NEGAH ANGAH
Negah Angha is a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative and a former associate vice president at The Cohen Group. With nearly two decades of experience, she has advised U.S. Department of State and National Security Council leadership on policy development and strategic communication. In 2021, she directed the National Security Council’s multilateral initiatives, leading the Summit for Democracy, and in 2022, focused on partnerships and global engagement, liaising with various external stakeholders on significant policy shifts.
Ms. Angha’s contributions have been recognized on the CSIS and DINSN U.S. National Security and Foreign Affairs Leadership List in 2022 and 2023. She holds a Master of Arts in international peace and conflict resolution and an MBA from American University, and is a Ph.D. candidate at King’s College London. Additionally, Ms. Angha has shared her expertise as a Spring 2023 resident fellow at Harvard’s Institute of Politics and has taught at King’s College London and the UK Defense Academy Joint Services Command and Staff College.
What I Bring to the Board:
As an internationalist, I am eager to leverage my experience as a leader at the White House, academia, and the private sector to enhance FP4A’s ability to deliver impactful solutions to today’s foreign policy challenges. With two decades of experience in the foreign policy field, I have come to understand and value the critical importance of articulating why foreign policy matters for the prosperity and safety of Americans on a domestic and international level. This insight fuels my desire to reinvigorate internationalism to address global challenges and uphold democracy and human rights, both at home and abroad. Active participation in our democracy, through engaging with legislators, supporting aligned candidates, and pursuing public service, is crucial for these goals.
Being an active member of FP4A’s Leadership Circle for the past year, I have contributed to the advancement of its mission, emphasizing the need for a strong, engaged membership to navigate and influence international and domestic policy landscapes. As an Iranian-American, I bring a unique perspective to the board, aiming to enrich discussions with diversity and insights from varied experiences.
My extensive experience in collaborative settings, commitment to diversity, and active engagement with FP4A highlight my readiness for a board position. I am confident my contributions can significantly bolster FP4A’s influence and growth, making me an ideal candidate for the role.
Nadine Farid Johnson
Nadine Farid Johnson is a member of the policy committee and the leadership circle of FP4A. She is the inaugural policy director at the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, where she is responsible for advancing the Institute’s policy objectives in global tech policy.
A former U.S. diplomat, Farid Johnson has testified before Congress on human rights, free expression, and constitutional issues. She is a frequent media contributor, with commentary appearing in national and international and appearances on global outlets. Prior to joining the Knight Institute, Farid Johnson served as the managing director of PEN America in Washington, D.C. She served as the executive director of the ACLU of Kansas, and was a professor of law and political science at Gonzaga University and a Climenko Fellow and Lecturer on Law at Harvard Law School.
In the private sector, Farid Johnson worked as a patent litigator and later oversaw operations and community engagement programming at Google in Los Angeles. She is a graduate of DePauw University and Tulane Law School and studied at the U.S. Naval War College. She is currently a non-resident senior fellow at the Center for International Policy, writing on human rights and national security.
What I Bring to the Board:
Thank you for considering my candidacy for the board of FP4A, an organization I admire deeply. I believe my background in diplomacy, my experience in board service and fundraising, and my policy acumen will all serve to make me an effective member of the board.
First, as reflected in my accompanying materials, my extensive professional background spans diplomacy, national security, and foreign policy. With this experience and my ongoing support for FP4A as a member of the policy committee, I have a fulsome understanding of FP4A’s goals and objectives.
Second, I have served on nonprofit boards in several capacities over the past 15 years, including roles covering governance, advising, fundraising, and executive leadership. I am a practiced fundraiser, with experience securing gifts for both organizations and candidates.
Finally, as an attorney and policy advocacy expert with experience navigating challenging issues across government, civil society, and with the press, I have the political and policy acumen necessary to support the board’s candidate-focused efforts.
I am committed to the mission and values of FP4A, and I would be thrilled and honored to expand my service to the organization as a member of the board. Many thanks for your consideration.
Neda Shaheen
Neda Shaheen is an associate attorney at Crowell & Moring in Washington, DC, where she focuses her practice on investigations, litigation, and strategic counseling involving national security, cybersecurity, trade and international law.
Neda brings an inclusive and global approach to her work. She previously worked as Policy and Programs Lead at Women of Color Advancing Peace, Security, and Conflict Transformation, where she co-founded the South West Asia and North Africa Working Group, advocating for women of color across the field and in global diaspora communities. Neda moved to DC for a legal fellowship at the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, advocating for asylum-seekers and refugees, political prisoners, and other human rights defenders, after her time at the U.N. Security Council in New York, conducting legal compliance of counterterrorism measures under international human rights law.
She is an active member of the FP4A Leadership Circle and sits on the Board of the National Arab American Bar Association. She previously served as National Director of Arab American Engagement for the Biden for President Campaign and Team DC Co-lead for the Arab America Foundation.
Neda obtained her LL.M. in National Security Law with a Certificate in International Trade at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, her JD and a Certificate in International & Comparative Law from DePaul University in Chicago, IL, and Bachelor of Art from The Ohio State University in Columbus, OH.
What I Bring to the Board:
I am very excited to be considered for the FP4A Board of Directors. I have been an active and dedicated member of FP4A since 2020, watching the organization make meaningful impact and continue to grow.
As an organization dedicated to diplomacy and to bringing foreign policy home, my personal and professional experiences align to FP4A’s goals and inspire my interest in this role. I have worked on the ground, in oversight, direct representation, and as an advisor in the public and private sector, developing substantive expertise in law and policy, expanding my network, and gaining professional skills relevant to supporting the Board. At the same time, my personal experience as a first generation American from a deeply-rooted immigrant community keeps me grounded and provides a nuanced understanding of how this work impacts diverse American communities at home.
This dual-perspective drives my commitment to this work and to making the world a better place for generations to come. I believe in a collaborative approach to leadership, value diversity, and am committed to making positive and sustainable impacts. I have loved being an FP4A volunteer, member of the Leadership Circle, and in the inaugural cohort of NextGen, and am honored to be considered for the Board of Directors now. Thank you.