Usama Mahmud is a visiting scholar from Pakistan, currently researching and teaching at the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education (GSE).
As an international development practitioner, Usama specializes in public sector reform with a focus on education and governance. He leads research and implementation programs, collaborating closely with government stakeholders across the Global South. Usama has worked with prominent think tanks like the Brookings Institution and international organizations such as FCDO, the UN, Global Partnership for Education, and the World Bank. He has also spearheaded large-scale education reform initiatives, particularly in Pakistan, where he served as an advisor to the government.
A proud Penn alum, Usama holds a B.S.E. in Bioengineering (Class of 2010) and Master of Public Administration (Class of 2012) from the University of Pennsylvania. During his time at Penn, he was actively involved in student leadership, serving as President of the Penn Pakistan Society and Vice Chair for International Affairs at the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly (GAPSA).