2020 MEC Brochure

1 2 OUR PROGRAM 3 MIDDLE EASTERN STUDIES from the Director...

The Middle Eastern Studies undergraduate program at Florida State University offers transformative opportunities for students to succeed in a variety of subfields. It is a pleasure to share stories from a few of our recent graduates. They have gone to top-tier graduate schools, won prestigious national and international scholarships, and have already started making meaningful Dr. Zeina Schlenoff contributions to the field. We and we feature here two of them who are conducting advanced research are proud of their success so for their Honors theses. We have a full program of outreach activities far and expect to hear of many planned for this academic year. Have a look at our calendar, follow us on more notable accomplishments. Instagram @middleeastcenterfsu for updates and join us for our educational Many of our students join the and fun programs. Honors in the major program 4 OUR CURRENT STUDENTS An out-of-state student from Virginia Beach, I have devoted much of my time to research at FSU. As a UROP student, I worked in the Department of Religion, researching the radicalization of Muslims in the West and I am now completing my second year as a UROP instructor. When I am not studying Arabic, I serve as Chair for the Student Conduct Board. My interest in policy implementation is demonstrated through internships I’ve held at a local government affairs firm as a Legislative Assistant as well as at the United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS in Panama City, Panama. In my senior year, I serve as the Assistant to the Middle East Center.

In Spring 2020, I will defend my Honors in the Major Thesis where I investigate the gender disparity of women in executive cabinet and parliamentary positions in the Jordanian and Lebanese governments. After that I will graduate with a Dual Degree in International Affairs and Political Science and a Major in Middle Eastern Studies. SELINA NEVIN

JULIANNE KELLY Currently a fourth year at Florida State University, I am completing a dual degree program in Political Science and International Affairs, and in Middle Eastern Studies with a minor in Arabic Language. I lived in Turkey as an exchange student for a year in high school and have completed an intensive language program in Beirut, Lebanon since I have been at Florida State University! I am very passionate about Middle Eastern Studies and I hope to work in the public service field, with a focus on the region.

My Honors in the Major project is primarily based around the growing aggression of Turkey against the Kurdish people in relation to Turkish Politics and International attention garnered by the Kurds. The research explores how the treatment of the Kurdish people has changed from the beginning of the Arab Spring to the present. 5 OUR AlUMNI presenting it at the IAMCR After graduating from FSU conference in Leicester, UK. I with a dual degree in Middle also worked as a UROP leader Eastern Studies and Inter- for two years and conducted national Affairs, I spent a my own research on the King- summer in Manah, Oman Crane Commission, culminat- studying Arabic on a SALAM ing in an Honors in the Major scholarship. Following that I Thesis. I was awarded the Superior Senior Scholar Award received the David L. Boren in the fall, graduating with Scholarship and lived in dual honors. I am currently Amman, Jordan for a year attending New York University studying at Qasid Arabic to pursue a Master’s degree in Institute. After this program STEVEN FIRMIN GEMMA SUNNGERGREN Near Eastern Studies with a ended, I returned to the US concentration in International and began applying for jobs After graduating from In Spring 2019, I graduated Relations as a fully-funded and internships in DC. I FSU with my bachelors in summa cum laude from FSU MacCracken Fellow. received an internship at the Middle Eastern Studies, I with majors in Middle Eastern spent 6 months in Egypt Middle East Institute where I Studies, Political Science, and KELLY BAKER teaching English and learning International Affairs. During worked as a Research Assis- more Arabic before starting my time at FSU, I interned at a tant to the Director, Dr. Paul my Masters in Christian London-based think tank and Salem. Once that ended, I did Ethics in 2015 at the studied Arabic abroad at the Qasid a brief fellowship at a Public University of Oxford. I Institute in Amman, Jordan with Health Lobbying Firm on the graduated with distinction the Winthrop-King language Hill; and now I am working at in 2017, and began working scholarship. In my first year, I Busboys and Poets, a popular on my Doctorate in the completed the Undergraduate restaurant and bookstore in Fall. I am now entering my Research Opportunities Program the DC area while I apply for third and (hopefully) final (UROP), assisting Dr. Defne other jobs. year of research, and my Bilir on her research and project focuses on critically 6 comparing the concept of I graduated in spring of 2019, London School of Economics I won the Herbert Scoville Jr. political secularism in summa cum laude with a double in International Social and Peace Fellowship, which Augustinian Christianity major in Middle East studies Public Policy Development. afforded me the opportunity and Sunni Islam. I also help and International Affairs. to work with senior-level coordinate the Faculty of Throughout my career at FSU, policy experts at the Stimson Theology and Religion’s I have integrated my coursework JESSE MARKS Center in Washington, D.C. annual seminar series in into various activities outside of In Spring 2019, I received the Abrahamic Religions. the classroom. I have interned my MPhil in International In my spare time, I and served in leadership roles for Relations and Politics from volunteer as a leader at a advocacy organizations such as the University of Cambridge. local church, and per- the Children’s Campaign and form Improvised comedy Amnesty International. My ju- These opportunities would around the world with the nior year, I was recognized as not have been possible Oxford Imps. I hope to a Social Science Scholar and without Florida State. I am grateful for the continued teach in the Middle East used my program funding This Fall, I joined the cohort support, encouragement when I am finished with to complete an internship in of Schwarzman Scholars and and engagement I receive my doctorate. Amman, Jordan while taking a hope to be able to bridge from institutions at FSU. Levantine dialect course and and understand cultural and COURTNEY REED collecting interviews for my political differences between honors in the major thesis. the US and China after CASSANDRA BARRAGAN I studied the ways in which earning a master’s degree policy in Jordan creates oper- in global affairs from Tsinghua ational barriers for NGOs and civil society groups. In Sum- University in Beijing. I earned a mer 2019, I worked in a civil bachelor’s degree in Middle rights law office assisting in East Studies from Florida litigation that defends the State in August 2016 and constitutional rights of incar- won a Boren Scholarship cerated persons. In Fall 2019, to study Arabic in Jordan. I started my Masters degree at Upon my return to the US, I graduated from FSU in history and culture to serve as a Foreign Area Officer in the Middle East and North 7 2016 with a dual degree in experience, I was never Africa (MENA) Region where I will be an advisor to senior International Affairs and bored! Putting yourself military and civilian leaders, and will engage with foreign History. I studied Arabic at outside of your comfort military leaders and governments to help build partnership FSU for 3 semesters, and zone and opening your- capacity in the MENA Region. I am currently continuing my though the Social Science self up to new experiences Arabic language training at the US Department of State’s Scholars program, I studied and ideas is always a good Foreign Service Institute and my first assignment will be to for one summer semester idea! Amman, Jordan. in Amman, Jordan. After “The education and experiences I gained while in the FSU graduating, I worked at the MES program were the springboard for my selection to the International Rescue Com- Foreign Area Officer program. The MES program provided me mittee in Atlanta for one with the academic background and understanding needed to year. Then I taught English tackle issues of national security and stability in the MENA at an international school in region.” Nablus, Palestine. There is no better way to learn a language than to be immersed in it. I found that Palestinians are incredibly friendly, hospitable, and DANIEL PORRIS generous which made I graduated from the Middle adjusting a lot easier. I am East Studies program in incredibly grateful for the 2009 and commissioned welcoming culture and as an Armor Officer in the made lifelong friends over US Army. Since graduation the course of my time I served the US Army in there. Within the West multiple capacities. Most Bank there is such a rich recently I was selected to The MEC assistants of this year Selina Nevin and Gabriella Morris 8 Sep 23 Pizza Night Sep 26 Lecture Students came together by Dr. Victoria High- over free pizza and drinks tower at the Globe to talk about their Arabic learning experience.

Oct 11 International Coffee Hour at the Globe. Arabian Sweets and coffee were served.

Students chatting and enjoying their time during Pizza Night held at MEC

Dr. Schlenoff and TA Lana Arabic Instructor Jessika Malo Kamand at Int. Coffee Hour and her daughter at the MEFF Oct 12- Nov4 2019 Middle East Film Festival Last year marked the 11th anniversary of the festival. We had a wide range of award-winning movies spanning across different parts of the Middle East in order to cele- brate the region’s cultures, diversity, and strengths. A reception took place on the opening night with free food, live music, and dance performances from different local groups and student organizations. This event was- free and open to the public. Opening Night of the Middle East Film Festival Jan 24 Global Cafe at the Center of Global 9 Engagement (in cooperation with the Lebanese Social Club) A food reception was held where deli- cious Lebanese food was served. Over a hundred people enjoyed the good food and vibes.

FSU Belly Dancers Perform at the Opening of the Middle East Film Festival

Round table discussion after “A Thousand Girls Like Me” Food served at the Global Cafe 10 Feb 11 Lecutre at 5 pm in Diffenbaugh 009 (co- sponsored with the Department of Modern Lan- guages and Linguistics) Dr. Lotfi Sayahi Spanish in contact with Arabic: Which Arabic? Feb 15 International Bazar from 2 to 5 pm at Florida State University Union Ballroom

Feb 4 Lecture at from 2 to 3:30 pm at the Globe Autidorium Dr. Asbed Kotchikian Unraveling the Middle East: An inside view of a perpetually troubled region UPCOMING EVENTS: SPRING 2020 Chapman Endowed Lecture on the 11 March 6th, Performance and Talk about Middle East Arab music and the Oud at 2 pm. Time and Place TBA

For more information visit www. mec.fsu.edu/article/ 2019-middle-east-film-festival

The Middle East Center 625 University Way, 317 Kellogg Building Tallahassee, Fl 32306

Further Information www.mec.fsu.edu