2023 Hamilton Scholar Najman Mahbouba, based in the California Bay Area, is passionate and highly-motivated regarding public policy and the social sciences.. Growing up in Iraq, Najman hopes to promote international and national positive change through public policy creation, research, and advocacy.

He largely shares this passion with fellow peers at the Policy Initiatives Institute - a student-directed organization revitalizing public policy engagement and education among youth. As Executive Director, Najman has led over 150 high school and university students through 10+ national and international campaigns, 75 published analyses, 20+ interviews of legislative leaders, and endorsements from 10 US Representatives. Through these accomplishments, the Policy Initiatives Institute has reached thousands of students in over 120 countries. Beyond advocacy, Najman is passionate about academic research, having received $10k+ in research scholarships from institutions such as UC Santa Barbara to conduct public policy related projects; his current project focuses on the perceptions of public school teachers in Iraqi Kurdistan regarding government-created education policies and guidelines. Lastly, Najman continually advocates for research supported, non-partisan public policies, including non-carcel options with San Jose State University, mental health reforms at the Eating Disorders Coalition, and weight-loss supplement regulation with the Harvard Public Health STRIPED. On these topics, he has testified at the California Senate, the Maryland Senate, and is an invited advisor for the California Department of Public Health on supplement regulation. Flowing from these efforts, Najman has won an array of prestigious accolades, including the Horatio Alger National Scholarship, Yale University Young Leader Scholarship, US Department of State NSLI-Y Language Development Scholarship, and National Society of the Colonial Dames of America Essay Contest.

Moving forward, Najman hopes to continue these projects throughout university. His undergraduate studies in social sciences and public policy will equip him with the further knowledge necessary to reach his legislative aspirations. He eventually hopes to transform his passion for public policy related nonprofit leadership, research, and advocacy into a career.