Shahd Alasaly is currently completing a PhD in the Department of Sociology and Interdisciplinary Social Sciences at the University of South Florida, with a concentration in Sociology. She previously earned her master’s degree in International Psychology, where she explored cross-cultural approaches to trauma and resilience, particularly among displaced populations. Building on her academic background and humanitarian interests, Shahd founded Blue Meets Blue, a Chicago-based high-end slow fashion line that employed refugee women artisans. Through this venture, she conducted extensive interviews with refugee women and families, engaging with them as they crafted fashion pieces that reflected both cultural heritage and resilience. The initiative aimed to create a supportive community space, utilizing sewing and fashion design as forms of art therapy and empowerment.

After moving to Tampa, Shahd began her PhD with a research focus on social psychology and social inequality, examining themes of identity, belonging, and trauma within displaced communities. In addition to her research, she serves as an instructor in Sociology at the University of South Florida, where she has taught courses such as:

Teaching Experience:

Fall 2023- Present

Sociology Instructor at the University of South Florida

Publications:  

- Alasaly, S., Basso, L., Hargrove, A., & Sommer, J. M. (2023). Climate Change Policies and Control of Corruption: A Cross-National Analysis of CO2 Emissions. Comparative Sociology, 22(4), 479-496.

- Georgiev, G., Alasaly, S., Fatima, S., & Sommer, J. M. (2024). Does Freedom of Domestic Movement Impact Forest Loss? A Cross-National Analysis. Socius : Sociological Research for a Dynamic World, 10. https://doi.org/10.1177/23780231241238673

-Alasaly, S. (2024). Heba Gowayed, Refuge: How the State Shapes Human Potential [Review of Heba Gowayed, Refuge: How the State Shapes Human Potential]. International Sociology, 39(2), 164–167. SAGE Publications. https://doi.org/10.1177/02685809241236840a

 -Alasaly, S. (2024). The global care chain: Analyzing the increasing feminization of care work across borders. Social Sciences, 13(3), 74-80. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ss.20241303.14