NextGen Voices: Prsha Othman

"Studying at American University in Washington, D.C. has given me opportunities to engage with think tanks, experts, and events focused on environmental challenges, climate change, and the transition to clean energy."

Prsha Othman’s journey from the Kurdistan Region of Iraq to American University in Washington, D.C. reflects her interest in sustainable energy and her commitment to improving Kurdistan’s future. After earning a bachelor’s degree in Energy Engineering from the American University of Iraq, Sulaimani, she spent four years working in the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Office of the Prime Minister, contributing to public service projects and energy reforms. Her work on electricity reform and sustainable energy helped shape her interest in the policies needed to address climate change and improve energy security across the region.

Currently pursuing a master’s degree in Global Environmental Policy at American University’s School of International Service, Othman is building on her engineering background through research on environmental governance, energy and climate policy, and carbon removal. She has also worked to promote Kurdish history and heritage, co-founding Kurdia, an initiative that helped establish a course on modern Kurdish history at her undergraduate university. As a Barzani Peace Fellow, she continues to connect her academic and professional experiences with her commitment to Kurdistan. In this interview, Othman discusses her path from energy engineering to environmental policy, her experience working on energy reform, and how she hopes to contribute to a more sustainable future for the region.

Can you begin by telling me about yourself?

My name is Prsha Abubakr Othman, and I am Kurdish, from Slemani in the Kurdistan Region. I am pursuing a master’s degree in Global Environmental Policy at the School of International Service at American University in Washington, D.C. I hold a bachelor’s degree in Energy Engineering from The American University of Iraq, Sulaymaniyah (AUIS). My work and research focus on energy policy and politics, global environmental and climate change policy, and sustainable energy transitions.

What inspired you to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Energy Engineering and later a master’s degree in Global Environmental Policy?

I chose to pursue a bachelor's degree in engineering because I wanted to develop solutions that could improve people’s lives. At the time, energy engineering was a relatively new field in the region, and AUIS was the only university in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq offering a degree in it. I wanted to help develop the field and address the energy challenges that matter to the region.

Energy plays a central role in the Middle East’s economy, politics, global influence, and environment, especially in the Kurdistan Region. How energy is produced, consumed, and governed affects energy security, climate, and environmental quality. This made me especially interested in studying how to transition to cleaner energy sources, reduce emissions, improve energy efficiency, strengthen the reliability and resilience of electricity grids, and expand renewable energy, including solar, wind, hydropower, and geothermal, to use sustainable energy sources to meet growing demand and improve energy security.

However, my experience as an engineer and later in government showed me that technical solutions alone cannot work. Technological innovation is essential, but policy shapes which solutions are adopted, how quickly they are implemented, and who benefits from them to put technical solutions into practice.

This led me to pursue a master’s degree in Global Environmental Policy at American University’s School of International Service at American University, Washington, D.C. My program has broadened my understanding of a just energy transition, energy security, climate change, air pollution, water scarcity, environmental issues, sustainable natural-resource management, and grid resilience and reliability, as well as the policies and governance approaches needed to address these interconnected challenges.

What was your undergraduate experience like?

My undergraduate experience at the American University of Iraq, Sulaimani (AUIS), combined my studies in energy engineering with a strong commitment to Kurdish advocacy, community development, and student leadership.

In the beginning of my undergraduate degree, I launched a Lean In Kurdistan chapter, creating a circle where women could meet regularly, build confidence to speak up and share their stories, and encourage more women to take a seat at the table.

I then participated in a U.S. exchange program in the United States focused on women’s leadership, American history, and public service. During the program, I proposed ways to increase women’s representation in the energy sector.

Throughout my studies, I came to see the importance of building a strong understanding of my country’s politics, culture, and history. I learned about the Kurdish Heritage Institute and its work on Kurdish folklore, culture, and history, and I volunteered there for a while. I also co-founded Kurdia, an initiative that advocated for including Kurdish Studies in the AUIS curriculum and creating opportunities for students to learn about Kurdish history. After years of dedicated work, our efforts helped establish HST 399, “Special Topics: History of Modern Kurdistan.” Offered for one academic semester, the course explored the religious, cultural, political, and historical dimensions of the Kurdistan Region. We also organized field trips to historically significant places in Kurdistan.

Beyond my academic studies, I worked to create opportunities for other engineering students to engage with the energy sector. I founded the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Student Chapter at AUIS and served as its first president. I received a certificate recognizing my contributions to the energy sector and was later recognized as a Distinguished Woman in Energy. The chapter also received an SPE International Excellence Award. It remains active under AUIS student leadership, continuing to connect engineering students with opportunities in the energy sector and research in Kurdistan and abroad.

What was your experience working at the Prime Minister’s Office of the Kurdistan Regional Government?

I spent four years working on special projects at the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Office of the Prime Minister, contributing to public service initiatives that supported the Ninth Cabinet’s reform agenda. This experience helped me understand how the government operates, how decisions are made, and how stakeholders coordinate, and most importantly how strong policies and clear strategies can help launch new projects and turn ideas into action.

During my final two years, I focused primarily on the Runaki Programme, an electricity reform initiative aimed at providing reliable, 24/7 electricity across the Kurdistan Region. I am proud to have been among the small group of people who contributed to this large-scale, high-impact initiative from its early stages. My responsibilities were broad, but I mainly led two key workstreams. The maintenance workstream aimed to strengthen the grid’s reliability and resilience. The sustainable energy workstream focuses on managing demand, improving energy efficiency, and expanding renewable energy. I led the development of KRG’s sustainable energy strategy report, which set objectives and targets for advancing sustainable energy, including a goal for renewable energy adoption. At a pavilion during COP29, the UN climate conference in Azerbaijan, I presented the strategies for energy efficiency and rooftop solar programs. I also led the Brighter Kurdistan program, coordinating with banks, households, and solar installers to help households access loans for rooftop solar installations.

How has your experience been so far at American University?

It is not easy to decide what you want to study in higher education, especially when you feel expected to have your career path figured out already, but what is even harder to decide is where you want to study. Studying at American University in Washington, D.C. has given me opportunities to engage with think tanks, experts, and events focused on environmental challenges, climate change, and the transition to clean energy. Furthermore, American University offers students hands-on research experience, networking opportunities, and valuable resources to help them build their skills and achieve their academic and professional goals. I am grateful to have taken advantage of these opportunities.

My first graduate research assistant role at the School of International Service at American University, Washington D.C. was supporting the director of the Natural Resources and Sustainable Development program. This work directly complemented my studies in Global Environmental Policy. I contributed to and gained insights on the political ecology centered on the connections among environmental governance, energy systems, and social equity, topics that build my experience in energy reform and environmental governance.

I now work as a research assistant to the co-director and co-founder of the Institute for Carbon Removal Law and Policy. This role has introduced me to carbon removal policy and governance in the United States and internationally. I have learned that scaling carbon removal requires more than technical viability and economic feasibility. It also depends on responsible, just, and equitable policies.

What have you gained so far from the Barzani Peace Fellowship, and what do you hope to gain in the future?

The fellowship has been a wonderful experience, and I am honored to be part of the Global Kurdish Initiative for Peace, led by Dr. Yerevan Saeed. The initiative brings experts together in Washington, D.C., a major center of global politics, to discuss Kurdish issues and create space for dialogue that has not yet been had in Washington, D.C. The initiative has created opportunities for Kurdish and non-Kurdish students, as well as members of the Kurdish community, to learn about and engage with these issues. Through it, I have learned more about the wide range of issues affecting Kurds and Kurdistan.

In the future, I hope to build on this experience by combining my technical background in energy with the policy skills I am developing. After completing my degree, I hope to work in government, helping shape energy, climate, and environmental policy and advance the transition to more sustainable energy. I want to develop strategies that respond to local needs, engage communities and stakeholders, and encourage cooperation across the region and internationally.

What advice would you give to people who want to support the Kurds?

For Kurds and future generations: Invest in your education and do your best to study abroad for at least one stage of your education. Take advantage of all the resources and knowledge available abroad. Whatever field you choose, become an expert in it, because that is among the best ways to contribute to our country. As you grow personally and professionally, do not forget to continue learning about Kurdish history, culture, and the challenges Kurds still face. Learn from Kurdish scholars and other experts who have devoted years to studying and working on these subjects. Combining this knowledge and a strong sense of your identity as a Kurd with expertise in your field can help you make a more effective contribution to your community. Put what you learn into practice and make a difference even in small ways: represent Kurdish students, start a university campus club, create youth communities, organize seminars, or help people learn about the field that matters to you.

For non-Kurds: Befriend a Kurd and listen to their stories. It is one way to learn about Kurdish resilience, determination, and strength; the efforts Kurds make to protect their identity and communities. Learning who the Kurds are, and about their struggles and achievements throughout history, can help you understand how you can offer support to the Kurdish cause.