The Center for Contemporary Arab Studies is deeply saddened to share the news of the passing of Jannah Kalai (MAAS ’23). Jannah was a beloved member of the CCAS community whose intellectual curiosity, creativity, and warmth touched many during her time at Georgetown and beyond.
Originally from Stuttgart, Germany, Jannah graduated from Boston University in 2021 with a B.A. in International Relations and a minor in Arabic. Her undergraduate thesis examined authoritarian survival in Syria, analyzing the role of domestic networks in the Assad regime’s durability. She went on to pursue her master’s in Arab Studies at CCAS, where her research interests spanned political-military affairs, authoritarianism, security cooperation, conflict stabilization, and development.
Her intellectual life was not limited to politics and policy. Jannah’s passion for Arabic literature and poetry was equally central to her time at CCAS, and she often found ways to share that love with the community. Jannah adorned the Center’s spaces with lines of poetry by Mahmoud Darwish and Nizar Qabbani, carefully hand-cutting Arabic calligraphy she had drawn herself. These artistic touches reflected not only her scholarly devotion to the region but also her deep appreciation for its culture and beauty. “Jannah was an exceptional student and person who embodied the values of our center and program — inquisitive, hard-working, perceptive, and compassionate,” recalled Professor Killian Clarke. “Her passing is a real loss.”
Jannah also enriched her graduate studies with a wide range of professional experiences. Before joining the MAAS program, she had already contributed to research and development initiatives at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, Partners-Jordan, and the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Middle East Bureau. Through these roles, she worked on projects addressing topics such as digital literacy, the protection of religious and ethnic minorities in northern Iraq, anti-corruption efforts, and U.S.–Tunisian affairs. Following her graduation from MAAS in 2023, Jannah carried her intellectual curiosity forward as a CASA fellow in Meknes, Morocco, where she continued her Arabic studies.
Jannah is remembered by her peers at CCAS for her generosity of spirit and humor. “”I have never had a friend quite like Jannah,” wrote Aleck Silva-Pinto, who joined the MAAS program the same year as Jannah. “Her kindness knew no bounds; she always gave to others without expecting anything in return. I admired her deep reverence for our studies and, more importantly, her unflinching respect for both our instructors and our colleagues. Jannah had a coy, dry sense of humor that would often take one by surprise, but would never quite take away from her calm and sensitive presence. She will be sorely missed.”
Grace Aklestad, another classmate and friend of Jannah’s, added: “Jannah was the best of us. She was a rare friend—deeply empathetic, quick witted, and kind to her core. Jannah was light and we were all lucky to stand in the warmth of her presence, even if only for such a short time. Her absence is felt profoundly.”
The CCAS community mourns this heartbreaking loss and extends our deepest condolences to Jannah’s family, friends, and loved ones.
