Ali (Al) Pour Issa graduated from Yale University with an M.F.A. in Dramaturgy and Dramatic Criticism in 2011. He also holds an M.A. in Dramatic Literature and a B.A. in Scenic Design. He possesses over a decade of managerial experience spanning the theater, film, higher education, and festival sectors. As the founding executive artistic director of Bridge Theater Ensemble Company, he produced theatrical and film productions and educational programs. His artistic projects were officially selected at 40 international festivals and received 9 international awards in the UK, Austria, and India. He has successfully raised funds for various productions, including New York City's Mint Theater's "Becomes a Woman" and "The Rat Trap," as well as Bridge Theater Ensemble's educational program and productions such as "Anna in the Tropics," "Snail," "Unheard Voices," "The Ground Is Breathing," and "Cold Ground." As an educator, he has been teaching in higher education since 2005, offering courses in Dramaturgy, Scriptwriting, Directing, and Liberal Arts at leading institutions such as Rutgers University (Mason Gross School of the Arts), the New York Film Academy, Florida Atlantic University, Ringling College, Yale University, Barry University, Pace University, and the University of Washington. While teaching, he supervised and directed many productions and created numerous public engagement events. As a jury member, he has assessed artistic works at 10 international theater and film festivals and script competitions in the US, UK, and France. Website: https://alpourissa.net