The 24-year-old was born in Greenville, N.C., and raised in Hickory, graduating from St. Stephens. She also had a home in Syria. Her parents were from the country and she would take yearly trips to the nation to meet with family. Those early experiences shaped her desire to be involved in public policy and international relations with a specific focus on the Middle East. Alkoutami, a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, has interned with Congress and worked with a refugee resettlement program in Jordan. She is currently looking to attend law school and is interested in a career in foreign and Middle East policy.