Mahmoud Khalil

Mahmoud Khalil is an Algerian citizen of Palestinian descent who was born in a Syrian refugee camp in Damascus. He earned a master's degree at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) in 2024. He is a permanent U.S. resident with a green card.

Khalil grew up in Syria and earned his bachelor's degree in computer science from the Lebanese American University. Before enrolling at Columbia, he held multiple roles in international development, including with the United Kingdom's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. He also managed the Syria Chevening Programme for the British Embassy in Beirut.