Born and raised in Al-Far’a refugee camp in the West Bank of Palestine, Mohsen Mahdawi‘s early years were defined by Israeli military occupation. At twenty four, he moved to the United States and experienced freedom and safety for the first time in his life, finding in Vermont a true home rooted in belonging and the strength of a supportive community. At Columbia University, he became a leading voice for Palestinian rights through dialogue and coalition-building, including with Jewish and Israeli communities.

In April 2025 when Mohsen walked into an immigration office for his citizenship interview and was handcuffed and detained by ICE in retaliation for his pro-Palestinian activism. Mohsen continues his graduate studies in Diplomacy while defending his rights in courts and building an organization dedicated to human rights and nonviolent conflict resolution.

Mohsen is currently serving as the 2026-2027 Walter and June Wink Fellow at the Fellowship of Reconciliation-USA. For further information about his ongoing work, please visit https://www.mohsen-mahdawi.com.