Meet Our Students

Seniors

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

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 would like to do voluntary work in the Middle East, such as teaching English or work with an organization such as the Peace Corps. She would also like to do some translating of old Islamic literature and poetry into English. In her free time, Nayab likes to read, to do anything art related such as painting, drawing and sculpture, and also enjoys travelling and learning about different cultures around the world.

Rabiya Ali, Senior, Linguistics and Arabic major, would like to teach the language she loves.

Cara Beining, Senior, Arabic major, would like to use her Arabic language skills for government service.

Farid Bosak-Barani, Senior, Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies major, would like to use his Arabic skills in a career in defense, overseas business, or to bring green technology to Middle East societies.

Hannah Burgess, Senior, Government and Sociology major, would like to work in foreign policy or intelligence.

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.

Leila Buzan, Senior, Sociology major, Government minor.

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.

Zachary Cuyler, Senior, History Honors and Arabic major, Enlighs 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 interst 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.

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

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.

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.

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!).

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.

Mona Madgavkar, Senior, Plan II Honors and Government major, would like to use her skills in Arabic to pursue a career with the Foreign Service or with an international public policy institute.

Chris Marrs, Senior, History and Middle Eastern Studies major, would like to pursue a career in academia, civil service or law, where he can devote himself to improving political and cultural relations between the West and the Middle East.

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.

Saba Syed, Senior, Middle Eastern Studies and Liberal Arts Honors Program major, would like to work to improve relations between the Middle East and the US.

Kelli Vanderlee, Senior, Government and French major, would like to use her Arabic in the Foreign Service.

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.

Sheila Weaver, Senior, Arabic and Government major, would like to teach Arabic in an academic setting.