Mohamad Al Ississ is the Jordanian Minister of Finance. He was appointed as minister in November 2019.[1][2][3][4] Previously he had served as Minister of Planning and International Cooperation and Minister of State for Economic Affairs in Omar Razzaz's Cabinet led by Omar Razzaz.[5] He was formerly Special Advisor to His Majesty King Abdullah II, Advisor to His Majesty King Abdullah II for Economic Affairs, and Director of Economic and Social Development in the Office of His Majesty at the Royal Hashemite Court.

Mohamad Al Ississ
محمد العسعس
Al Ississ in 2013
Minister of Finance
Assumed office
7 November 2019
MonarchAbdullah II of Jordan
Prime MinisterBisher Al-Khasawneh
Preceded byEzzedin Kanakrieh
Minister of Planning and International Cooperation
In office
2019 – 7 November 2019
Prime MinisterOmar Razzaz
Succeeded byWissam Rabadi
Minister of State for Economic Affairs
In office
2018 – 7 November 2019
Personal details
Born
Mohamad Al Issis

July 7, 1977
Alma materHarvard University (BA, MA, MPAID, PhD)

Earning his PhD in Economic Development and Public Policy from Harvard University, Dr. Al-Ississ also obtained two master’s degrees from Harvard in Public Administration/International Development and Middle Eastern Studies, as well as a bachelor’s degree in Economics with Honors.

Dr. Al-Ississ has extensive experience in academia. From 2010-2016 he was an Assistant Professor and Associate Dean at the American University in Cairo, as well as a visiting lecturer at Harvard Kennedy School. He is also a founding professor of the first massive Arabic course at Edraak, an online learning platform in partnership with Harvard University and MIT’s EdX platform.

Dr. Al-Ississ’ professional positions include Associate Consultant at Boston Consultancy Group; Manager for Investment Promotion at USAID’s AMIR program; and Senior Competition Advisor to Jordan’s Minister of Industry and Trade.

Dr. Al-Ississ is a member of the Global Agenda Council at the World Economic Forum, a Fulbright scholar, and a published author in top tier academic journals. His policy briefs have been circulated by the World Economic Forum. His research focuses on the political economy of the Arab World and its transition, polarization, behavioral economics and finance, economics of political violence and religious experience. Al-Ississ is a frequent commentator on CNN and BBC in addition to contributing to leading regional and international print media.

Education

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Ph.D in Public Policy Focus: Economic Development from Harvard University 2007-2010.

Masters in Public Administration / International Development from Harvard University 2005-2007. Awarded Fulbright scholarship after ranking first in Jordan's national selection.

Master in Middle Eastern Studies From Harvard University 1999-2000.

Bachelor in Economics with honors and advanced standing status from Harvard College 1996-2000.

Academic Experience

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The American University in Cairo

  • School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, Associate Dean
  • School of Business, Economics Department, Tenured Associate Professor[6]
  • School of Business, Economics Department, Assistant Professor

Harvard Kennedy School

  • Cambridge MA, Visiting Scholar.[7]

Professor Nicholas Burns, former Undersecretary of State, asserted in the appointment statement: “Dr. Al-Ississ brings an intimate knowledge of the economics and politics of the Arab region and an exceptional understanding of the intricacies of the Arab uprisings to this position. He will be a valuable addition to intellectual life at the Harvard Kennedy School.” [8]

  • Cambridge MA, Lecturer Mid-career MPA Program.

Edraak MOOC

  • Arab Economic Development: Current State and Future Trajectory.[9]

Harvard College, Quincy House

  • Resident tutor in economics, public policy and business.

Experience

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  • Special Advisor to His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan, The Royal Hashemite Court
  • Economic Advisor to His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan, The Royal Hashemite Court
  • Director, Economic and Social Development, The Royal Hashemite Court [10]
  • Associate Consultant, The Boston Consulting Group.
  • Senior Competition Advisor to Jordanian ministers of Industry and Trade
  • Manager for Investment Promotion at USAID’s AMIR program

Fellowships and Appointments

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  • Jordan’s Governor to the IMF, World Bank and other IFIs. [11]
  • Fellow, The Economic Research Forum [12]
  • Member, Global Future Council on Economic Growth and Social Inclusion.
  • Member, Global Agenda Council on the Arab World, The World Economic Forum.[13]
  • Faculty Fellow, Association for Analytic Learning about Islam and Muslim Societies
  • Member, Presidential Advisory Council, The American University in Cairo.
  • Fellow: Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative grant.
  • Fellow: Harvard University Belfer Center’s Dubai Initiative.
  • Fellow: Harvard Program On Negotiations.
  • Fellow: Harvard Kennedy School Presidential Public Service Program.

References

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  1. ^ Luck, Taylor (2020-10-13). "Who is in Jordan's new Cabinet?". The National. Retrieved 2022-08-25.
  2. ^ "Mohamad Al-Ississ | World Bank Live". live.worldbank.org. Retrieved 2022-08-25.
  3. ^ "Jordan retains finance minister Al Ississ in new cabinet". Reuters. 2020-10-12. Retrieved 2022-08-25.
  4. ^ "Royal Decree approves reshuffle as Cabinet sees nine new ministers". Jordan Times. 2019-11-08. Retrieved 2022-08-25.
  5. ^ "Resumes of new ministers". en.royanews.tv. Retrieved 2023-01-21.
  6. ^ "Profile Mohamad Al Ississ". www.aucegypt.edu.
  7. ^ "Visiting Scholars Program, Harvard Kennedy School, Kuwait Foundation – 2016". armacad.inf. Archived from the original on 2018-02-22.
  8. ^ "Harvard Kennedy School Welcomes Mohamad Al-Ississ as the Spring 2014 Kuwait Foundation Visiting Scholar". www.belfercenter.org. Archived from the original on 2018-06-13.
  9. ^ "Arab Economies: Status Quo and Trajectory". Edraak. Archived from the original on 2018-02-22.
  10. ^ "Mohamad Al-Ississ". Wilsoncenter.org.
  11. ^ "Governor Talk - Jordan: Great Expectations: Achieving Fiscal Discipline With Social Protection in Uncertain Times". Pftac.org.
  12. ^ "Mohamad Al-Ississ - Economic Research Forum (ERF)". Economic Research Forum (ERF). Archived from the original on 2018-02-22.
  13. ^ "faculty-fellows :: people :: AALIMS". aalims.org. Archived from the original on 2018-02-22.