Nicole Cassou-Mackenzie is the Communications and Events Manager at the Middle East Institute (MEI), where she orchestrates events and supports strategic communications campaigns. She collaborates across MEI’s events, communications, and policy teams to drive convenings and stakeholder outreach initiatives that advance MEI’s policy influence and public engagement.
Nicole is a foreign policy and strategic communications professional with seven years of experience in government, think tanks, and policy advocacy. She has led high-profile convenings and campaigns to amplify expert voices and influence policy dialogues. Previously, she served as a Senior Policy & Engagement Advisor in USAID’s Office of Policy, where she led strategic communications and events for national security and development initiatives. She has also held roles at the Center for Global Development, the Migration Policy Institute, and Foreign Policy for America, focusing on refugee, migration, and humanitarian policy issues.
Nicole holds a Master of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University, where she concentrated in Global Politics and Security, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Journalism from the University of Denver.