Kahlil Byrd grew up in Washington, DC where he attended public school before moving on to study political science at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. Morehouse -- a historically African American men’s college -- has distinguished itself as a critical training ground for leaders throughout the United States and international community. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is among its renowned graduates.
Byrd is currently completing a Master in Public Administration at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government in Cambridge, Massachusetts. His particular area of study focuses on trends in international media, emerging media organizations, and the growth of satellite television in the non-Western world.
Prior to attending the Kennedy School, Byrd was a journalist for “The World,” a British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) public radio program heard by 1.9 million people throughout the United States. He began his media career helping to create programs for National Public Radio and working as a segment producer for the network’s most popular program, “Morning Edition”. His experience producing stories about Saudi Arabia sparked a greater interest in the country and region – particularly with regard to the vital relationship that exists between the Saudis and the United States government.
Recent stories about Saudi Arabia attest to the difficulty of getting an accurate picture of the country without onsite visits that would enable guests to walk among the people and talk with decision makers face-to-face. Byrd is looking forward to the opportunity to expand the West’s limited view of the Saudi Arabia and to explore the affect satellite television is having on the country.
Email: kahlil_byrd@ksg03.harvard.edu