12:45-1:45 PM CT

Profiles of Post-Assad Syrian Leadership: Led by Bush School faculty member Mike Howell. This session will realistically explore Syria's future by examining its decade-old organizations, particularly U.S.-designated terrorist groups, and their leaders' profiles, goals, and belief systems. 

1:50-2:50 PM CT

The Syrian Mosaic: Strengthening Social Cohesion: Led by Bush School faculty member Amy Holmes. This workshop aims to strengthen social cohesion and foster Syria's reunification by overcoming fragmentation, respecting its diverse communities, and guaranteeing basic rights, ideally with representatives from both the Damascus and Northeast administrations.

2:55-3:55 PM CT

The Humanitarian Impact of the Syrian Conflict and Its Ripple Effects on Migration in Lebanon: Led by Bush School faculty member Silva Hamie. This session examines the Syrian conflict's profound humanitarian consequences, particularly its massive displacement crisis, its widespread impact on civilians and host countries like Lebanon, and the ongoing search for durable solutions. 

4:00-5:00 PM CT

The Syrian Diaspora: Present Realities and Future Directions: Led by Dr. Isaac Blacksins and Ashley Passmore, The College of Arts and Sciences. This session explores the evolving realities and challenges facing the new Syrian diaspora across the Middle East and Europe. Drawing on direct engagement with displaced Syrians in multiple regional contexts, the discussion will examine how exile has reshaped identity, belonging, and political engagement. The session will also explore the complexities surrounding return—both as a hope and as a policy issue—and the role of diasporic communities in shaping Syria’s future. Topics will include integration, transnational networks, and the tension between resettlement abroad and the desire to return home.

5:30-7:00 PM CT

The evening event will feature a panel of speakers who aim to build understanding while exchanging diverse perspective on the challenges facing Syria today and how it could impact the future of the region. 

7:15 PM CT

Reception

The evening panel will promote interfaith and international dialogue to build understanding and exchange perspectives on Syria at a Crossroads.

Keynote:

Dr. Mohammed Abdul Rahman Turko is a Syrian academic and the current Minister of Education in the Syrian transitional government. He is a professor of criminal law at Damascus University, where he has been teaching since 2003. Dr. Turko holds a Doctorate in Law from Leipzig University in Germany and a Bachelor's degree in Law from Damascus University. His academic work focuses on penal law and child rights, with research and publications centering on criminal law, child protection, and human rights. Throughout his career, Dr. Turko has held several leadership positions at Damascus University, including serving as Vice President for Administrative and Student Affairs. He has presented at numerous national and international conferences and is fluent in Arabic, Kurdish, and German.

Ambassador Itamar Rabinovich is a distinguished nonresident fellow in the Foreign Policy program focusing on Middle Eastern policy and politics as well as a member of the Brookings Institution’s International Advisory Council.He is professor and president emeritus at Tel Aviv University and vice chair of its Institute for National Security Studies.He previously served as Yitzhak Rabin’s ambassador to Washington and chief negotiator with Syria.Rabinovich is the author of “Yitzhak Rabin: Soldier, Leader, Statesman” and “Syrian Requiem: The Civil War and Its Aftermath” (with Carmit Valensi). His book, “Middle Eastern Maze,” was published by Brookings in 2023.

Panelists:

Dr. Dina Al Raffie is an assistant professor of international relations and security studies at Duquesne University (Pittsburgh, USA). Dr. Al Raffie is also a returning adjunct professor on the George C. Marshall Center's Program on Terrorism and Security Studies (GCMC-PTSS) since 2013 and occasional independent consultant for the US Department of Justice’s (DOJ) International Criminal investigative Training Assistance Program (ICITAP).

Dr. Samir Altaqi is a strategic analyst, Founder & Director of ORC-DC (Orient Research Center–DC), and Partner at Insight Consulting Group, where he leads projects at the intersection of geopolitical risk, media strategy, and decision support. Dr. Altaqi’s earlier leadership includes serving as General Director and Head of Research at the Orient Research Centre (Dubai), a think tank focused on Gulf and Middle East strategic studies, and founding/leading the Orient Centre for International Studies (OCIS) in Damascus. At OCIS, he led Track-II diplomacy initiatives that supported dialogue among Syria, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Turkey, and he advised Arab–Israeli peace efforts. He has also been a nonresident scholar at the Middle East Institute (Washington, DC) and a Distinguished Scholar with Queen’s College’s Ibrahim Middle East Leadership and Dialogue Program. Earlier in public service, Dr. Altaqi served in the Syrian Parliament (1994–1998), where he advised the Committee on Foreign Affairs and engaged European counterparts on regional issues.

This session will look at the organizations that have been operating inside of Syria for the last decade, with emphasis on the terror organizations that have been designated as terrorist organizations by the U.S. government and others.   The backgrounds and personalities of the leaders of these organizations will also be discussed with the goal of understanding their personalities and goals.   The goal of this session is to take a realistic look at the future of Syria, the histories, policies, and statements of the current leaders and the belief systems of these leaders.

• Led by Professor Michael Howell, The Bush School of Government and Public Service

Guest Speaker:

• Samer al-Bayati, FBI National Academy Graduate

This workshop explores the prospects for inclusive governance in Syria amid the country's ongoing fragmentation into distinct zones of control. Participants will examine pathways toward establishing a representative, rights-based government structure that reflects the diverse political, ethnic, and religious communities of Syria.

Anchored in the belief that reunification cannot be imposed through military force, the session will highlight grassroots efforts, transitional frameworks, and international examples of power-sharing and civic inclusion. The goal is to foster dialogue around realistic, peaceful strategies for building a governance model that can restore unity through legitimacy, participation, and justice.

• Led by Dr. Amy Austin Holmes, The Bush School of Government and Public Service

Guest Speakers:

• Mr. Anas Joudeh, Syrian lawyer, arbitrator, and civil society activist
• Mr. Bassam Ishak, U.S. Representative of the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC) and President of the Syriac National Council of Syria

This session explores the profound humanitarian consequences of the Syrian conflict, which has resulted in one of the largest displacement crises of the 21st century. Panelists will examine the multifaceted impact of the war on civilian populations, including forced migration, access to basic services, and long-term displacement. The conflict in Syria didn’t just affect Syria—it also caused significant consequences in Lebanon. The discussion will highlight the experiences of Syrian refugees, the challenges faced by Lebanon as one of the main host countries, and the role of international and local actors in responding to the crisis. Through diverse perspectives, the session aims to foster a deeper understanding of the ongoing humanitarian needs and the pathways toward durable solutions. 

• Led by Dr. Silva Hamie, The Bush School of Government and Public Service

Guest Speakers:

• Ms. Manal Fouani, Senior Advisor at UNDP, and formerly the head of the strategic and planning advocacy for UNDP Syria
• Mr. Samir Elhawary, Chief of the Humanitarian Policy Section at UNICEF
  

This session explores the evolving realities and challenges facing the new Syrian diaspora across the Middle East and Europe. Drawing on direct engagement with displaced Syrians in multiple regional contexts, the discussion will examine how exile has reshaped identity, belonging, and political engagement. The session will also explore the complexities surrounding return—both as a hope and as a policy issue—and the role of diasporic communities in shaping Syria’s future. Topics will include integration, transnational networks, and the tension between resettlement abroad and the desire to return home.

• Led by Dr. Isaac Blacksin and Dr. Ashley Passmore, The College of Arts and Sciences 

Guest Speaker:

• Dr. Diana Rayes, Nonresident Fellow, Atlantic Council | Program Director, Faith and Global Health Initiative, Georgetown University