Mounah Abdel-Samad

Dr. Mounah Abdel-Samad is an Associate Professor at the School of Public Affairs within the College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts at San Diego State University (SDSU). He holds a PhD in Public Administration and Policy from the University at Albany, specializing in Comparative and Development Administration. His professional roles include Director of the Social and Economic Vulnerabilities Initiative, Coordinator of the Master of Public Administration program, and prior leadership as Director of the Institute of Public and Urban Affairs. He has also served as a Senior Advisor in Public Administration and Policy in Iraq.

Education:

• PhD in Public Administration and Policy, University at Albany, 2007
• MA in Public Administration, American University of Beirut, 2001
• BA in Public Administration, American University of Beirut, 1999

Research Interests: Dr. Abdel-Samad specializes in public policy, civil society advocacy, legislative processes in authoritarian contexts, homelessness interventions, transnational civil society, and conflict studies. His work spans comparative politics in the Middle East, urban policy, and NGO effectiveness. Recent projects include analyzing the chronic cycle of homelessness in San Diego and examining Syrian diaspora activism.

Articles Trends: His publications focus on political opportunity structures in authoritarian regimes, civil society resilience, transnational activism, and urban governance challenges. Key themes include the role of NGOs in policy-making, the impact of protest movements, and the interplay between security threats and minority survival strategies.

Awards:

• Outstanding Faculty Member Teaching Award (2010)
• SDSU Instructional Technology Services Fast-Track Course Design Institute (2014)
• Stacked Teaching Courses Award (2014)

Grants & Advising: Dr. Abdel-Samad has led research initiatives on utility assistance for housing stability ($25K), perceptions of affordable housing in San Diego ($25K), and Tunisian electoral law analysis ($9.9K). He collaborates with USD on housing studies and has advised students on homelessness and policy projects.

Labs & Teams: Directs the Social and Economic Vulnerabilities Initiative addressing homelessness in California. Coordinates interdisciplinary teams for collective impact frameworks and policy development projects.