Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
First Language: Arabic
Maha Mehanna is an alumna of CJP, from Gaza City, Palestine. Her multifaceted journey is defined by an unwavering commitment to growth, excellence and advancement. As a self-motivated individual, Maha has excelled as an accomplished researcher, skilled communications officer, rehabilitation practitioner, strategic organizational consultant, and a proficient Arabic/English translator and interpreter.
Maha’s educational journey led her through community development, rehabilitation and disability studies in Canada and a profound exploration of conflict transformation, peacebuilding, restorative justice, and organizational leadership in the United States. Her professional trajectory encompasses pivotal roles within both local and international non-profit and proprietary organizations in Gaza City, complemented by her solid expertise in process management and her extensive experience collaborating with international donor organizations dedicated to advancing Palestinian civil society.
Beyond her professional journey, Maha emerges as a dedicated peacebuilder and advocate for human rights and social justice. As an invited speaker over the past 15 impactful years, her voice resonated through seminars, workshops, conferences, churches, high schools, colleges, and universities across Palestine, the Middle East, Europe, Canada, and the United States.
In 2016, Maha was awarded the prestigious Winston Fellowship to the Summer Peacebuilding Institute (SPI) of the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding (CJP) at Eastern Mennonite University (EMU), where she further honed her expertise through a transformative academic pursuit.
Maha’s time at EMU was marked by exceptional achievement, culminating in the successful completion of five graduate programs and the acquisition of the following degrees:
1) Master of Arts in Conflict Transformation
2) Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership
3) Graduate Certificate in Restorative Justice
4) Graduate Certificate in Business Administration
5) Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit (NGO) Leadership & Social Entrepreneurship
Maha’s generosity extended to the United States during her time at EMU, where she volunteered to assist Arabic-speaking refugees, immigrants, and newcomers within the Harrisonburg community.
Today, Maha’s journey continues as she charts her course towards a Ph.D. in Peace & Conflict Studies, a testament to her enduring commitment to fostering understanding, justice, peace, and lasting harmony. Her mission, purpose, and dedication remain steadfast: to play a pivotal role in shaping a brighter, better world for all.