Staff Spotlight: Julia Martin

To say that the Middle East Initiative (MEI) has shaped Julia Martin’s life would be an understatement. When she was a graduate student at Harvard Divinity School, Julia invited a friend to join her for an MEI film screening of The Band’s Visit. Amr accepted. Before long, they became husband and wife, and they are now raising three children together.

Today, Julia serves as MEI’s Assistant Director, managing its programs, budgets, and strategic planning. “Aside from incredibly talented colleagues, my favorite part of working at MEI is supporting the research community,” Julia says. “We not only provide our fellows and scholars with the resources they need to work, but we also foster an intellectual community and facilitate what can most aptly be described as a MENA ideas lab. Watching these brilliant minds support and engage with each other is truly captivating; hurdles and questions evolve into discussions generating new perspectives, ideas, and collaborations.”

Time after time, Julia has seen the impact that MEI programming has on students as well. For example, MEI brought former Tunisian Minister of Economic Infrastructure and Sustainable Development Hedi Larbi to lead a study group on development in the region. He recruited several student research assistants to develop a report. That engagement inspired one of them to return to Tunisia after completing his MPA to focus his work on bolstering local technical and organizational capacity. 

Outside the office, Julia maintains a deep love for art. She hopes to set up a mini home-studio where she can nurture this passion for herself and her children. She also relishes every opportunity to travel to the Middle East with her family. While most of their time in the region is spent in Alexandria, the beautiful Mediterranean birthplace of her husband, she would love to visit Fez, Morocco. Fez is home to the University of Qarawiyyin, founded by Fatima Al-Fihri in the 9th century and recognized by many as the world’s oldest university still operating to this day.

Reflecting on her own role in higher education, Julia says, “I am so privileged to support this community that is deepening our understanding of the region, and contributing to our shared repository of human knowledge.”