Allison Holle is a former assistant director at the Atlantic Council’s empowerME initiative. EmpowerME focuses on shaping innovative investments to empower entrepreneurs, women, and youth in the Middle East. EmpowerME also develops strategies and policies to drive sustainable prosperity through the creation of dynamic entrepreneurial economies, the economic participation of women, the integration of regional economies, and educational transformation.

She holds a master’s degree in Modern Middle Eastern Studies from Exeter College, University of Oxford and a bachelor’s degree in Arabic Studies from Williams College. Prior to joining the Council, Holle was a CASA fellow at the American University in Cairo. She previously served as managing editor of the Oxford Middle East Review and researched education access for Syrian refugees at the Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy in Beirut. Holle is a professional Arabic-English translator and speaks Egyptian Arabic.