Samar Rawas

Mediation Liaison

Based in Washington, D.C., Samar Rawas is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Foreign Service, projected to graduate in May 2025. Samar’s academic journey began at Collin College, where she earned an Associate of Science in Political Science, followed by a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies with minors in Arabic and Educational Studies from Southern Methodist University.

Samar has been honored with several prestigious awards, including the USAID Donald M. Payne International Development Graduate Fellowship and the Fulbright Morocco Semi-Finalist for Arabic. Her passion for global service is complemented by her certification as a mediator in the Virginia court system, a qualification she earned through an intensive mediation training program offered by CTL in collaboration with NVMS and Georgetown University. This course at Georgetown University not only taught Samar the foundational theories of mediation but also provided practical experience through observed sessions and mentored co-mediation in real-life scenarios. 

Her professional experience includes significant roles such as a legislative fellow at the U.S. House of Representatives and in the USAID Program Office in Abuja, Nigeria, as a Payne Fellow. Locally, Samar has contributed to the Georgetown community as a Student Advising Graduate Assistant at the McDonough School of Business and a Program Assistant at the Mortara Center. Additionally, she has engaged in social justice work through the Cooper McElvaney Social Justice Fellowship and entrepreneurship initiatives via the SMU Business Accelerator Program.

Samar is also active in leadership roles in various organizations, such as serving as a board member of the Lone Star Council, a non-profit for minority students in the state of Texas. Her commitment to fostering understanding and resolving disputes in both personal and professional contexts drives her continuous learning and application of mediation and negotiation skills.