Faleeha Hassan is an Iraqi-American poet, playwright, and educator known for her groundbreaking contributions to Arabic literature. She gained recognition as the first woman in Najaf to publish a book of poetry, "I Am a Girl," in 1991, and later became the first woman in Iraq to write poetry for children with her 2012 collection "A Dream Guard." A Pulitzer and Pushcart Prize nominee, Hassan has published twenty-five books, with her poems translated into twenty-one languages. Her work spans multiple genres, including poetry, children's literature, and drama.
Hassan earned a master's degree in Arabic Literature from the University of Kufa in 2006 after overcoming educational disruptions caused by the Iran-Iraq War. Her writing often explores themes of displacement, identity, and resilience, reflecting her personal experiences as a refugee. After fleeing Iraq in 2011 due to death threats, she lived in Turkey before resettling in the United States through a Catholic charity. Hassan is an active member of several literary organizations, including the Iraq Literary Women’s Association and the Society of Poets Beyond Limits. She continues to write and teach while residing in New Jersey.