FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 10, 2022
PRESS CONTACT
Info@afghanamericans.org
AAF Announces Selection of Mustafa Babak As Its First Executive Director
(Washington, DC) – After an extensive national search, the Afghan-American Foundation (AAF) is pleased to announce that it has selected Mustafa Babak to lead the organization as its first Executive Director.
A recognized international development expert with a deep background in research, policy, advocacy and strategic communication, Mr. Babak brings to this role a wealth of experience on issues ranging from health policy in South Asia and East Africa, to civic education and local governance in Afghanistan, to capacity building within the Afghan diaspora in the United States.
"Mustafa represents the very best and brightest of our diaspora and the breadth of his expertise is matched by the depth of his commitment to advancing the interests of Afghan-Americans," said Joseph Azam, Board Chair for the Afghan-American Foundation, "his integrity, his sense of purpose, his passion for the work, and his vision for our organization and our community are exactly what we need in this watershed moment."
Mr. Babak has been a leading voice for community empowerment, constituency and consensus building, and sustainable progress in the Afghan diaspora. In collaboration with the Open Society Foundation (OSF) in 2018, Mr. Babak conducted the first ever comprehensive study of the Afghan diaspora, providing an unprecedented analysis of the challenges and opportunities facing the Afghan-American communities across the United States. This seminal work has been extensively cited, both by government agencies and civil society groups, and has served as the foundation for many of the Afghan resettlement efforts in the United States during the post-August 2021 wave of Afghan migration.
Born and raised in Afghanistan, his family's experience, like that of many Afghans, included periods of displacement and seeking refuge, most recently in 2015 when they resettled in Omaha, Nebraska, where Mr. Babak currently resides with his wife Courtney and their two children.
Mr. Babak holds a BA from the University of the Pacific and an Executive Master of Global Public Administration (EMPA) received jointly from New York University and the University College London.
Mr. Babak has already initiated conversations with some of AAF's key partners and allies, including Afghan-American community leaders across the United States, on shared priorities and common goals that lay ahead for our community.
"There has never been a more critical moment for Afghan-Americans than the one we find ourselves in today. The work ahead will be challenging but through unity of purpose and a collective effort, we will work to empower and uplift our community’s voice,” said Mr. Babak, “I look forward to leading AAF during this crucial next phase with humility and resolve.”
The Afghan-American Foundation is a national 501(c)(3) non-profit organization representing and advancing the interests of Afghans and Afghan-Americans through advocacy, research, education and engagement.
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