Dr. Qusay Hussein was a valued friend and collaborator of the WashU GRID Lab through his close work with Mustafa Rfat, a PhD candidate in social work. From the start of Rfat’s dissertation, Dr. Hussein served as a dedicated member of the Community Advisory Board, ensuring the research remained grounded in the lived experiences of refugees with disabilities. We are deeply grateful for his thoughtful contributions and enduring impact on our work.
As we mark World Refugee Day on June 20, the WashU GRID family remembers Dr. Qusay Hussein—a true emblem of resilience, advocacy, and transformation.
Born in Iraq and losing his vision in a 2006 suicide bombing in Mosul, Qusay’s journey could have been defined by tragedy. Instead, it became an extraordinary triumph. After more than 60 reconstructive surgeries and rebuilding his life through education, he arrived in Austin, Texas, in 2012 as a refugee with no English and no network.
Driven by compassion and purpose, Qusay quickly rose to become an educational pioneer: learning English, earning his high school equivalency, and progressing to associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and, in May 2025, his Ph.D. in Social Work from UT–Austin. He co-developed UT’s first disability-studies minor, served on student and community advisory boards (including Refugee Services of Texas and Doctors Without Borders), and conducted groundbreaking research, like his 2024 study on “Arab Refugees with Physical Disabilities.”
Guided by his principle, “I’m going to the top and I’m taking everybody with me,” Qusay championed the rights and inclusion of refugees and people with disabilities worldwide. His scholarship, storytelling, and service inspired countless individuals, demonstrating how one person’s voice can reshape the narrative around marginalization and access.
This World Refugee Day, we honor Dr. Hussein—not only for his academic achievements, but for his extraordinary life: from survivor to scholar, refugee to changemaker. May his legacy remind us of the strength refugees bring to our communities and the urgent need to advocate for inclusion for all. To learn more about Dr. Qusay Hussein, visit his webpage: https://www.qusayhussein.org
Remember and Explore Qusay’s Work:
Hussein, Q. S., & Noel, L. (2024). Arab Refugees with Physical Disabilities: An Exploration of Barriers within the Resettlement Process. J. Soc. & Soc. Welfare, 51, 189.
Mirza, M., Trimboli, C., Hartman, J., Gamble, A., Rfat, M., Bentley, J., Gross, M., Alheresh, R., Hussein, Q., & Markos, T. (2024). Examining barriers to rehabilitation and addressing rehabilitation needs among persons with forced migration experiences: interdisciplinary perspectives. Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation, 105(9), 1793-1806.