Alex Shams is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in International Relations with a concentration in the Middle East as well as a minor in International Urban Development at the University of Southern California. He plans to graduate in May 2010.

Alex's primary public diplomacy interests center on Third World states' efforts, especially in the Middle East, at engaging each other and improving wider Southern cooperation. More specific interests include Iran-Arab relations, inter-Arab relations, pan-Arabism, liberation movements, ethnic identity formation, and Middle Eastern languages.

At USC, Alex is a volunteer and activities coordinator for UNICEF@USC and is a member of Students for Justice in Palestine. He previously worked at the USC Annenberg Center for Communication researching transnational use of online fora, and before that at the Westminster Free Clinic as a Manager for two years. His interests include traveling, reading, reggaetón, and Lebanese music.