Our Alumni
Alumni
Jeff Abadie
Major: Arabic Language & Literature
Joined AFP: Spring 2008
Academic Interest: Arabic
Career Goal: Jeff hopes to work overseas in a diplomatic role for the US Government.
Hobbies: Reading, mountain biking and SCUBA diving
Fazal Abbas
Degree: BA, Arabic & Finance
AFP Graduation: Spring 2011
Study Abroad: Summer in Alexandria, Egypt & Capstone Year in Damascus, Syria
Current Position: Student, Cornell Law School
My Greatest AFP Achievement: By the time I left Syria, I felt like I was starting to fit in there – I made some great local friends and had become accustomed to life there. After feeling like a total foreigner (lost, confused, etc.) when I first arrived in Syria, I found the process of slowly finding my way around very rewarding.
What I Learned from the AFP: I learned a fun language and experienced different cultures.
Mason Abdul-Latif Merrill
Major: Arabic Language and Literature Major
Joined AFP: Fall 2009
Academic Interest: Language fluency.
Career Goal: 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.
Hobbies: 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.
Rabiya Ali
Degree: BA, Arabic Language & Literature, minor in Linguistics
AFP Graduation: Spring 2009
Study Abroad: Summer in Alexandria, Egypt & Capstone Year in Damascus, Syria
Current Position: Graduate studies and Teaching Assistant, Middle Eastern Studies at UT Austin
My Greatest AFP Achievement: Getting mistaken for a Syrian in Jordan!
What I Learned from the AFP: Arabic. Lots and lots of Arabic.
Kelsey Balaban
Major: Middle Eastern Studies
Joined AFP: Fall 2009
Academic Interest: The modern Arab city
Career Goal: Kelsey would like to work with an NGO in the Middle East or with one outside of the region which deals with Arab immigrant/refugee issues.
Portfolio
Bosak Barani
Degree: BA, Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies
AFP Graduation: Spring 2010
Study Abroad: Summer in Alexandria, Egypt & Capstone Year in Damascus, Syria
Current Position: Linguist with AECOM, contracting for the Federal Government
My Greatest AFP Achievement: I didn’t expect to get Superior on the ACTFL
What I Learned from the AFP: Patience in operating in a country far different than America
Cara Beining
Degree: BA, Arabic
AFP Graduation:
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What I Learned from the AFP:
Jordan Bellquist
Degree: BA, Linguistics
AFP Graduation:
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Hannah Burgess
Degree: BA, Government and Sociology
AFP Graduation:
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What I Learned from the AFP:
Katherine Burk
Degree: BA,Arabic, History, Middle Eastern Studies with Minor in Women’s and Gender Studies
AFP Graduation: Summer 2011
Study Abroad: Summer in Alexandria, Egypt; Capstone Year in Damascus, Syria
Current Position: Research Associate with The University of Texas at Austin; Teacher of a college Arabic dual-credit course to high school students
My Greatest AFP Achievement: Completing a translation internship at Damascus University in the Office of Contracts and Legal Documents.
What I Learned from the AFP: Participating in the AFP truly taught me both the meaning and value of hard work
Leila Buzan
Major: Sociology
Joined AFP: Spring 2010
Academic Interest: Women and gender issues, International Studies
Career Goal: Leila hopes to work as a diplomat someday and is interested in civil service. May work for the UN, State Department, or CIA as an attorney or policy analyst. She hopes to use Arabic regularly in her career.
Hobbies: Photography, cooking, drumming, Model UN, watching mafia and western remake films, ping pong, and political activism
Portfolio
Elizabeth Cary
Major: Linguistics and Spanish
Joined AFP: Fall 2009
Academic Interest: Language Acquisition, International Law
Career Goal: Elizabeth’s goal is to work in foreign diplomacy, immigration law, or for an NGO.
Hobbies: Camping, running, writing, and working with underprivileged youth
Shuyi Laura Chen
Major: Business Honors Program/Markeing
Joined AFP: Spring 2009
Academic Interest: Literature, Eastern Philosophy, Indigenous Studies
Career Goal: Laura hopes to work with both government-sponsored projects and NGOs in aiding refugees and immigrants from the Middle East in their assimilation to America. She would also like to work in projects that introduce honest micro-lending practices in the MENA region.
Hobbies: She likes to write, draw, play recreational chess, try new Austin food trailers, and hopes to master the ukulele before going abroad.
Usman Cheema
Degree: BA, Economics and Middle Eastern Studies, minor in Arabic
AFP Graduation: Summer 2011
Study Abroad: Summer program in Alexandria, Egypt and Capstone Year in Damascus, Syria
Current Position: Business Analyst with Deloitte Consulting LLP
My Greatest AFP Achievement:
What I Learned from the AFP:
Madeline Clark
Degree: BA, Linguistics and Arabic
AFP Graduation:
Study Abroad: Summer in Alexandria, Egypt and Capstone Year in Damascus, Syria
Current Position:
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What I Learned from the AFP:
Zachary Cuyler
Major: History Honors
Joined AFP: Fall 2010
Academic Interest: History of the Middle East, History of U.S. Foreign Policy
Career Goal: Zachary aspires after a PhD in History with a focus on the Middle East, research on the influence of the Cold War on the relationship between the state and society in the Middle East.
Paul Cuno-Booth
Major: Arabic and English
Joined AFP: Spring 2009
Academic Interest: English, Arabic Language, and World Literature
Career Goal: Paul wants to apply his knowledge of the Arabic language and culture to potential speaking engagements and enhance the reputation of Middle Eastern culture. Paul is also interested in reading a variety of literature to expand his library collection. He would someday like to potentially write a cookbook.
Hobbies: Enjoying ethnic cooking, running, reading on his balcony while drinking tea, people-watching,
Adrienne Dunlap
Degree: BA, Middle Eastern Studies
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Angela Giordani
Degree: BA, Arabic Language & Literature, Islamic Studies, Religious Studies and English.
AFP Graduation: Spring 2010
Study Abroad: Summer in Alexandria, Egypt & Capstone Year in Damascus, Syria
Current Position: M.A Candidate in Middle Eastern Languages & Cultures, The University of Texas at Austin
My Greatest AFP Achievement: Conducting a series interviews in Arabic with Egyptian intellectuals as well as research in Arab cultural journal archives that informed my thesis project.
What I Learned from the AFP: We cannot understand other cultures and peoples until we deeply learn their languages.
Daniel Grafton
Degree: BA, Psychology Honors and minor in Arabic and English
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What I Learned from the AFP:
Emily Hawthorne
Major: Plan II & French
Joined AFP: Fall 2009
Academic Interest: Languages, History & Social Communications
Career Goal: Emily plans to work with the State Department’s Middle East Partnership Initiative in Tunis, OR an international school in
the Middle East/North Africa, OR in public relations with Muslim and Arab businesses, OR teaching French or Arabic right here in Texas, OR running an American bakery in Morocco or the South of France.
Hobbies: Running, cooking, yoga, traveling, hiking, French books and film, coffee-shopping, baking, camping
Aynur Jocelyn Hodge
Major: Middle Eastern Studies and Rhetoric and Writing
Joined AFP: Summer 2009
Academic Interest: Progressing on to graduate studies in Arabic or Middle Eastern Studies
Career Goal: 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.
Hobbies: Piano, cooking, vocal performance, dance, creative writing, photography and traveling (as much as a college student’s budget permits!).
Brittany Hodges
Degree: BA, Arabic Language & Literature, Middle Eastern Studies and Government, minor in African and African-American Studies
AFP Graduation: Spring 2011
Study Abroad: Summer program in Alexandria, Egypt and Capstone Year in Damacus, Syria
Current Position: ESL Instructor with Berlitz
My Greatest AFP Achievement: I was volunteering at an orphanage and on that particular day was family day. I speaking to one of the relatives of my student for a few minutes and he finally asked me where I was from. When I told him I was from America, he said, “Oh, I thought you were from Syria!” I felt victorious!
What I Learned from the AFP: You get out what you put in. If you want results, you have to work hard for them. Also, life is what you make it. Whatever situation you find yourself in, your attitude can make it a good or bad one.
Katie Jernigan
Degree: BA, Government and Middle Eastern Studies
AFP Graduation:
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What I Learned from the AFP:
Alan Kauffman
Degree: BA, Arabic Language & Literature
AFP Graduation: Summer 2011
Study Abroad: Capstone Year in Damascus, Syria
Current Position: Graduate Student, University of Texas at Austin
My Greatest AFP Achievement: I believe that my greatest AFP achievement lies in successfully negotiating the cultural and academic rigors of the Capstone Year abroad.
What I Learned from the AFP: I gained a greater cultural and linguistic appreciation through my time spent in Damascus
Tatiana Zhiltsova Kelley
Degree: BA, Arabic and French
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Imaad Khan
Degree: BA, Religious Studies and English
AFP Graduation: Summer 2011
Study Abroad: Current Position: Summer program in Alexandria, Egypt and Capstone Year in Damascus, Syria
My Greatest AFP Achievement: Reading my first book in Arabic was a big deal for me.
What I Learned from the AFP: I learned that studying Arabic is as rewarding as it is difficult. Also the best way to start a research paper in Arabic is with a grape sheesha and a turkish coffee.
Chris Konstantinidis
Major: Arabic & Advertising
Joined AFP: Spring 2008
Academic Interest: Advertising in the Middle East.
Career Goal: Chris plans to work at an advertising agency that deals with Middle Eastern media.
Mona Madgavkar
Degree: BA, Plan II Honors and Government
AFP Graduation: Spring 2009
Study Abroad: Capstone Year in Alexandria, Egypt
Current Position: Research Assistant, Center for Advanced Study of Language
My Greatest AFP Achievement: Being able to read (and actually enjoy!) Arabic novels with relative ease.
What I Learned from the AFP: Despite our outward differences, the world is full of people who all want the same things. Also, there is no greater falafel than Egyptian falafel.
Chris Marrs
Degree: BA, History and Middle Eastern Studies
AFP Graduation:
Study Abroad: Capstone Year in Alexandria, Egypt
Current Position: Graduate Student, University of Maryland at College Park
My Greatest AFP Achievement:
What I Learned from the AFP:
Bruce Martin
Major: English, Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies
Joined AFP: Summer 2009
Academic Interest: Comparative literature, poetry, and history
Career Goal: 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
Hobbies: Music, reading and writing
Portfolio
Ryan Miller
Major: Arabic, Government, and Middle Eastern Studies
Joined AFP: Summer 2008
Academic Interest: Poetry, Levantine Arabic, and Revolution
Career Goal: Ryan plans to be a poet-activist.
Hobbies: Bicycles
Jennifer Nation
Degree: BA, Middle Eastern Studies, Plan II Honors and French
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Muna Saeeda Rehman
Major: Arabic Language & Literature and Government
Joined AFP: Spring 2009
Academic Interest: Arabic Linguistics & Arabic Poetry
Career Goal: Muna plans to get a graduate degree in Arabic and then pursue a career in teaching Arabic at the college level or doing non-profit work in the field of education in any Arab country.
Hobbies: Yoga, reading fiction, trying different kinds of food, alternating between watching Arab, Indian, Korean and Turkish soap operas and Al Jazeera
Portfolio
Kaley Schroeder
Degree: MA, Arabic and Persian
AFP Graduation:
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What I Learned from the AFP:
Corey Shaver
Major: German & Arabic
Joined AFP: Spring 2010
Academic Interest: German-Islamic relations and foreign languages
Career Goal: Corey wants to pursue a Masters in Arabic and work at a consulate abroad
Saba Syed
Degree: BA, Middle Eastern Studies and Liberal Arts Honors
AFP Graduation:
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Current Position: Student, Baylor Law School
My Greatest AFP Achievement:
What I Learned from the AFP:
Kelli Vanderlee
Degree: BA, Government, Arabic Language & Literature, minor in French
AFP Graduation: Spring 2010
Study Abroad: Summer in Alexandria, Egypt & Capstone Year in Damascus, Syria
Current Position: Arabic Lecturer at the George Washington University; MA in International Affairs Candidate at the Elliott School of International Affairs, expected graduation May 2013
My Greatest AFP Achievement: Linguistically, my greatest achievement was probably the first time I was successfully and intentionally witty in conversation
What I Learned from the AFP: Besides learning Arabic, of course, my experiences in the U.S. and abroad with the AFP taught me a great deal about patience, flexibility, humility, and compassion.
Sheila Weaver
Degree: BA, Arabic Language & Literature
AFP Graduation: Summer 2010
Study Abroad: Summer in Damascus, Syria & Capstone Year in Damascus, Syria
Current Position: Teacher at an assimilation center for the disabled in Damascus
My Greatest AFP Achievement: Surviving it and in the process finding another home across the globe!
What I Learned from the AFP: I learned cultural nuances, during my capstone year, that did not fully make sense at the time until I lived here in Damascus as an expat. I can also say that after having come back on my own dime and having lived the real Syrian day-to-day life, my AFP experience was way waaaay candy-coated. There is too much to absorb from a different language, culture, country to be crammed into one year. Its been a fascinating journey, and I’m still learning more everyday! Thanks AFP for giving me the push in the right direction
Creston Whittington
Joined AFP: Spring 2010
Academic Interest: Film production, Arabic, Italian
Career Goal: Creston will pursue a career in diplomacy through the state department excites me as does achieving higher education in language as a stepping stone towards being an instructor. Film making, being of great importance to him as well, will most likely find its way into the mix somehow. He hopes to find a “tadakhal”, or overlap, among all these things, perhaps one day finding his place in the international business world as well.
Hobbies: Creston spends a lot of time running, drinking coffee, and enjoy all things film.
Lauren Williams
Major: Linguistics, Arabic, and Middle Eastern Studies
Joined AFP: Summer 2009
Academic Interest: Arabic sociolinguistics, Arab culture
Career Goal: Lauren is open to most career options that utilize her Arabic language skills; this includes government work, translation opportunities, and overseas career paths
Hobbies: Fiction writing, hookah experimentation, travel (money permitting)
Portfolio
Brandon Wilson
Degree: BA, Linguistics
AFP Graduation: Spring 2009
Study Abroad: Capstone Year in Alexandria, Egypt
Current Position: Software Developer at Neuric, LLC
My Greatest AFP Achievement: Making hand slap worthy jokes in Arabic
What I Learned from the AFP: How to be more open to ideas and world views I had never before considered
Thomas Wright
Degree: BA, Arabic Language and Literature
AFP Graduation: Spring 2009
Study Abroad: Summer in Alexandria, Egypt & Capstone Year in Alexandria, Egypt
Current Position: Division Vice President Marketing with ebQuickstart
My Greatest AFP Achievement: Traveling by myself in the breaks between semesters and communicating with Arabs without help
What I Learned from the AFP: Cultural diversity and the mind-opening experience of learning another language