WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Middle East Democracy Center (MEDC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Joel Campagna as its Interim Executive Director. With more than 25 years of experience in human rights advocacy and regional expertise, Campagna brings valuable leadership to MEDC as the organization marks one year since its formation through the merger of the Freedom Initiative and the Project on Middle East Democracy.
“Joel brings a deep commitment to our mission and a strong understanding of the challenges and opportunities ahead,” said Anas Aljumaily, Chair of the board of MEDC. “We are confident that his strategic vision and experience in navigating complex policy environments will help guide our work at this critical juncture and strengthen our organization for the future.”
Campagna’s extensive background includes serving at the Open Society Foundations (OSF), where he led strategy, grant-making, and advocacy efforts focused on countering authoritarianism and promoting civic engagement across the Middle East and North Africa. During this time, he helped lead OSF’s response to major political inflection points in the region, from the Arab Uprisings to the hardening of authoritarianism over the past decade.
Before OSF, Campagna directed the Middle East and North Africa program at the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), where he developed and led the organization’s program that was responsible for documenting and responding to press freedom violations across the Middle East and North Africa, Iran, and Turkey.
“I am honored to step into this leadership role at such a pivotal moment for MEDC and the region,” said Campagna. “MEDC has built a reputation for impactful advocacy and deep regional expertise and I’m committed to strengthening our support for those unjustly detained, amplifying the voices of local activists, and ensuring policies that reflect a genuine commitment to human dignity and democratic values.”
About MEDC
MEDC is a U.S.-based nonprofit and nonpartisan advocacy organization, created in 2024 from the merger of the Freedom Initiative and the Project on Middle East Democracy, that works with the people of the Middle East and North Africa to advance human rights and democratic governance.
