Meet Our Students

We are extremely proud of the 51 students currently enrolled in the Arabic Flagship Program at UT. So much so that we want to tell you all about them. Below we've presented a brief biography about each student, showcasing their academic year, educational major and minor.

Freshman

Richard Cotter Edwards, Freshman, Arabic and Economics major who academic interest centers on languages, film, economics and fiction writing. Career wise, Cotter is interested predominantly in the Foreign Service, particularly the State Department where he hopes to work as an economic officer/diplomat. Travel is his main interest, entertaining his long-standing attraction to learning about how the world and all the people therein function and work together. Cotters hobbies include languages, music, fiction writing, drawing, photography and mostly anything he stumbles upon - from cooking to Architecture - instantly becomes a hobby.

Samuel Keike, Freshman, International Relations and Global Studies/Arabic majors and International Studies minor whose career interest surrounds working for an international organization or non-profit for the advancement of human rights and the promotion of understanding. Samuels hobbies are reading, learning, enjoying the outdoors, listening to music, bird watching, keeping up with world news, and enjoying the company of friends.

George Kimson III, Freshman, International Relations major and Global Studies minor. George's academic interest focuses on International Relations and the Arabic Language, and regarding his career, would like to focus on law, government work or international business. He hopes to use his language skills to work abroad in the Middle East and is also interested in working in the Foreign Service or State Department. George's hobbies include soccer, reading, music, technical theatre and politics.

Charles Nwaogu, Freshman, Government Honors major whose immediate academic interest is to enroll in law school. Charles would like to either practice international law or work as a legal correspondent within a government agency. In his free time, Charles enjoys watching movies, reading and watching politics, and also writing. 

 

 

Evan Rosenfield, Freshman, Middle Eastern Studies, Government and Liberal Arts Honors major whose academic interest surrounds researching terrorism and international affairs. Evans career interest focuses on the US Department of State and the CIA and he would love to work representing American interests overseas, either as a diplomat or intelligence analyst. Evan's hobbies include reading the news, watching TV (History Channel, Comedy Central & ESPN), playing basketball and eating seafood.

Sophomores

Muhammad Irfan Akbar, Sophomore, History major whose academic interest lies in Medieval and early Middle Eastern history, Islamic studies, Biblical studies, Comparative Religion, South Asian and East Asian religions – especially Indian religions. Career wise, Muhammad hopes to work for the Foreign Service, or as a an Islamic Theologian, Historian of Early Islam or in treasure hunting. He expresses that it is difficult to choose a specific career just yet as he still does not exactly know what he wants to be. He obviously has some ideas though. He is interested in working for the Foreign Service in a post overseas and may also join the ranks of the Islamic clergy as a theologian or a historian of early and Medieval Islam. Lastly, he as always been interested in the idea of hunting for fabled ancient treasure and Indiana Jones is one of the reasons he started studying history. Muhammad's hobbies include playing videogames, listening to traditional Middle Eastern and South Asian music, especially Dabke and Bhangra, and he is also a huge Star Wars fan.

Gabrielle Castagno, Sophomore, International Relations/Global Studies and Middle Eastern Studies majors, European studies minor who academically, is interested in learning languages. Gabrielle is also learning Italian and loves studying anything that has to do with Italy and the Middle East. She hopes to one day work as a Foreign Service Officer, as a Peace Corps volunteer or as a member of the UN. As a Foreign Service Officer, she hopes to work with the US’ relations with other countries, particularly the Middle East’s. She is also considering the Peace Corps. as a volunteer for two years after which she would apply to Georgetown University to obtain a Masters degree in Foreign Service or Arab Studies, while still continuing with Arabic and Italian. She loves to travel and explore new places. She has always found it interesting that, though we are all from the same race, we develop languages and lifestyles unique to our specific geographic location. It is as if the changes in our geography are what dictates what we look like or what we sound like, she thinks that is a very intriguing observation. Gabrielle's hobbies inlcude traveling, dancing, reading, horseback riding, cooking and baking with friends and learning languages.

Dana Reichman, Sophomore, Plan II and Middle Eastern Studies majors and Arabic minor whose academic interest focuses on languages, international relations, history and government. Dana's career interest lies abroad where she hopes to work as a Foreign Service Officer, or with an NGO that works to promote greater cross-cultural cooperation and understanding. Her hobbies are ballroom dance, the Model United Nations and Students for Clean Water organizations, and travel.

Juniors

Lameese Ahmad, Junior, Arabic major and Middle Eastern Studies minor. Lameese's academic interest is in Arabic and anything dealing with the Bible and its history. For a future career she hopes to become involved with Middle Eastern Law and/or translating. She loves the Arabic language and hope to translate someday. Her goal is to help change the world with the use of Arabic. Her hobbies include tennis, hanging out with friends, going to the movies and babysitting.

Chloe Aldridge, Junior, Arabic and Public Relations major. Chloe loves languages and someday would like to learn Persian, Korean and Mandarin. After undergraduate studies, she is considering attending law school or simply continuing in Public Relations-related study. Her career interest includes becoming an attorney, working with Middle Eastern corporations or for the CIA. Ultimately, she wants to use Arabic in her career. She hopes to live in the Middle East for at least part of her life and to practice her profession there. She would like to practice corporate law for oil companies or other Middle Eastern industries. If she works for the CIA, she is not yet sure what her options will be but is interested in any field of work would offer. Her hobbies include traveling, languages, learning about history, cooking/baking, music and sampling new and strange cuisine.

Tarek Benchouia, Junior, Arabic and Government major whose academic interests include international relations, Middle Eastern politics, Arabic language and literature. For a career, Tarek hopes to work in academic research or teach. Specifically, he'd like to study for his PhD in government, most likely focusing on the relationship between the United States and the Arab world. Tarek's hobbies are music, soccer, being with friends and family, learning, travel and walking on the beach for extended periods of time.

Paul Cuno-Booth, Junior, Arabic Language and Literature major, would like to pursue a career in politics or international law.

 

 

 

 

Kaylea Jo Box, Junior, Arabic major, undeclared minor whose academic interests include Arabic, History, Languages, Literature, Middle Eastern culture, Spanish and Latin America and Mathematics. Kaylea’s eventual career interest involves teaching and she would like to teach in an Arab nation and then return to the U.S. to teach Arabic in either a high school or university setting. Her hobbies are reading, languages, art, running and baking.

 

Dylan Clement, Junior, Government and Middle Eastern Studies major, Journalism, History and Liberal Arts minors. Dylan's academic interest lies in US foreign policy and relations between Middle Eastern states. Eventually, he would like to work for the State Department, in a foreign policy think tank, IGO or NGO. Essentially, he is interested primarily in shaping US foreign policy in the Middle East. Dylan's hobbies include soccer, watching movies and reading.

Dickie Fischer, Junior, Arabic and History major whose academic interest lies in international relations and languages. Career interest includes diplomacy, social service, civil service and academia. Dickie wants to devote himself to helping others by using his Arabic and Spanish skills to pursue a career in diplomacy, social service, civil service or academia in the Middle East, Europe, or the Americas. Regarding hobbies, he loves to play soccer, bike, ride his motorcycle, and be with friends and family. He dreams of playing professional soccer in the Middle East or starting an Arabic-speaking motorcycle gang. He lives in Andalucía, Spain during the summers and enjoys visiting old Moorish sites. He also love travelling and hopes to travel the world and experience different cultures.

Leah Gilman, Junior, Anthropology and Arabic major whose academic interest lies in studying the relationship between the United States and the Middle East. Leah's career interest surrounds research and writing for non-governmental and human rights activist organizations. She will be pursuing degrees in Journalism and Arabic and after graduating, plans to work for non-governmental and activist organizations with focuses in the Middle East, documenting the human rights abuses and struggles of the Arab people. Specifically, she would like to focus on the ways in which America's involvement in the Middle East has effected those in the Arab countries. Throughout her research, she will rely heavily on her knowledge of the Arabic language. Concerning hobbies, Leah is involved in the Palestine Solidarity Committee on campus and enjoys doing her own research and reading on foreign policy and history when she has spare time. On the rare occasion that she is not studying or reading, she loves to ride her bike, travel, and go on adventures with close friends.

Arielle Levin, Junior, RTF major whose academic interest is to attain fluency in Arabic and learn about film production and storytelling on the screen. Arielle's career goals possibly involve a collaboration of film-making, her knowledge of the Arabic language, and her interest in Middle Eastern conflicts and culture. Her hobbies include reading, swing dancing, listening to and creating music, theatre, playing and learning.

 

Andrew Miller, Junior, History and Economics major, Arabic minor whose academic interest surrounds international relations, world history and language. Government work and international business are Andrew's career interests. He hopes to work for the government overseas, for the CIA or State Department. His goals are to live and work in the Middle East, learn Russian and Mandarin, pursue a Master’s degree and to attend law school. When not studying, Andrew enjoys reading, cooking, boxing, playing piano, camping and running.

Lindsey Smith, Junior, Government major, Arabic minor whose academic interests include political theory and Constitutional law. Lindsey’s career interest focuses on civil rights and liberties law.

 

 

 

Zoya Waliany, Juior, Plan II Honors and Government major, Arabic and History minor whose academic interest lies in international politics, literature, women’s rights and Arabic. Zoya's career interest is in human rights and civil liberties law. She plans to attend law school and focus on civil liberties law. Her career goal is to work in humanitarian assistance in Arabic speaking countries and the United States. She would like to work with non-profit organizations that fight for women’s rights in Middle Eastern, African and Islamic countries, particularly focusing on education and equality. Reading, theatre, playing Scrabble, keeping up with the news, activism work, generally saving the world, and keeping it classy are her hobbies.

Leena Warsi, Juior, Arabic Language and Literature major, Urdu minor whose academic interest lies in international relations. Leena’s career interest surrounds foreign service and she would like to work abroad for an organization in which she can use the language skills gained from her classes at UT, as well as explore the culture and community of the country. Her hobbies include learning new types of dance and short, easy phrases in different languages.

Lauren Williams, Junior, Linguistics and Arabic Language and Literature major, English minor whose academic interest lies in language change and variation. Her career interest includes government diplomacy and/or intelligence and in the future, hopes to work abroad for either the U.S. State Department or the Central Intelligence Agency in a communications job of some sort, be that translating, conversing with foreign nationals, or any number of other things. In her free time, Lauren most enjoy writing, reading and dabbling in any language she can get her hands on, from Pin-Yin to Portuguese. In short, she loves anything that has to do with words.   

Seniors

Jeff Abadie, Senior, Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies major, academic interest lies in Arabic and career interest lies in working overseas in a diplomatic role for the US Government. Hobbies include reading, mountain biking and SCUBA diving.

 

 

 

Nayab Ali, Senior, Islamic Studies major, Arabic minor whose academic interest lies in Islamic art and architecture. Nayab’s career interest lies in voluntary work and translation, and she wants to do voluntary work in the Middle East, teaching English or working with the Peace Corps. She would also like to translate old Islamic literature and poetry into English. Nayab likes to read, paint, draw and sculpture, and also enjoys travelling and learning about different cultures around the world.

Siree Allers, Senior, Middle Eastern Studies and Geography major, would like to serve in the Peace Corps as a teacher and eventually pursue a career in government.

 

 

 

 

Kelsey Balaban, Senior, Middle Eastern Studies major and Linguistics minor whose academic interest is to gain fluency in Arabic, and as broad and deep an understanding of the Arab and Persian worlds as is possible, in her last two years of undergraduate study. Kelsey’s career interest involves eventual work with a Non-Governmental Organization in humanitarian and reconciliation efforts in the Middle East. Her hobbies include talking, laughing and living life with her twenty-eight housemates, watching documentaries, reading good writing (memoirs in particular), discovering other cultures, soaking in the beauty of creation, and listening to and getting to know people.

Barbara Borodziewicz, Senior, Plan II Honors and French major, whose academic interest lies in languages (Arabic and French), international relations/studies (Africa and the Middle East) and career interest surrounds international/human rights law. As a Plan II Honors and French major, Barbara hopes to use her background and skills to work with immigrants’ rights and human rights as a lawyer. After graduating she plans to apply to graduate law programs and hopes to work with marginalized populations in the West especially coming from African and Middle Eastern countries. She believes the Arabic language will help her in this goal, especially if her work will be on an international level. Barbara’s hobbies include reading, journaling, painting, backpacking and tennis.

Leila Buzan, Senior, Sociology major, Government minor.

 

 

 

 

 

Reid Campbell, Senior, Plan II and Arabic major, Religious Studies minor whose academic interest lies in languages and comparison of the Abrahamic Religions. Reid is interested in foreign service and international relations, specific to the Department of State. His ultimate professional goal is to become an ambassador and contribute to the maintenance of peaceful and mutually beneficial relationships between the Middle East and America. Reid’s hobbies include playing and writing music, reading, sailing and camping.

Elizabeth Cary, Senior, Linguistics and Spanish major, Arabic minor whose academic interest surrounds language acquisition. Elizabeth’s career interest is in foreign diplomacy or teaching in a university. Her hobbies are running, baking, writing, and playing soccer with her friends.

 

 

Shuyi Laura Chen, Senior, Business Honors/Finance major and Arabic minor whose academic interests focus on economic development in both grassroots and governmental efforts. Her career interests include working with refugees in America and abroad and researching microfinancing institutions and efforts in developing nations in the Middle East and Asia. Her hobbies include reading, people-watching, riding public transport, seasonal celebrations, and trying new food trailer restaurants.

Zachary Cuyler, Senior, History Honors and Arabic major, English and Economics minor. Zachary's academic interest lies in international history and he hopes to become a history professor in his eventual career. Zachary would like to pursue a PhD in History and study state-formation in the Cold War, with a special focus on the Middle East and Central Asia. In his spare time, he enjoys reading.

 

Pace Davis, Senior, History major and Arabic minor whose academic interest focuses on African American, Latin American, and Middle Eastern Histories and Language. Pace's career interest lies in teaching or community work and he specifically would like to work for the Peace Corps or privately in rural communities throughout the world, focusing on teaching literacy. Regarding hobbies, Pace likes reading, studying, traveling, and activism work.

 

Rolando Garcia, Senior, Arabic and Economics major, whose academic interests surround foreign cultures and foreign languages. Rolando's career interest lies in the United Nations, consular service and the World Bank. He eventually hopes to work in a place that involves interaction with foreign representatives. Reading, jogging and traveling sum up Rolando's hobbies.

 

Ashley Harrison, Senior, Middle Eastern Studies and Political Communication major, would like to serve as a Foreign Service Officer in the Near Middle East for the US Department of State.

 

 

 

Emily Hawthorne, Senior, Plan II and French major, hopes to work for the Foreign Service or in international education in North Africa.

 

 

 

 

Aynur Jocelyn Hodge, Senior, Middle Eastern Studies and Rhetoric and Writing major, German and Arabic minor. Academic interest includes progressing on to graduate studies in Arabic or Middle Eastern Studies and career interest focuses on international relations or journalism. The globalization of our world today intrigues Aynur and she wishes to be a part of it, helping to ensure that it continues in a way that promotes harmony and prosperity. She hopes to accomplish this in the Middle East with a career in international relations or in a humanitarian organization such as Peace Corps. Her ultimate goal is to work as an independent journalist in the Middle East to find the truth to bring back here and share with the world. Her hobbies include piano, cooking, vocal performance, dance, creative writing, photography and traveling (as much as a college student’s budget permits!).

Chris Konstantinidis, Senior, Arabic and Advertising major, Business Foundations minor who academic interest lies in languages and advertising. Chris hopes to eventually work for a Middle Eastern advertising agency where he will be able to utilize both his skills in advertising and Arabic. His hobbies include dancing Ballet Folklorico (traditional Mexican dancing), swimming, reading, web-design and being a Resident Assistant.

 

Matthew Lubrano, Senior, Dean’s Scholars Honors Option in Mathematics major, interested in Linguistics, German or Computer Science as a minor. Academic interest lies in natural language processing, computational linguistics and applied math. Career interest surrounds research and teaching international business. Matthew would like to study how computers process human language. Much research is being done is the area of so-called “Natural Language Processing” in the hope that computers and humans can exchange information more fluidly. He might, for example, work to develop techniques that allow computers to convert human inputs (e.g. speech or signing) into more formal, computer representations. His hobbies include dabbling in weight lifting, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, running, and swimming.  He enjoys reading, attending live theater, cooking, and, of course, studying the beautiful Arabic language into the wee hours of the morning.

Chelsea Lowden, Senior, Linguistics major, International Relations and Middle Eastern Studies minor whose academic interest lies in obtaining fluency in Arabic, as well as knowledge of the foreign policy between the United States and the Middle East. After receiving her Bachelor's, she hopes to continue her studies and obtain a Master's Degree in Arabic. Chelsea's other academic interests focus on phonetics and sociolinguistics, as well as evolutionary linguistics and the origins of spoken language. Her career interest is to work as a translator or foreign analyst, or alternatively in international relations. She would like to work for the US State Department in translation following graduation, or possibly with an international company as a translator. Her hobbies include reading, music of all sorts, baking, buying and watching movies and going to the movies with friends.

Bruce Martin, Senior, English, Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies majors, Geography minor whose academic interests lie in comparative literature, poetry, and history. Bruce’s career interests surround international law and teaching. Bruce’s interest in international law developed because international borders are becoming less and less visible in our highly connected world. Commerce and culture are exported and imported from nation to nation each day. For each country to accept its responsibility in the global world there must be lawyers with the knowledge of different cultures, languages and customs. Whether working with refuges or helping a business to expand, the goal is to create legal accessibility for all peoples. His hobbies include music, reading and writing.

Esther Mandelbaum, Senior, Linguistics major and Geology minor who academic has her focused on hoping to receive a Master’s degree in Linguistics. Her main areas of interest are acoustics, historical language reconstruction and second language acquisition. She intends to learn other Semitic languages in the future, and focus on this language family in research. She’d also like to study languages of other areas in the Middle East and Asia, including Farsi and Urdu. Esther's career interest is to join the Peace Corps, then the CIA Open Office or State Department. She will be applying to join the Peace Corps after graduation, with hopes to be assigned in Jordan or possibly Morocco. She wants to work in a government position afterwards, possibly as a translator and analyst, but still hasn’t decided if she prefers to pursue a future in academia alone. Either way, she wants a future in which she can travel the world and continue to meet new and different people. Her hobbies include traveling, reading and camping during the great, Texas summer, and she also enjoys the live music capital of the world.

Mason Abdul-Latif Merrill, Senior, Arabic Language and Literature Major, Middle Eastern Studies minor, whose academic interest lies in language fluency. Mason’s career plans are currently not too precisely formulated. Yet, a general idea of what he would like to do includes: Translating Islamic texts to spread the peaceful message of Islam; Teaching Arabic in a university setting; Humanitarian/peace work, working for an international agency that seeks to stop violence, prejudice, and racism, reach across boundaries associated with religions or culture, as well as provide people with their needs; Teaching Islam if Allah provides him with the means to do so. Mason’s hobbies include landscaping and gardening—one of his favorites! He loves being able to take care of the earth, seeing the plants grow and flower, and to watch the animals (birds, bugs and beasts) as well as humans reap the benefits. He also enjoys reading (the Qur’an of course) but also it seems sometimes equally as important to read the commentaries and explanations of it to have a greater understanding about it. He also reads the books from his shaykh: Music of the Soul; The Path to Allah, Most High; He Who Knows Himself Knows His Lord; The Secret of the Love of God, and others. At-Taabiq at-Taa’ir—frisbee! Definitely one his favorite ways to expend a little energy, relax, clear his head and prepare for the next class or study session by means of a 15 minute Frisbee break. More often than not these days he is throwing with classmates in between classes and after the school day is over.

Ryan Miller, Senior, Arabic Language and Literature, Government, Middle Eastern Studies major, whose academic interests, complementing his majors, lie in the arts, especially music, poetry and photography. Ryan’s career interest surrounds international diplomacy on the issues of human rights and environmental protection. Though he is not yet sure just how he will use these skills upon graduation, he hopes that his Arabic, in some form, will allow him to help the impoverished regions of the Middle East attain a basic standard of living acceptable in the modern world. He also hopes to aid the region in its integration with globalization and enter a new era of peace alongside it. Additionally, he would like to pursue work in the arts. His hobbies include reading the news, listening to jazz, learning bass guitar, riding his bike through Austin, running, poetry, taking walks and cooking.

Isbah Raja, Senior, Plan II and Arabic major, French minor whose academic interests lie in Arabic, Natural Sciences, Literature and Middle Eastern History. Isbah's career interest involves exploring public health issues in the Middle East and North America. She hopes to obtain a Master's Degree in Public Health so that she can work in the Middle East to explore various health issues that affect this region. She would like to combine her interest in Natural Sciences with her interest in Arabic language and culture to find solutions for emerging social needs. Her hobbies include keeping up with family and her favorite sports teams (the Rockets, Texas basketball and football, and Andy Roddick) as well as cooking, reading random articles and exploring various cultures through cuisine and traveling.

Muna Saeeda Rehman, Senior, Arabic, Geography and Government major whose academic interest lies in Modern Standard Arabic, the influence of Arabic on other languages, political institutions in the Muslim world, modernization in the Muslim world, global equity and sustainability. Her eventual career will involve academic research and civil service. She hopes to go to law school and obtain a PhD in Political Science with an emphasis on the politics in the Muslim world. She hopes to work for the government for a short while as a diplomat abroad, and return to America to pursue a career in teaching and research. Her hobbies are reading and discovering.

Corey Shaver, Senior, German and Islamic Studies major and Arabic minor whose academic interests surround Germany and Islam, specifically the German perception of Islam. Career wise, Corey is interested in teaching Arabic as a second language.

 

 

 

Monica Velasco, Senior, Studio Art and Government major, Arabic minor whose academic interests include studying languages and cultures, psychology, international relations, international conflict, diplomacy, and expanding education abroad. Monica is interested in international security and conflict and its affects on education, employment and youth. She hopes to pursue a career in the Foreign Service and in international law. Her hobbies include painting, drawing, running and traveling.

Raul Alejandro Diaz-Wahl, Senior, International Relations and Radio-Television-Film major.

 

 

 

 

Allison Watkins, Senior, Arabic and Government major, Spanish and Middle Eastern Studies minor whose academic interest lies in international relations and diplomacy. Allison’s career interest is in Foreign Service and she would like to work for the State Department, the Foreign Service, or an international non-profit organization.

 

 

Creston Whittington, Senior, RTF major whose academic interest lies in Italian. Creston's career interest is in filmmaking and he eventually hopes to work in documentary and feature film production in the context of foreign languages and foreign cultures. His hobbies include espresso, languages, piano, running, cello, skiing, photography, backpacking and camping.

 

 

AFP Scholars in Damascus Year-Long Program 2010 - 2011

Fazal Abbas, Senior, International Business major, would like to pursue a career in international law.

 

 

 

 

Katherine Burk, Senior, Arabic, Middle Eastern Studies and History major, whose academic interests focus on women and gender studies in the Middle East and Africa. Katie’s career interest surrounds immigration and refugee law and she hopes to use her Arabic language skills in the field of immigration and refugee law, working with clients from Arabic speaking nations.

 

Usman Cheema, Senior, Economics and Middle Eastern Studies major, Arabic minor whose academic interests include Arabic language and literature. Usman’s career interest focuses on international law and business. Upon graduating from the UT, Usman will embark upon his capstone year in Damascus, Syria. Thereafter, he hopes to enter law school and eventually work in the field of international law and business with a special focus on the Middle East-North Africa region. Because of the high demand for Arabic speakers in this field, the linguistic and cultural knowledge that he has attained from the Arabic Flagship Program will undoubtedly help in this pursuit. His hobbies include playing basketball, cycling, playing the trumpet, watching movies, spending time with friends, and of course, learning about Arabic language and culture.

Madeline Clark, Senior, Linguistics and Arabic major, would like to pursue civil or social service abroad.

 

 

 

 

Angela Giordani, Senior, Arabic Language & Literature, Islamic Studies, Religious Studies and English major whose academic interest lies in Modern Arab intellectual history with a focus on the 1970s to the present. She is interested in becoming a professor, researching and teaching the ideas, literatures, and cultures of the postmodern Arab world. Angela’s hobbies include preparing and appreciating food, traveling and loving her family and friends.

 

Brittany Hodges, Senior, Arabic Language and Literature, Middle Eastern Studies and Government majors, African and African-American Studies minor whose academic interests lie in Arabic pedagogy, and the influence of American hip-hop culture on Arab youth culture and vice versa. Brittany’s career interests lie in diplomacy and teaching and she is interested in working for the federal government, for example in the Department of State (Foreign Service) or as an intelligence/language analyst. She is also interested in teaching Arabic at the secondary and post-secondary levels. Her hobbies include studying Arabic, which takes up a lot of her time! She likes keeping up with current events, spending time with family and friends, cooking, studying the Bible, dancing and listening to a variety of music.

Alan Kauffman, Senior, Arabic Language and Literature major, Middle Eastern Studies minor, whose academic interests lie in Arabic and History. Alan's eventual career interest is in academia, teaching Arabic at either the High School or college level, or possibly going abroad to teach English. As hobbies, Alan enjoys staying active by playing sports or running, and he also likes to relax and play music.

 

Imaad Khan, Senior, Religious Studies and English major, would like to use his Arabic skills to become a professor of Islamic Studies and Comparative Religion.

 

 

 

 

AFP Scholars in Alexandria Year-Long Program 2010 - 2011

Jordan Bellquist, Senior, Linguistics major, would like to use her Arabic skills to pursue a career in film making.

 

 

 

 

Daniel Grafton, Senior, Psychology B.S./Honors major and Arabic/English minor whose academic interest lies in languages and the human mind. Daniel’s career interest surrounds working in international relations/world peace and he would like to further peace processes between conflicting countries in the Middle East. Daniel enjoys the music, the reading, the languages, the academic studies, the observing of/listening to people and armchair philosophizing.

 

AFP Alumni

Rabiya Ali, Post-BA, majored in Linguistics and minored in Arabic.

 

 

 

 

 

Cara Beining, Post-BA, majored in Arabic.

 

 

 

 

 

Farid Bosak-Barani, Post-BA, majored in Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies.

 

 

 

 

 

Hannah Burgess, Post-BA, majored in Government and Sociology.

 

 

 

 

 

Adrienne Dunlap, majored in Middle Eastern Studies and hopes to work for the government to bridge linguistic and cultural differences.

Katie Jernigan, majored in Government and Middle Eastern Studies and would like to work for peace and stability in the Middle East in the Department of State or Foreign Service.

Tatiana Zhiltsova Kelley, majored in Arabic and French and would like to work in international business or diplomacy.

Mona Madgavkar, Post-BA, majored in Plan II Honors and Government.

 

 

 

 

 

Chris Marrs, Post-BA, majored in History and Middle Eastern Studies.

 

 

 

 

 

Jennifer Nation, majored in Middle Eastern Studies, Plan II Honors and French. Her career interest surrounds international non-profits or diplomacy. Jennifer is hoping to find employment using her Arabic either in the State Department or in international non-profit organizations that do charitable work in the Middle East. Her hobbies include the enjoyment of hanging out with friends and family, reading, traveling and running. She also takes self-defense classes.

 

Kaley Schroeder, MA Candidate, majored in Arabic and Persian.

Saba Syed, Post-BA, majored in Middle Eastern Studies and Liberal Arts Honors Program.

 

 

 

 

Kelli Vanderlee, Post-BA, majored in Government and French.

 

 

 

 

 

Sheila Weaver, Post-BA, majored in Arabic and Government.

 

 

 

 

 

Brandon Wilson, majored inLinguistics and Middle Eastern Studies and would like to use his Arabic language skills to translate the Bible into an undocumented language.

Thomas Wright, Post-BA, majored in Arabic and minored in Middle Eastern Studies.