Wissam H. Nasr was born in Egypt in 1978 and immigrated to New York with his family as an infant, growing up in Jackson Heights, Queens. He attended the Academy for the Intellectually Gifted and the Bronx High School of Science but left school early and later earned his GED. He entered St. John’s University a year earlier than many of his peers, and after an initial period of adjustment, quickly got back on track academically. Within a short time, he made the Dean’s List and received St. John’s University’s Award for Excellence in Writing, reflecting a major academic turnaround.

At 18, on a bit of a lark one summer, Wissam became a stockbroker, earning his Series 7 and 63 certifications. At such a young age, he was a terrible stockbroker, but being exposed to so many highly motivated and encouraging people made a deep impression on him. Eager to take what he learned and succeed academically, he returned to college and took a part-time job as a tutor at the Writing Center at LaGuardia Community College, where he worked with students on grammar and writing and was later promoted to teach remedial writing classes. He also became an academic advisor at LaGuardia at age 20 and later supervised registration at Queensborough Community College, overseeing major aspects of the college’s registration operations directly under the registrar. In 2000, he was awarded the Ralph Bunche Fellowship by Amnesty International to draft a curriculum on the death penalty. In 2003, he joined the New York City Teaching Fellows program, teaching global history as a special educator in the New York City public school system.

Wissam’s work in public affairs began when he became Executive Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations–New York (CAIR-NY), where he worked on civil rights advocacy, media relations, interfaith work. That role brought him into contact with diplomats and international institutions, eventually leading to his work with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Permanent Observer Mission to the United Nations, where he advised and assisted the ambassador on matters related to diplomacy, human rights, and international affairs. It was after this experience that he was accepted into Columbia University’s master’s program in Human Rights with a concentration in Conflict Resolution.

He subsequently worked in international humanitarian affairs and conflict resolution, including positions with Columbia University’s Center for International Conflict Resolution and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). At OCHA, he served as Lead Researcher for Humanitarian Assistance in the Policy Development and Studies Branch, helping produce a major legislative reference guide for humanitarian personnel worldwide. The project involved extensive research into the evolution of humanitarian law, UN resolutions, and the institutional development of international humanitarian assistance frameworks.

Following the 2008 financial crisis and a prolonged period of unemployment after his UN contract ended, Wissam pivoted into the private sector. Restless and desperate for work during the recession, he took job as a van driver and warehouse employee for an event marketing company before quickly advancing into management. He later became its national director, overseeing and starting teams in dozens of cities and hundreds of employees. Within two years, he had become the lead producer at the agency, with his team of over three hundred field agents and brand ambassadors generating more than $60 million in customer acquisition for the company over five years.

After several years in business management, he returned to education and currently teaches Special Education and English Language Arts in New York City public schools. He has also held teaching licenses in business, marketing, special education and social studies, and worked as an on-set tutor for students in the film and television industries. He devotes most of his time to the applications of artificial intelligence in the classroom and it’s potential to help humanity become strong, skilled, and vibrant.

Outside of work, Wissam has been a 70.3 Ironman triathlete in Sardegna, a 5-time CUNY championship winning assistant track and field coach at Hunter College, and an avid traveler who has visited more than sixty countries. During the COVID-19 period, he spent extended time traveling independently abroad by bicycle through countries that remained accessible, such as Malta, Dubai, and Turkey. He continues to live in New York City in what may very well be the smallest apartment in Manhattan.