Joud Monla-Hassan is the Director of Citizens for a Secure and Safe America (C4SSA), where she leads the organization’s strategic direction, advocacy, and operations in support of a free, democratic, and accountable Syria. A Syrian American of Circassian heritage with roots in Aleppo, Joud brings a deep commitment to uplifting Syrian voices and advancing justice-centered policies at both the national and international levels.
She has spent years working with refugee communities across the region, documenting survivor stories and researching critical issues like child marriage, with several published articles shaping advocacy efforts. Joud previously served as a Program Officer with the Middle East and North Africa team at the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and as a Research Analyst at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), where she was one of the founding staff of the Syria Study Group.
Her experience spans grassroots organizing, congressional advocacy, and engagement with the United Nations system. She has spoken at major conferences on Syria’s future and served as a guest lecturer at The Citadel University’s Global Studies course. Joud continues to champion Syrian-led solutions for transitional justice, democratic governance, and human rights
