously worked with the Council on American-Islamic Relations’ Los Angeles chapter and Zero Weeks political consulting firm, and volunteered with various charitable organizations including Islamic Relief and Sabil Pantry. Mariam’s passion for foreign policy stems from its pertinence to her and her friends and family. She believes it her duty to join any and all movements standing against the rampant and blatantly systemic oppression so much of her community worked hard to create a life away from. Mariam is a self-proclaimed coffee connoisseur and considers makeup to be an underappreciated form of art and self-expression.
Digital Communications Intern Anyiel Biong was born in Nairobi, Kenya and immigrated to Australia in 2004. She moved to Washington DC earlier this year to pursue her career in media and activism after completing her bachelor’s degree in Journalism at Griffith University. Anyiel has a specialized focus on the Middle East/North Africa region which stemmed from majoring in Islam-West relations and completing an international study tour that led her to Bosnia, Morocco, Malaysia and Spain. Prior to her position at Win Without War, Anyiel worked with non-profit organization Logan Together and wrote for Australian online news platform ‘The Source News’. As a South Sudanese immigrant, Anyiel has a vested interest in the refugee crisis, food insecurity and the effects of climate change in developing countries. She hopes to find new ways to make news and media accessible to all people and to also, one day, learn how to whistle.
As the Digital Campaigns & Community Engagement Fellow, Elijah (they/them) utilizes both social media and email strategy to mobilize activists and progressive thinkers alike in the fight for foreign policy rooted in progressive values. They are currently finishing their B.A. in Government and International Politics from George Mason University, where they’ve focused their studies on the intersection of class and queer struggles. Before Win Without War, Elijah held the role as the Policy and Advocacy Director for Not My Generation, where they were able to host the podcast series titled Root Causes and lead the effort to create a 70-page “De-Policing the Gun Violence Prevention Movement Policy Playbook.” Elijah, also, actively engages in local and state-level abolitionist movement work with small collectives and student organizers. Outside of work, Elijah performs in Drag as “MasVusi” at local restaurants and bars in the D.C. metropolitan area.
Faezeh (she/her) is the Government Relations Fellow at Win Without War. Previously, she worked at Sharing Sacred Spaces where she led a joint programmatic agenda with the Parliament of the World’s Religions. Faezeh is a former intern with the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, the Pluralism Project at Harvard University, and A World of Neighbours. She is also an alumni of Karamah’s Law and Leadership program. Faezeh currently works on the Rethinking Iran Initiative at Johns Hopkins University and is on the board of Sahaba Initiative where she volunteered throughout college. Faezeh holds a B.A. in Religious Studies from the University of California, Riverside and is working towards her M.A. in Social Work with a concentration in Global Conflict Studies at the University of Chicago. In her spare time, Faezeh loves doing DIY home projects and perusing stores for eclectic finds.
As Digital Fellow, Sarah (she/her) helps with communications and social media content and strategy. She is a recent graduate of Pomona College with a B.A. in International Relations, where her work addressed the historical and philosophical workings of religious and political identity. Prior to Win Without War, she worked in coalition with organizations like Jewish Voice for Peace on the connection between climate justice and demilitarization of U.S. policy in Palestine. She also has experience with human rights and post-conflict work, having studied abroad in Kigali, Rwanda. She spends her free time trolling the used book stores of Brooklyn, NY, and her afternoons hanging out with elementary schoolers.