As the Director of Government & International Relations, John is responsible for the AIC’s public policy efforts, including all U.S. federal, state and local government liaison operations. In addition to these duties, he is responsible for the Capitol Hill Distinguished Speaker and Witness Series in D.C., conducting briefings on Capitol Hill, civil rights and religious freedom advocacy, legislative tracking and drafting positions on policy. Since he has joined AIC, John has initiated a nation-wide voter registration, civic engagement and constituency mobilization program.

John comes to AIC with 13 years of governmental relations experience. Notably, John worked for the National Home Builders Association (NAHB) in Las Vegas, interfacing with local officials, assembling focus groups, and later drafting legislation to preserve and enhance industry interests throughout the U.S. Working for the U.S.-Russia/China Build Program, John was the chief spokesperson for the international education segment. The later 6 years of his career John ran his own international government relations consulting firm. John has also taught at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NY, where he was in charge of creating writing and technological programs to benefit students. John holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Eurasian history with minors in Russian and religion and a Master’s Degree in diplomacy with a concentration in conflict resolution.

John’s areas of expertise include:

• Multilateral constituency building and benchmarking
• Development, implementation, and measurement of advocacy programs
• Legislative process, tracking of legislation and policy
• Civic and religious engagement in corporate and Islamic contexts
• Diversity training in relation to Islam and interethnic/interfaith understanding
• Afghan tribal systems ad transitional religious law pertaining to Afghanistan and Central Asian states
• Formal quality management systems and process-based monitoring and evaluation (M&E)