Shabnam Jafari is the Director of Education Programs at The Middle East Institute. In her position, she focuses on creating educational opportunities for people in the United States. She leads MEI's Education Center, Language Program, Regional Studies Seminar, and the Young Leadership Development Program.

Ms. Jafari works to promote educational quality and the expansion of educational innovations. As the head of the Education Center, she believes that using creativity to promote and implement educational opportunities for people can help bridge the divide between cultures. 

Her career in Washington, D.C. began as a Technology intern for the Democratic National Committee. She then worked in political consulting, specializing in voter targeting and data analysis for national campaigns. She has created her own start-up focusing on digital media solutions for small businesses while attending law school in San Diego, California. She has received a B.A. in International Studies with a focus on Middle East Peace and Conflict resolution, with a minor in French.

Languages: Persian and French

Contact Information

Email: sjafari@mei.edu

Phone: (202) 785-1141 ext. 223

Twitter Handle: @ShabyJafari