Muqaddesa Yourish

Muqaddesa Yourish, a former deputy minister for commerce and industry of the previous government of Afghanistan, joined the George Washington University community as the Elliott School of International Affairs’ J.B. and Maurice C. Shapiro Professor of International Affairs in January 2022.

Ms. Yourish has broad government experience, including service as a commissioner on Afghanistan’s national civil service reform commission, and prior to that, as human resources director of the Municipality of Kabul. She was also country director for Lapis, a top strategic communication firm of MOBY Group, giving her private sector experience. Her expertise spans international trade and commerce, governance, economic development and reform, human capital, and strategic communications.

Ms. Yourish received both of her degrees through scholarship programs abroad, earning her bachelor’s degree of economics from University of Pune in India and obtaining a master’s degree in business management in the United States from the University of Akron, which she attended as a Fulbright scholar. She has been a lecturer at American University of Afghanistan and has served as deputy head of the Association of Fulbrighters of Afghanistan.

A frequent commentator on Afghanistan’s political scene, Ms. Yourish is a passionate advocate for women and girls, and a champion for Afghanistan’s young citizens. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times. She was featured as a “Vital Voices of 2021” leader in October, and sat down with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to talk about the recent Taliban takeover in Afghanistan and what it means for women and girls in the country.