The Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans (PAAIA) is excited to announce its 2026 Ansari Public Service Fellows, Misha Ghafouri and Tara Mohseni. This fellowship supports budding Iranian-American leaders in public service by connecting them with mentors and providing resources for navigating fields of government and public policy.

Misha Ghafouri is a rising senior at Yale University majoring in Ethics, Politics, and Economics and pursuing certificates in Intensive Human Rights and Global Health Studies. As a second-generation Iranian American from Phoenix, Arizona, she is deeply committed to public service and advancing access to justice. This summer, with the support of the Ansari Public Service Fellowship, she is interning with The Legal Aid Society’s Criminal Defense Practice in Manhattan, contributing to the work of the nation’s oldest and largest provider of public defense and civil legal services. Following graduation, Misha hopes to continue serving the public interest and ultimately pursue a career in human rights law.  

Tara Mohseni is an incoming 2L at the University of San Francisco School of Law and a proud recipient of the Ansari Public Service Fellowship. She serves on the Board of the Iranian American Bar Association (IABA) and as President of the National Iranian American Law Students Association (NIALSA). This summer, Tara is gaining invaluable experience working at the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, reflecting her deep commitment to public service and the legal profession. Through her involvement in numerous academic and extracurricular activities, she continues to build a strong foundation for a career dedicated to justice and community impact.

PAAIA is proud to continue supporting emerging Iranian-American leaders through its Civic Leadership initiatives like the fellowship and looks forward to seeing what these two young leaders will do next.

Click here to learn more about the Ansari Public Service Fellowship.