Zeinab Hijazi
UNICEF
New York, NY USA
"Without mental health, we're not able to grow, to learn, to love, to create meaningful relationships."
Career Roadmap
Zeinab's work combines: Medicine, Non-Profit Organizations, and Helping People
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Interior Architecture
American University of Beirut
Graduate Degree
Public Mental Health
Universidade Nova de Lisboa
Doctorate
Psychology
California Southern University
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life has been direct
1.
I grew up between the U.S. and Lebanon, navigating a new language and the realities of war at a young age.
2.
As a teenager, I struggled with depression, making mental health deeply personal rather than abstract.
3.
At 21, during the war in Lebanon, I began volunteering to support children and families impacted by conflict.
4.
A mentor saw something in me and said, “You get it,” shifting my path from architecture to psychology.
5.
I fully committed to this calling, pursuing advanced degrees and training to build credibility in mental health care.
6.
I spent over a decade working on the ground across the Middle East and beyond, supporting communities in crisis.
7.
I set my sights on UNICEF as my North Star, gaining experience through years of fieldwork and consultancies.
8.
Today, I lead global mental health efforts at UNICEF, still learning, growing, and working to uplift the next generation.
Defining Moments
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
As a teenager, I struggled with depression. It made mental health a real, personal issue for me, rather than something abstract.