Meet the Class: Mohammed Kredan, ’26
Public Affairs Consultant on Global Projects
Mohammed Kredan, ’26, is a graduate of the University of Georgia with a degree in International Affairs and Relations. He has spent the last six years at APCO Worldwide, an advisory and advocacy communications consultancy. Part of that time, Kreden lived and work in Saudi Arabia, advising NGO leaders, working on community development initiatives, and supporting businesses.
Please describe your background and professional path.
Working for six years in public affairs and communications prior to coming to law school was a crucial part of my career progression. Learning the infrastructure of client services and getting exposed to a wide breadth of client issues is what I think makes public affairs work such a rewarding career. A high point in my early career was living and working in Saudi Arabia which placed me in the midst of an incredibly dynamic point in the country’s history. To see an entire nation strive to transform the country’s economic and social fabric was an honor.
Can you expand on your time in Saudi Arabia? What sort of work were you involved in while you were there?
My work was diverse – it often involved supporting soft power plays like establishing international advisory boards for Saudi projects, supporting G20 engagement groups like Civil 20 and Women 20, or advising an ex-economy minister’s campaign for Director-General to the World Trade Organization. It also included more tangible projects like community development initiatives, destination-building at giga-projects in remote areas of the country, and historical preservation at UNESCO heritage sites. We even helped launch a Cruise Authority that specialized in port and destination development. But my personal favorite was a smaller private sector project supporting one of the world’s top honey procurers and trying rare and diverse honeys from all over the world.
What motivates your decision to go to law school?
My father has always been a champion of lifelong learning, which is something I believe was engrained in me without me quite realizing. I think I subconsciously craved growth and an academic environment where I could revisit building a career while picking up a valuable technical skillset along the way. But ultimately, law school to me is a powerful tool which I have been fondly calling a way to “earn your ballot” in a policy environment where contemporary issues are pushing us to adapt and react more quickly than ever. To me, that is an incredibly attractive proposition from a career and learning perspective.
Why did you select the University of Chicago Law School?
I see the University of Chicago as an institution that has set out to establish a learning environment that offers students the very best chances to build whatever career they choose. There is rigor, there is curiosity, and there is an emphasis on the core elements of scholastic excellence. I’m also inspired by the University’s commitment to academic freedom, which is as important as ever.
What do you plan to do with your legal education?
I’m hoping that my legal education allows me to explore and shape policy in issues areas I care deeply about like energy infrastructure and technology ethics. I find policy reform in energy infrastructure and policy development in technology ethics to be so important.
I also view my legal education as another way to give back to immigrant communities and advocate for American immigrants from all walks of life. As an immigrant myself whose parents claimed political asylum in America, I find it particularly important to find ways to protect and advocate on behalf of immigrants who might be facing similar persecution or hardship and are looking for a better life.
What are you most looking forward to about being a law student?
I’m excited to debate and ponder important legal issues with classmates! The caliber of the student body at UChicago is one of the best in the world, and I plan to use this as a chance to test my persuasive chops and learn from my peers all at once. If I’m able to leave an impression of my values and beliefs on these students, then odds are I could have some level of success doing this out in the rest of the world. I’m also excited to read judges’ opinions – a niche but fascinating way of learning the nuances of the law.
What are some of your hobbies or interests?
In my free time, I’m an avid traveler, snowboarder, and thrill-seeker. I grew up riding a motorcycle, and I love to take various modes of transportation when traveling. For example, when I visited Greece and Turkey in 2019, I flew to Athens, motorcycled around some Greek isles, ferried to Turkey, and took a train to Istanbul. Some other memorable trips include snowshoeing in Northern Lebanon and taking a midnight train through Morocco.
As for interests, I love to memorialize interesting quotes and always keep a log of notable ones in my iPhone notes. Probably my favorite quote of all time was King Idris of Libya’s lament “I wish it was water,” upon the discovery of rich oil fields in the country.
What is a “fun fact” about you?
I love to write prose poetry and rap music. My favorite place to write is on a plane or in a bar. It's easier to write when I perceive that everyone around me is engrossed in their own world, in a way giving me license to do the same. Subject matter ranges from a heartfelt tribute to my dog to a song about traveling with your best friends to Europe to short rants and long muses about the world around me.
Anything else you’d like to share?
Not that I can think of! Just that I can’t wait to kick off classes this fall. I deferred for a year for personal and financial reasons, and the time has certainly come to leap into this next chapter. I’m feeling blessed and excited to attend the University of Chicago Law School and to be a part of the Class of 2026.