Graham West Email and Phone Number

At the Sikh Coalition, I have served as:- Managing Director of Policy and Communications from May 2024 to present- Co-Interim Executive Director from January 2024 to May 2024- Programs Director from July 2023 to January 2024- Media and Communications Director from July 2019 to July 2023In my current role, I:- Manage a team of four colleagues who conduct the Sikh Coalition's federal and state-level advocacy work.- Oversee and provide guidance to the Sikh Coalition's three-person Media and Communications team.- Draft public and private correspondence, opinion pieces, open letters and petition content, statements for the congressional record, programmatic report content, EOY fundraising materials, and more.- Oversee campaigns to publicize hate crimes, bias-motivated incidents, and workplace discrimination cases (including press outreach, online petitions, surrogate media prep, engagement with lawmakers and law enforcement, and more).- Oversee the publication of all organizational content and collateral (including community communications, multiple reports and resources, and EOY fundraising materials). - Build and conduct trainings, briefings, and simulations for community members, policymakers, and civil rights partners.- Build and maintain relationships with local, state, and national-level reporters to fuel the Sikh Coalition's media engagement work and major campaigns.- Contribute to the strategic direction of the organization and its engagement on policy questions and with the broader civil rights ecosystem.

Managed a dynamic team of up to four staff and two interns to design and implement a comprehensive print, earned, and digital media strategy for Truman National Security Project.Composed and distributed message guidance on top national security and foreign policy issues, distilling practical policy solutions into accessible and politically palatable talking points, including by launching the daily Truman Cable in January 2017.Ghostwrote, edited, and placed written pieces from Truman's nationwide community of 1,400+ members in local and national print and digital outlets. At present, I've helped more than 115 authors place more than 300 pieces in at least 110 unique outlets.Advised members on building their public profile via placed and earned media opportunities, and built and conducted trainings on strategic communications, op-ed writing, social media, and specific topics in foreign policy to internal and external organizations.Created, managed, and served as the primary content author for Truman's fledgling political brand, The Whistlestop, and its associated Tumblr and Twitter; led other creative projects including video work and stand-up websites.Took the lead on special messaging projects including congressional testimony and work with outside organizations.Composed remarks for Truman principals, including scripting major portions of Truman's annual conferences from 2014 to 2018.Fielded press requests from print reporters and tv producers looking to connect with Truman's community of experts, and served as liaison with press at Truman events .Drafted and released press statements on behalf of principals, and issued statements for the record on Truman's behalf. Managed organizational social media accounts.(Hired as Communications and Writing Associate in March 2014, promoted in June 2015 to Communications and Writing Manager, promoted in May 2016 to Acting Communications Director, and promoted in August 2016 to Communications Director.)

Formulated strategies to repeal or reform the 2001 Authorization for the Use of Military Force by drafting and editing a major policy advocacy documentGhostwrote blog posts, press releases, and articles for publicationPrepared briefings on literature, events, and persons of interest

Managed content on Security Assistance Monitor website, including writing original analysis as well as tracking and uploading relevant legislation and press releases Edited and provided background research for POMED publications

Managed registration processing for major on campus events including Families Weekend (+1,000 attendees) and Rice Centennial (+5,000 attendees).Worked at alumni events providing customer service and logistical support.

Served as a college admission essay consultant, editor, and general advisor for high school seniors.

"Public Diplomacy and Global Policymaking in the 21st Century"Organized public policy colloquium between students from Rice University and Qatar's Education City by working with staff from the Baker Institute and Qatar Foundation.Duties include assisting in fundraising, interfacing with the Qatar Foundation, teaching class on Qatari history, and editing student submissions for policy paper detailing the conference.Served as primary editor in 2010 for the inaugural PDGP trip.

Paid position for student interface with the Office of Admission. Duties include organizing campus-wide recruitment events, mobilizing student volunteers, and serving as a public face for the university to visiting prospective students and parents.

Researched and compiled timelines and key issues in evolving "Arab Spring" movements.Conducted interview series with over fifteen experts on the "Arab Spring" and published a report aggregating and analyzing their perspectives.Compiled data on various subjects related to U.S.-Middle Eastern relations including Muslim American organizations and ongoing U.S. Congressional hearings.

"Baker Institute Student Leadership Fellowship"Performed qualitative research on senior American leaders by preparing briefs to inform interviewer on his subjects as well as analyzing interview data after transcription.Planned and moderated meeting for fellowship members with Ambassador Edward Djerejian.

Department of Political ScienceNSF-funded project on domestic leadership transitions in relation to foreign policy changes of regimes.Collected and coded quantitative data on significant regime changes (focusing on the Middle East, post-Soviet states, and Latin America) using Political Science databases online.