Meet the team
UNRWA USA’s board and staff are among the most dedicated and passionate individuals working to improve the lives of Palestine refugees. We invite you to meet the faces behind our mission, the people whose compassion and commitment drive our work both in and beyond the office.
Meet our
Director of Strategic Communications
Watch this video message from our Director of Strategic Communications, Zeina Hijazi, to get to know her a little better and learn what brought her to UNRWA USA in 2026.
Meet the UNRWA USA team
Mara Kronenfeld
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As the Executive Director of UNRWA USA, Mara Kronenfeld leads the strategic vision, operations, and fundraising efforts of the nonprofit organization that supports the humanitarian and human development work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in the Middle East. With over 20 years of experience in international development, Mara is a Fulbright Scholar and an expert in designing, implementing, and leading public private partnerships supporting youth development programming in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
Mara's core competencies include program design and development, organizational capacity strengthening, and multi-sectoral partnership cultivation and collaboration. She has a strong focus on youth workforce development, education, employability, and empowerment. She has successfully managed a diverse portfolio of youth programs in collaboration with partners such as the World Bank, USAID, OCP Foundation, Hilton, Samsung, JP Morgan, Saudi Aramco, the King Khalid Foundation, and hundreds of local NGOs and community-based organizations across the MENA region. Mara brings Arabic language skills and a deep knowledge of the MENA region to UNRWA USA.
She is passionate about advancing the rights and dignity of, and opportunities for, Palestine refugees and promoting a peaceful and prosperous future for the MENA region.Ask Mara about:
Being likely the only person on earth to have torn her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) both on the Nile Hilton Dance floor (1997) and while climbing the Baalbek ruins (2002). Also about how she is eager, if not yet fully equipped, to sew her own throw pillow covers. Besides breaking her knee often, trying to sew, and being a mom to twins, Mara is eager to bust media-created myths about the Middle East region and particularly about its young people.
hani almadhoun
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Born in the Emirates, Hani's family fled to the Gaza Strip in the aftermath of the first Gulf War. It was tough adjusting to the harsh conditions in Gaza during the First Intifada, but his family was made whole again when his dad got a job at an UNRWA school teaching English to refugees. A child of an educator, Hani was raised with the mantra of school being the top priority, and in this pursuit, he eventually found his way to the United States, thanks to a university scholarship from the LDS Church. After earning both his Masters in Public Administration and his BA in International Studies and Latin American studies from Brigham Young University, Hani settled in Washington, DC where he fell into the world of fundraising for various causes that spoke to him, including civil rights and social justice groups for Muslim and Arab Americans and charities that serve the Palestinian people and other marginalized communities in the Middle East. Now, after more than a decade in fundraising, he's thrilled to bring this experience into his role as UNRWA USA's Director of Philanthropy.
In his free time, Hani volunteers with a number of education, health, and professional organizations. He lives in Alexandria, Virginia with his family, including his two little princesses, Zayna and Mariam.
Ask Hani about:
Ideas for fundraising events, Palestinian food and music, stand-up comedy, Arabic pop music, and his opinions on donuts and world peace.
jason terry
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Growing up in Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee (near Chattanooga), Jason started doing Model UN in seventh grade, so he’s been committed to conflict resolution and human rights advocacy since before he could tie a tie. A first-generation college student, Jason earned his bachelor’s degree at Guilford College and a master’s degree in international peace and conflict resolution at American University.
Jason comes to UNRWA USA after a 14-year career in international education and exchange. He was most recently at Global Ties U.S., working his way up to director of exchange programs, responsible for exchanges serving over 1,500 participants annually in-person and virtually, as well as overseeing new business development. He started his career in the CEO’s office at NAFSA: Association of International Educators, honing his nonprofit management skills along the way. In these roles, Jason nurtured a passion for helping people see beyond the world immediately around them.
Alongside his career, Jason has been a grassroots LGBTQ+ rights activist, with a particular emphasis on violence prevention and community safety. For these efforts, he was recognized by the Obama Administration as an LGBTQ+ emerging leader. A mildly unruly Quaker, lately Jason has shifted his efforts from the streets to the world of poetry, hoping to offer encouragement and empowerment to queer Appalachian youth.
Ask Jason about:
Trying to vegetarianize Southern U.S. cuisine, baking from decades-old family recipes, the healing power of hiking to waterfalls, treating pet bunnies like royalty, and boiling your poems down to their purest essence.
megan mccarthy
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Megan, a strong proponent of national service, spent more than a decade launching, managing, and jump-starting programs that engage people ages 50+ in service, including Experience Corps Marin, Coming of Age Bay Area, RSVP San Francisco, Senior Companions Program of Marin, and Foster Grandparents Program of Marin. Here she honed her interest and skills in operations, finance, and human resources. Megan most recently served as the Vice President of Finance & Operations for CoGenerate, which bridges generational divides to co-create a better future.
Inspired by Palestinian American friends, her mother’s work in refugee resettlement, and the teachings of a college professor, Megan decided to dedicate the next phase of her career to Palestinian refugees.
Megan graduated from DePaul University with a degree in International Studies and a minor in Japanese and attended graduate school in Philosophy and Cultural Analysis in the Netherlands. Themes of altruism, social capital, and post colonial theory dominate her work, then and now.
Megan is a Virginian living in San Francisco with her husband, teen daughter, and dog, Lava.
Ask Megan About: Historical fiction, finding the stories of women in your family tree, early American presidents, parenting a thirteen-year old, social capital, and good food.
Zeina Hijazi
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Zeina is a first-generation Palestinian raised in Athens, Greece. Her father, Akram, was from Jaffa, and her mother, Nawar, is from Jerusalem. She remains rooted in Sumud and serves as a guardian of her family’s traditions, ensuring these stories of identity and dignity are never lost.
Zeina is a polyglot communications strategist and director who has led high-impact initiatives across media companies and humanitarian response. She began her career as a journalist and producer with the Associated Press, NBC, and MTV, and later joined Cartoon Network, where she led cross-regional campaigns and launched localized channels across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
She transitioned from a background in global media into humanitarian communications, applying her storytelling and editorial expertise to crisis and development contexts. Her work includes strategic communications roles with the UNOPS and USAID. During her tenure as the Creative Director for the USAID Guatemala Mission, she directed the Valiente gender-based violence animated series campaign, one of the Agency’s most far-reaching public awareness efforts.
At the start of the war in October 2023, Zeina left her role in Guatemala and immediately joined the USAID West Bank and Gaza Mission. There, she managed strategic communications, crisis response, and media strategy in high-risk environments. She knew that messaging had to be rooted in the truth of the people on the ground; that narrative integrity was the most powerful tool in pushing for the increase of humanitarian aid and resources into Gaza, and it is still desperately needed.
Ask Zeina about:
Why cartoons aren't just for kids—and how they can lead to meaningful positive behavioral change in humanitarian work, media monitoring, tomato is the best fruit, Palestinian olives, and friendly pranks.
sharday el-assar
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Sharday is a Palestinian-American raised in Orlando, Florida. Her grandparents were from Gaza and Jaffa, and her father and his siblings were born in Nuseirat refugee camp. Growing up hearing stories of her family’s life and memories in Gaza gave her no choice but to proudly carry the torch for the Palestinian cause, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Middle Eastern Studies from the University of Florida (UF) and a Master’s degree in Public Policy from the University of Chicago.
During her time in undergrad at UF, Sharday wrote her graduating thesis on Palestinian political discourse around the 2006 election and served as president of the Arab Cultural Association. She could often be found on campus or Gainesville city corners advocating and fundraising for Palestine alongside her classmates and department faculty. After graduating, Sharday interned at the UNDP in Saudi Arabia before moving to Chicago to work for an Arab cultural organization focused on education and preservation of classical Arabic music.
After several years in internationally-focused nonprofits, Sharday spent nearly ten years in higher education advancement at the University of Chicago and Fairfield University, engaging and fundraising major gifts from top business and industry leaders across the U.S., Latin America, EMEA, and Asia. During her time in higher education, Sharday’s advancement work supported several multi-million and multi-billion dollar capital campaigns from quiet phase to completion. She has extensive experience raising support for scholarships and students, new buildings and campuses, and faculty and research support.
Sharday comes to UNRWA USA with a desire to bring her fundraising and advocacy expertise back home to the Palestinian refugee community. She splits her time between Orlando and Chicago and runs her own spiritual hypnosis and reiki practice in her free time. When she isn't working, her favorite activities are watching prank shows and going on adventures with her only child, a miniature schnauzer named Shams.
Ask Sharday about:
Establishing your philanthropic legacy, meditation, game theory, safe protesting, and where to find the best chicken taco in Chicago.
lein soltan
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Lein is a Palestinian American born and raised in North Carolina to Palestinian refugee parents fleeing the Gulf War in Kuwait. She holds a Masters in Public Health with a Global Health concentration and a Bachelors in Biology with a Marine Science concentration from the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill.
Lein spent the first seven years of her career as a marine biologist, managing a sea turtle research lab at UNC after working as an ocean outdoor educator in San Diego.
Lein’s transition to global health was inspired by her experience growing up as a first-generation American in a Palestinian refugee family, ingraining a sense of global connectivity and a responsibility to advocate for her people. Lein is passionate about the connections between the environment, animals, and health and hopes to bring an environmental justice lens to her advocacy work at UNRWA USA.
Ask Lein about:
Sea turtles, cage diving with Great White Sharks, biking, Buy Nothing, and salt lamps.
alex costello
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A Wisconsin-raised video producer and communications strategist, Alex (she/her) brings her Midwest "go-to" attitude to advocacy in DC. With nearly a decade of expertise in storytelling, advocacy, and innovation, she has spent over six years amplifying voices and driving change in the nation’s capital.
Alex began her career as the youngest photojournalist at CBS affiliate WKBT News 8, where she honed her journalism skills and developed a passion for advocating for underrepresented stories. In 2018, she moved to DC to work for the world’s largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). There, Alex launched their TikTok presence and managed high-profile campaigns for LGBTQ+ equality. However, in January 2024, Alex chose to leave HRC out of concern over the organization’s silence on Palestine, taking a stand against what she sees as the dangers of pinkwashing. She dedicated the year that followed to volunteering with Palestinian organizations and nonprofits around the country.
Her advocacy work then led her to the Museum of the Palestinian People, where she developed digital strategies, raised awareness, and created educational campaigns to highlight Palestinian history and culture. Now at UNRWA USA, Alex is thrilled to combine her passions, amplifying the voices of Palestine refugees and sharing their stories. With her personable approach to storytelling, she is committed to using her skills to drive meaningful change and justice for Palestine refugees, bringing her “energizer bunny” energy to a team dedicated to impactful, selfless work.
Ask Alex About:
Documentaries, zines, LGBTQ+ and Palestine advocacy, mutual aid, ADHD-driven creative ideation — or just share your life story and passions (she loves to learn more about others)
zaina dana
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Zaina was born and raised by Palestinian refugees in Seattle, WA. She sometimes refers to herself as a “renaissance woman” having finished Pre-Medicine, Theatre, and Islamic Studies at Swarthmore College with Triple Honors. She has always been fascinated by storytelling and community building as a method for radical empathy and political change. Her major background comes from her work as a Palestinian director and producer. Her work has been in support of the de-radicalization of American thought towards Muslims and Palestinians. One of her recent and more upbeat projects included directing “R3TURN: A Palestinian Pop-Punk Musical”. Most recently, she worked as the Audience Engagement and Development Manager at Theatre Horizon in Philadelphia, PA where she worked on several fundraisers including a Third-Space Campaign which seeks to create inclusive social and artistic environments separate from the two usual social environments of home and the workplace, a cornerstone of democracy and social change.
Zaina thanks UNRWA for her existence here today as her mother—and greatest inspiration—was an alumnus of the UNRWA schools in Jordan. In her minimal free time, Zaina loves to teach herself how to embroider, plan out holiday gifts with her loved ones, and daydream about how her cats are doing back in Seattle!
Ask Zaina about:
Weightlifting, skin care, Arabi food (specifically making it!), Arthur Miller, video games.
Jude thayer
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Jude joined UNRWA USA while finishing his degree in political science at Missouri State University, remotely attending UNRWA USA meetings while competing at Model United Nations conferences. Since joining his debate team in high school - and later the Model UN club, Jude has been hooked on international affairs and diplomacy. Throughout his academic career, Jude has presented his research on neocolonialism and nationalist movements at numerous conferences, including the International Studies Association. He is published in LOGOS: A Journal of Undergraduate Research. Jude is completing his Honors Distinction in Political Science on political philosophy and nationalism in Northeast Syria.
During his summer with the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations, Jude became professionally involved with the Palestinian cause. Jude's curiosity about how things work and his drive to make them better are qualities they hope to bring to his programs and operations role at UNRWA USA.
In their free time, Jude enjoys exploring new running spots, perfecting his sourdough recipe, and attempting to harness-train his cat.
Ask Jude about:
Baking, art theft and forgery, their one-eyed horse, jump roping, and all things PC gaming.
aisha jitan
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Aisha is the daughter of Palestinian refugees and grew up between South Carolina, West Virginia, and New Jersey. Shaped by her family's history of displacement and survival, she brings a commitment to refugee rights and community care to her work.
Her path through Global Studies and Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies at UNC Chapel Hill deepened her interest in the intersections of displacement, cultural preservation, and global human rights. She continued this work through a master’s in Arab Studies at Georgetown University, and later earned a certificate in Health Sciences from George Washington University's School of Medicine and Health Sciences—building a cross-disciplinary foundation rooted in both research and care.
Aisha’s experiences have spanned humanitarian communications, resource mobilization for global emergencies, and refugee support, with previous roles at USA for UNHCR and the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights. She has worked closely with refugee communities in both the US and abroad, centering dignity, equity, and pathways to safety, healing, and opportunity.
At UNRWA USA, Aisha brings this lens to her role in social media and marketing—collaborating with a dedicated, creative team to build tangible cross-community solidarity while amplifying the voices of Palestine refugees.Ask Aisha about:
tatreez, film photography, archives and libraries, and her latest unfinished creative project.
kristina abdelaziz
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Born to American parents who spent much of their lives in the Middle East, including Syria, Jordan, and Falastin (Palestine), Kristina developed a love for maqlouba and Fairuz before she ever took her first breath.
A lifelong advocate for justice, Kristina has always sought to make a meaningful impact. As a student, she launched a program to help special education students find employment. As an adult, she has served on multiple nonprofit boards, always guided by a belief in community-led change.
With a background in international business and design, Kristina quickly discovered that blending creativity with strategy was the key to driving purpose-driven work. While studying abroad in Paris, she explored the intersection of Islamic presence in Europe and global commerce, launching a blog that paired fine art and fashion with charitable causes. At just 19, she transformed that blog into a creative agency dedicated to supporting mission-driven brands.
Kristina now lives in Dallas, Texas, where she remains deeply engaged in her community, advocating for refugees, supporting clemency campaigns, and organizing gala fundraisers for Palestine.
After more than a decade of experience in activism and digital marketing, Kristina is honored to join UNRWA USA and dedicate her work to a cause so close to her heart.
When she is not working, Kristina loves visiting her husband’s home country of Egypt, experimenting in the kitchen like a Food Network chef, and thriving in chaos with two toddlers.
Ask Kristina about: hip hop history, planning international travel itineraries down to the minute, and successfully raising tiny humans (just kidding, she hasn’t figured that last one out yet.)
Zareen Afzal
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Zareen is a Pakistani-American born and raised in Virginia, whose passion for humanitarian work shapes her commitment to uplifting refugee communities. Her interest in global development evolved through her studies in Foreign Affairs at the University of Virginia and Applied Economics at Johns Hopkins University. There, she deepened her understanding of how economic systems and displacement intersect, refining her dedication to advancing just and equitable outcomes for vulnerable communities.
She has organized book and toy drives for Syrian children, supported medical relief for families in Palestine and Lebanon, and contributed to hunger‑relief efforts in Yemen. Her time working in refugee resettlement offered a close look at the resilience of families starting over, reinforcing her belief that compassion carries its greatest power when translated into meaningful action.
Before joining UNRWA USA, Zareen supported humanitarian and education-focused nonprofits across the MENA region, managing donor portfolios, strengthening recurring‑giving pipelines, and building data systems that helped organizations understand and serve their communities. Whether coordinating cross-border aid distribution, stewarding donors, or creating dashboards that turn complex data into meaningful insights, she is driven by the belief that every number represents a person, a family, and a real need.
At UNRWA USA, Zareen brings her experience in CRM management, donor stewardship, and data‑driven fundraising to strengthen the systems that sustain long-term support for Palestine refugees. She is passionate about ensuring that every donor, every gift, and every story contributes to a more dignified and equitable future for the communities UNRWA serves.
Ask Zareen about:
Taekwondo, horseback riding, archery, gardening, and the secret to perfect homemade Kashmiri chai
george lahoud
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George Lahoud is a Palestinian-American born and raised in New York City. He joined UNRWA USA as an intern while finishing his undergraduate degree in International Relations at American University, where he also studied Arabic and Economics.
Upon graduating, George joined the team full-time. Palestinian advocacy has been the center of George's academic and professional career. In university, George wrote and presented his undergraduate research project on Palestinian Identity Erasure in Israel, organized with Students for Justice in Palestine, and had his research paper "Inequality in Egypt and Algeria: How Much Progress Since the Arab Spring?" published in the school's Global Majority E-Journal. George also previously interned at The Jerusalem Fund and Middle East Policy Council, where he wrote articles on Palestinian identity and the siege on Gaza.
Ask George about:
His love for soccer—especially his loyalty to Liverpool FC—his favorite anime like One Piece, and his latest foodie adventures at new restaurants.
