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Soolmaz Abooali

Soolmaz Abooali
Ph.D. Candidate, School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution

Peace Operations, MS, George Mason University, 2010
Communication (Public Relations), BS, George Mason University, 2006

Biography

Soolmaz Abooali is an Iranian-American refugee, athlete, and scholar who leverages her unique background and knowledge to promote equality and empowerment through sport and fitness initiatives at various levels of society.

Soolmaz is an 11-time US National Champion, international medalist, and USA team member in Traditional Karate. She is currently working on her PhD in conflict resolution at George Mason University, with a focus on how non-governmental organizations use sport to reduce violence. Using her expertise in sport and scholarship, Soolmaz conducts sport diplomacy/conflict resolution workshops for cross-sectional audiences within and outside the United States. Her initiatives include partners such as United States Institute of Peace (USIP), United States Department of State (USDOS), the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition (PCFSN), philanthropic figures, and non-governmental organizations.

To pay it forward, Soolmaz serves as an Athlete Ambassador for the American Amateur Karate Federation (AAKF) and Shirzanan (SHEER’zah-non). Alongside the AAKF, Soolmaz increases public awareness of Traditional Karate in school systems and at-risk communities through her speaking engagements and class instruction. As an Athlete Ambassador and Board of Advisory member at Shirzanan, she promotes equality for women in sport through sharing her voice at lectures/events, contributing op-eds as well as her expertise of the Middle East, sport, and



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Featured Content
Title Published Date
April 06, 2017
I was walking up 17th street in DC on my way to the metro when I noticed a giant looming figure in front of me. It was
Category: Newspaper Article

March 09, 2017
 In the midst of policy upheavals and political boxing among party lines, I decided to hit the ground with some
Category: Newspaper Article

February 2017
Shortly after the Islamic Revolution in Iran in the late 1970s, my mother marched in the streets of Iran to fight for
Category: Newsletter Article

January 23, 2017
On the eve of the Women’s March in Washington, a group of female athletes gathered together at a tiny Mexican bar
Category: Newspaper Article

November 22, 2016
In the aftermath of Donald Trump’s election as the 45th President of the United States of America, we are
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September 2016
The recent movement sparked by San Francisco’s 49ers quarterback, Colin Kaepernick, is another example of an
Category: Newsletter Article

August 25, 2016
Muhammad Ali is no doubt one of the greatest athletes to have walked this earth, yet throughout the battles that he
Category: Newsletter Article

June 17, 2016
For the first time in Olympic history, the world will witness 10 refugee-athletes competing as Team Refugee in the 2016
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July 23, 2015
When Raha Moharrak’s parents told her it was time for her to marry, she decided she wasn’t a toaster
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May 2015
Termed a “plague” by the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at the United States Department of Education
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Dissertation Proposal Defense - Soolmaz AbooaliMonday, January 23, 20172:00pm - 4:00pmMetropolitan Building, room 5000Sport for Society: A Theory-Practice Exploration into how Sport is used to Address ConflictCommitteeDr. Mara Schoeny (Chair)Dr. Kevin AvruchDr. Craig Esherick AbstractThe
January 23, 2017
Click here for the PDF for the full agenda and to register 
September 30, 2015
This event has been cancelled due to weather related university closure.Admissions Film Screening Thursday, March 5th 2:00pm - 5:00pmConference Room 5183 RSVP HerePlease join S-CAR, Dr. Leslie Dwyer, PhD Candidate Soolmaz Abooali, and the Student Association to welcome Producer and
March 05, 2015
 ROUNDTABLE EVENT Carrying out healing and reconciliation workshops for South Sudanese in the United StatesSouth Sudan Woman United (SSWU) in collaboration with The Institute for Sustainable Peace
April 30, 2014
Legacy of Rape: Public Art ExhibitionSexual Violence in Armed ConflictCenter for the Study of Gender and Conflict (CGC) is hosting a public art exhibition at George Mason University’s Arlington Campus.The 106 inches wide by 77 inches high panels are placed along the hallways of Founders
November 26, 2013
Come join the Congressional Caucus on Youth Sports, the Childhood Obesity Task Force, the Fitness Caucus, the Congressional Tennis Caucus, and the Congressional Olympic and Paralympic Caucus in celebration of National Youth Sports Week hosted by the National Council of Youth Sports and
July 24, 2013
Do you learn from your own engagement in conflict?  Are you interested in sharing you practical experience with others, or learning more about practical engagement in conflict and peacemaking?  Come and join the Center for Peacemaking Practice for our bi-weekly Practitioner Lunches.
January 29, 2013
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