Staff


	Suzanne Meriden Deputy Executive Director Suzanne Meriden is the Director of Community and Partner Relations of the Syrian American Council. In her role, Suzanne advocates the U.S. government to drive U.S.-Syria policy and support those on the ground in Syria, as well as works with members of the international community. Suzanne maintains near-constant communication with Syrians inside Syria to bring their stories to U.S. and international government representatives, as well as the general public. In addition to her government and policy work, Suzanne sees one of her principal functions as connecting people to one another. She travels around the country, meeting with Syrian American communities nationwide, listening to them and their concerns, as well as updating the community on the Syrian American Council’s work and ongoing advocacy, and the situation on the ground. She believes it is her duty to instill in community members their responsibility for civic engagement. Prior to her work at the Syrian American Council, Suzanne held multiple corporate operations management positions with reputable U.S. retail companies, but after the start of the Syrian Revolution, she left that career to work on the Syrian cause. She is fluent in Arabic, English, and French and near-fluent in Turkish. She holds a bachelor’s degree in International Business from California State University.



	Tesbih Habbal Director of Communications Tesbih Habbal is the Communications Director at the Syrian American Council, where she leads narrative strategy, digital engagement, and communications across SAC's platforms. With a career spanning national and international policy, advocacy, business, and academia, Tesbih brings over a decade of experience crafting compelling narratives and building campaigns that engage diverse audiences and drive meaningful action. Born and raised in Syria, her commitment to this work is deeply personal, rooted in her lived experience and a belief in the power of collective storytelling to advance justice. Tesbih has led initiatives that don't just inform–they move people, increasing audience engagement, shaping public dialogue, and supporting policy and advocacy goals. She is also the co-founder of the Zat Initiative, a nonprofit organization that advances Arab women's leadership and visibility in the U.S. and the MENA region. She holds an M.A. in International Relations from the University of Chicago and a B.A. in Political Science and Mass Communication from Southern Illinois University. Tesbih is Syrian American, a native Arabic speaker, and a lifelong advocate for dignity, inclusion, and belonging.

Alaa Kamnaksh Alzayat

Director of Operations

Alaa Kamnaksh is the Director of Operations at the Syrian American Council and the American Coalition for Syria where she oversees day-to-day operations, including grassroots engagement strategies and programs. Alaa previously supported SAC's development and outreach activities as an operations management specialist.

Prior to that, Alaa was a research scientist in the field of blast-induced traumatic brain injury for close to a decade. She received her MBA from Georgetown University with a certificate in non-market strategy and holds an MS in biotechnology from Johns Hopkins University. Alaa is Syrian American and a native Arabic speaker.

Yisser Bittar

Organizational Development Consultant

Yisser Bittar is a Syrian American non-profit professional with over ten years of experience working on the Syrian cause. She has worked with mission-driven organizations focusing on political advocacy, humanitarian aid, and development programming. In each of her roles, she led teams building departments, processes, and strategies to create more efficient and impactful organizations. She is a graduate of the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign and holds a Master of Public Administration from Arizona State University. Currently, her favorite (and most time-consuming role) is being a Mama to her two girls, Emissa (4) and Melia (2).

Alberto Hernandez

Policy Officer

Alberto Hernandez is a skilled government relations professional with a focus on advocacy and policy development. As a Policy Officer at the Syrian American Council (SAC), he effectively communicates the concerns of the Syrian American community to members of Congress and the Executive Branch. Alberto's expertise includes monitoring Arabic-language media, producing insightful reports, and maintaining strong relationships with federal government partners.

Alberto's Harvard Kennedy School training and fluency in Arabic enable him to navigate complex political landscapes and provide valuable analysis of the US Government's policy priorities in relation to SAC's goals. With a background in data engineering and a physics degree from MIT, Alberto also brings a unique analytical and data-driven perspective. His dedication, communication skills, and ability to engage with community members make him a valuable asset in advancing effective legislation and sound policy.

Sameer Saboungi

Staff Attorney & Policy Officer

Sameer Saboungi is a lawyer and an expert on Syria sanctions and transitional justice, based in Washington, DC. He serves as a Policy Officer and Director of Legal Affairs at the Syrian American Council, where he develops strategic policy proposals aimed at lifting economic restrictions on Syria, supporting reconstruction, and promoting legal accountability. He advocates for these goals by engaging with multiple stakeholders. He has organized roundtables, given presentations, and been invited to speak at numerous conferences.

Before joining SAC, Sameer was an associate at White & Case LLP, where he advised multinational clients on sanctions compliance, US and foreign antitrust matters, and federal litigation in commercial, foreign sovereign immunities, and arbitral award enforcement cases. Sameer is a proud 2nd-generation Syrian American originally from the Sunshine State, by way of Damascus. He has a B.A. from the University of Florida and a J.D. from Emory University School of Law.

Zaid Alloush

Grassroots Advocacy Officer

Zaid Alloush serves as a Grassroots Advocacy Officer with the Syrian American Council, where he leads efforts to mobilize Syrian Americans, strengthen local advocacy, and ensure community voices reach decision-makers in Washington and beyond. He works closely with volunteers and grassroots networks across the country to help shape U.S. policy through sustained civic engagement.

A longtime member of SAC's national network, Zaid has played a key role in numerous advocacy campaigns and Congressional outreach initiatives. He draws on this experience to mentor and organize local advocates, helping to transform personal passion into political impact.

Zaid's commitment to Syria's cause is profoundly personal. He grew up in Jobar, a Damascus neighborhood that became a symbol of resistance, and suffered massive destruction at the hands of the Assad regime. He later moved to Jabadeen, his ancestral village near Maaloula, one of the few places where Aramaic—the ancient language of Jesus—is still spoken. As a native speaker of Aramaic, Zaid carries this unique cultural heritage with him and remains deeply connected to Syria's rich and diverse history. These formative experiences continue to drive his dedication to uplifting Syrian voices and stories in the policy arena.

Zaid holds a bachelor’s degree in biotechnology and is completing a master’s degree in International Relations and Leadership. His transition from science to international affairs reflects a deep commitment to public service and shaping global policy. Drawing on his analytical background and passion for advocacy, he approaches his work with a strategic mindset and a focus on elevating Syrian voices where they matter most. Outside of his work, he enjoys reading, exploring history, and playing tennis.