An interdisciplinary artist and writer, Al-Assil explores different political, social, and philosophical issues drawing inspiration from his academic background and experience in politics, entrepreneurship, and grassroots activism. Al-Assil was born and raised in Syria, and sough political asylum in the United States in 2014.
Al-Assil is also a political scientist, Middle East scholar, and commentator. He serves as a Senior Fellow at the Middle East Institute in Washington, D.C.
Al-Assil is a founding member of the Syrian Nonviolence Movement and served as its president between 2012-2016. It was formed in 2011 to promote civil resistance to achieve social and political change in Syria and to raise global awareness about the struggle of Syrians in their quest for freedom and democracy. The movement also organized activities outside Syria like Europe, Canada, and the United States.
Al-Assil held different fellowships, including a fellowship at the Center for Public Leadership and Edward S. Mason Fellowship, both at Harvard Kennedy School, Orient Research Centre in Dubai, and the Middle East Institute in Washington, D.C.
During his time at Harvard Kennedy School, Al-Assil served as president of the Harvard Arab Student Association (HASA) for the academic year of 2018-2019. He served on the board of the Harvard Arab Alumni Association (HAAA) from 2020 to 2022.
Al-Assil has testified at the UN and has been published and quoted in a variety of media outlets, including The Washington Post, The Guardian, Foreign Policy, The Atlantic, Time, BBC, and NPR. He appears regularly on TV stations, such as Sky News, France24, AlHurra, and AlArabiya. He was hosted as a guest speaker and lecturer at different universities like Harvard, MIT, Georgetown, Columbia, and Duke University.
He created and hosted more than fifty episodes of Podcast AlAwsat (in Arabic) and the weekly video series Ara' min Washington (Opinions from Washington).
Art and media related experience:
SOLO EXHIBIT
On Thoughts and Memories: the show included paintings and poetry.
Dec 17th, 2022 Washington, D.C.
CURATING
Environment’s Exhibit, University of Kalamoon, Damascus, Syria, 2006.
Recycled: Art Exhibit with recycled materials, University of Kalamoon, Damascus, Syria, 2007.
Stories of the Revolution: Aleppo, Syria, March 2014.
On Thoughts and Memories: Abstract Expressionism, December 2022.
CREATER, WRITER, AND PRESENTER OF SARDEH SOURIEH (Syrian Narrative).
The show discussed the social and political history of Syria between the 14th and 20th century.
The show was released primarily on Facebook where the number of views exceeded 1 million for the episodes of the first season collectively.
HOST AND PRODUCER OF PODCAST ALAWSAT 2020-2022
CREATIVE WRITING
Madina Blog 2007 - 2016: the blog was among the top Syrian and Arab visited blogs during that period.
MUSIC: QANUN PLAYER
Music show: Quartertonez Music School, October 2022.
Peace to Gaza: Westmoreland Congregational United Church, November 2023
SHORT FILM PRODUCER
The Confession: Short film 2010
A Conflict: Short film 2022
PUBLIC SPEAKING
Hosted as a speaker or panelist at different universities and think tanks, including Harvard University, MIT, Georgetown, Columbia, John Hopkins, Duke, and Rice University.
Testified publicly at UN Headquarters, May 2014, on the situation in Syria.
Published, quoted, and interviewed in a variety of media outlets, including The Washington Post, The Guardian, The Independent, The Atlantic, The National Interest, The American Interest, Time, Newsweek, Foreign Policy, BBC, NPR, NBC, CBC, CBS, SkyNews Arabia, France 24, DW, AlArabiya, and Asharq News.
EDUCATION
Doctor of International Affairs (DIA), Johns Hopkins University, School of Advanced International Studies.
Master in Public Administration (MPA), Harvard University, Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
Master of Business Administration (MBA) focusing on innovation and social entrepreneurship, University of Essex, Essex Business School.
Bachelor of Business Administration, University of Kalamoon.
