Departments and Research Centers

Weiser Diplomacy Center

Showing 1 - 30 of 488 results
Staff

Nayab Ali

International Diplomacy Programs Administrator, Weiser Diplomacy Center
Nayab Ali has recently joined Ford School as an Assistant Program Manager, bringing with her extensive hands-on experience in policy and research. Prior to joining Ford, Nayab held positions at The Brookings Institution within their Governance…
Staff

Basma Emam

Administrative Assistant, Weiser Diplomacy Center
Basma Emam brings extensive experience in community engagement, intercultural programming, and language instruction across higher education and K–12 settings. She joined the Weiser Diplomacy Center in April 2024 as an Administrative Assistant,…
Leadership

Susan D. Page

Professor of Practice in International Diplomacy at the University of Michigan's Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, and Professor from Practice at the University of Michigan's Law School
Ambassador Susan D. Page, a former diplomat, joined the Ford School faculty, and the Weiser Diplomacy Center in 2020 as a Professor of Practice in International Diplomacy. She also serves as a Professor from Practice at the Law School. Page has…
Professors of practice

Javed Ali

Associate Professor of Practice
Ali is a former senior director for counterterrorism at the National Security Council, with over 20 years of professional experience in national security and intelligence issues in Washington, D.C. He served in the Defense Intelligence Agency, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, where he also held senior positions on joint duty assignments at the National Intelligence Council, the National Counterterrorism Center, and the National Security Council.
Professors of practice

Kamissa Camara

Professor of Practice in International Diplomacy
Ambassador Kamissa Camara is a professor of practice in international diplomacy at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy’s Weiser Diplomacy Center. She is also a Senior Africa Advisor at the United States Institute of Peace and a Non-Resident…

About

The Weiser Diplomacy Center was established in 2018 at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy with a $10 million gift from University of Michigan alumni Ron and Eileen Weiser. We aim to serve as a leading hub for practical student training in...
In the Media

Ali says Syria plays a key role in Trump middle east peace plans

Jul 7, 2025 Fox News
Javed Ali, former senior official at the National Security Council and professor at the University of Michigan, told Fox News Digital, "It’s a strategic calculation. A Syria that no longer hosts Iranian proxies, cooperates on counterterrorism, and...
News

The Ford School mourns the loss of Richard Boucher

Jul 3, 2025
The Ford School mourns the loss of Ambassador (ret.) Richard A. Boucher, who was a frequent presence at Weill Hall Ann Arbor for many years. He died on June 27 at his home in Arlington, Va. During his thirty-two years career in U.S. diplomacy, he...
News

Ali Q&A on Israeli attack on Iran

Jun 13, 2025
Ford School Professor of Practice Javed Ali gave the following Q&A to The Conversation one day after the Israeli attacks on Iran: Israel’s strike on Iranian nuclear and military facilities has pushed the Middle East one step closer to a far wider,...
News

Remembering Ambassador Melvyn Levitsky

Jun 6, 2025
The Ford School is deeply saddened to announce the passing of Ambassador Melvyn ‘Mel’ Levitsky, esteemed professor of international policy and practice. He passed away on May 17, 2025, at the age of 87.Ambassador Levitsky had a remarkable career in...
In the Media

Ali suspects Trump to speak out on humanitarian efforts in Gaza

Apr 12, 2025 Fox News
In a conversation with Fox News, Javed Ali, professor at the Ford School, offered insights on Israel's current military strategy. Ali stated, "Now that we're almost a full month into the resumption of high-intensity IDF operations in the Gaza Strip...
In the Media

The significance of Iranian and US diplomacy - Ali

Apr 8, 2025 ABC News
"The fact that both sides [Iran and the U.S.] are meeting in the same location, this is a major development. Both sides have not sat down for decades since the last nuclear deal that was agreed to under President Obama," said the Ford School's Javed...
In the Media

Striking Houthis sends message to Iran - Ali

Mar 31, 2025 The National News Desk
Javed Ali, Ford School professor, talked about the message the administration is sending by striking the Houthis in Yemen, saying, “He approved those military operations and that is also a signal to Iran that ‘whatever we're doing to the Houthis, we...
In the Media

Ali on expansion of Israel's offensive in Gaza

Mar 24, 2025 National News Desk
Javed Ali, Ford School professor, analyzed the situation in Gaza saying, “The only thing that brings back the ceasefire is Hamas relents and at least releases some of the hostages they still have in their possession or Trump, through (Middle East...
In the Media

Ali says ceasefire talks in Gaza have "collapsed"

Mar 21, 2025 ABC News
"At this point, I'd argue they've collapsed completely [ceasefire talks], so right now it doesn't look like there's much incentive for either side to come back to the table," said the Ford School's Javed Ali in a conversation with ABC News. ABC News...
In the Media

Ali on Hezbollah's developing situation in Syria

Mar 17, 2025 Fox News
Javed Ali, Ford School professor, said "Hezbollah is trying to take advantage of the new government’s weakness in Syria, but the group itself is in a precarious position." At the same time he says, "The U.S. is navigating a complex landscape in...
In the Media

How federal employee cuts are impacting national security - Ali

Feb 5, 2025 The Cipher Brief
Speaking with The Cipher Brief, the Ford School's Javed Ali stated national security agencies are witnessing and "unprecedented moment" due to federal job cuts in civil service. Ali noted, "I can't remember a time when the bureau was under this much...
In the Media

Camara: ECOWAS departures create uncertainty

Jan 30, 2025 BBC News
As Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger depart ECOWAS, the Ford School's Kamissa Camara, a former foreign minister of Mali, tells the BBC, the formation of the Alliance of Sahelian States among Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali is "quite...
In the Media

Ali on Israel-Hamas hostage exchange

Jan 19, 2025 ABC
Javed Ali, Ford School Professor and former NSC Director for Counterterrorism, says "we will just have to wait and see how things play out" with Israel and Hamas interpreting the evolving situation and watch "how both sides stick to the terms of the...
In the Media

Ali not concerned about last minute ceasefire crisis

Jan 16, 2025 ABC News
In an interview with ABC, Javed Ali, Ford School professor, talked about why the last minute crisis with the Israel Hamas ceasefire should not be concerning. He said, "I am not that concerned that the deal somehow is  going to fall apart because so...