Chris Shinn, Morocco
After serving as Amideast’s country director for Tunisia since August 2013, Chris Shinn became our country director for Morocco in May, bringing to this position his 
extensive experience in international education, including nearly a decade directing Amideast programs in the West Bank and Gaza prior to his service in Tunisia.
Dr. Shinn joined Amideast in 2003 as a program officer for the Fulbright Foreign Student Program. He then became Amideast’s country director for the West Bank and Gaza office in 2004, serving in that capacity until 2006. He remained in Palestine, serving as Chief of Party for three USAID initiatives—the Palestinian Faculty Development Program, the Model Schools Network Program, and the Leadership and Teacher Development Program—that contributed to building capacity in the Palestinian educational system and improving the quality of teaching at all educational levels, from K–12 through university.
Dr. Shinn earned a Ph.D. in international education at the University of Sydney in Australia. In addition to several years’ teaching English as a foreign language and courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels, his prior experience includes providing international student services and marketing and public relations work for several international education organizations in the United States and Australia.
Jennifer Smith, Tunisia
Ms. Smith joined Amideast in May as our country director for Tunisia, overseeing the many educational programs and services that Amideast offers in Tunis and 
Sousse. She brings over 15 years’ experience in the field of creating and managing small and medium-size enterprises, with particular focus upon vocational training and skills development, social enterprise, and entrepreneurship in developing countries.
That included creating a boutique hotel and restaurant in the UNESCO World Heritage site of Fez Medina and serving as the Country Manager of Emerging Markets Consulting, a management consulting firm providing technical assistance to clients such as the UN, World Bank, GIZ, and major INGOs. Her project work comprised TVET and labor market assessments and modalities, monitoring and evaluation, economic development in marginalized communities, and supporting and coaching entrepreneurs.
Ms. Smith holds a B.A. in Middle Eastern Studies from Duke University, an M.A. in International Relations from SOAS, University of London, and was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship for independent research in Syria. She is also a professional chef and recipient of a Cordon Bleu diploma.
