Maha Yahya is the director of the Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center, where her research focuses on citizenship, pluralism, and social justice in the aftermath of the Arab uprisings. Prior to joining Carnegie, Yahya led work on participatory development and social justice at the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia. She was previously a regional adviser on social and urban policies at UN-ESCWA and spearheaded strategic initiatives in the Office of the Executive Secretary to address the challenges of democratic transitions in the Arab world. Yahya has also worked with the United Nations Development Program in Lebanon and a variety of international organizations as well as in the private sector as a consultant on projects related to socioeconomic policy analysis, development policies, cultural heritage, poverty reduction, housing and community development, and postconflict reconstruction across the Middle East. She is the author of numerous publications, including Unheard Voices: What Syrian Refugees Need to Return Home (April 2018). Yahya holds two PhDs, from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Architectural Association School of Architecture. She speaks Arabic and English.