Duaa’s leadership is distinguished by its depth of experience and breadth of perspective. She is Scottish by birth, Syrian by heritage, refugee by age five, Saudi by primary education, Muslim by faith, and American by home. In the U.S., Duaa has lived on the East Coast, the West Coast, and is currently in the Midwest. Her cross-cultural identity grounds her understanding of belonging, fairness, and accountability –all themes that echo through her work across diverse educational and cultural contexts. She believes deeply that people are not their politics and that being fair & responsible are learned, not inherited. Thus, our views and Knowledge are shaped by the stories we tell in our schools, highlight in the news, write in policy, & use for entertainment. To do better, we must create different stories. As a mentor, she has guided students toward higher education – including her own three children, each of whom found their way to university and graduate studies after opting out of high school, both its structure and requirements.