Our Students

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

Portfolio

Major: Arabic & Middle Eastern Studies

Joined AFP: Summer 2011

Academic Interest: Becoming fluent in Modern Standard Arabic as well as the darija dialect, to obtain a PhD in some area of study, and to study the Berber culture and language.

Career Goal: I would like to join the Peace Corps after college, possibly the CIA or another government-affiliated position following that, and definitely teach Arabic in the US or teach English in an Arabic-speaking country.

Hobbies: Traveling, dancing, going to music concerts, reading, people-watching, bellydancing, laying out, meeting new people

Major: Arabic Language & Literature

Joined AFP: Fall 2010

Academic Interest:  Arabic, Middle Eastern Studies, the Bible and its History

Career Goal: Lameese’s goal is to get a Masters degree in Arabic and become a translator.

Hobbies: Tennis, playing the flute, reading, jogging, watching movies

Portfolio

Major: Journalism and Psychology

Joined AFP: Fall 2010

Academic Interest:  Human Rights, Journalism, Medical Health and Counseling

Career Goal: Ayesha would like to work with women and children that have been victimized by trafficking and violence, and promote the importance of mental health and support systems in impoverished or conflict-prone areas. She would like to be able to write for the people of the Middle East and South Asia, in order to promote human rights, religious tolerance, psychological health, and education.

Hobbies: Traveling, discussing politics, advocating human rights, learning languages, writing satire, and practicing Islam

Major: History and Religious Studies

Joined AFP: Spring 2010

Academic Interest:  Indian Religions, History of the Middle East and India

Career Goal: Teaching, government service, foreign service, or military service.

Portfolio

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

Major: Government and Arabic

Joined AFP: Fall 2010

Academic Interest:  Arabic Language and Literature, Middle Eastern History, Society, and Politics

Career Goal: Ideally, Tarek hopes his career will have something to do with the Arabic language. Currently, he plans to pursue academia and get a PhD in Middle Eastern Studies.

Hobbies: Music, soccer, being with friends and family, learning, and traveling

Portfolio

Major: Arabic and English

Joined AFP: Spring 2009

Academic Interest:  English, Arabic Language, and World Literature

Career Goal: Paul wants to get paid to speak Arabic and read interesting things without being a professor and write a cookbook.

Hobbies: Cooking, running, reading on his balcony while drinking tea, people-watching, putting cardamom in things

Major: Plan II Honors and French major,

Joined AFP: Spring 2009

Academic Interest: Languages (Arabic and French), international relations/studies (Africa and the Middle East)

Career Goal: 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.

Hobbies: Barbara’s hobbies include reading, journaling, painting, backpacking and tennis.

Portfolio

Major: Arabic and Russian

Joined AFP: Summer 2009

Academic Interest:  Arabic and Russian language and culture

Career Goal: Kaylea would like to teach foreign language in a high school or college.

Hobbies: Cooking, painting, reading, sewing and languages

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

Major: Plan II Honors, Arabic, and Middle Eastern Studies

Joined AFP: Spring 2008

Academic Interest:  Arabic, Semitic Cultures and Religions, with strongest focus on Islam and Judaism, International Politics

Career Goal: While employment in the Department of State or Foreign Services is his ultimate goal, Reid has many career dreams he would like to experience before then, such as participation in the Peace Corps abroad and teaching Arabic in an inner-city high school through a program like Teach for America.

Hobbies: Middle Eastern Arabic instrumentals and other music, communicating with people from very different backgrounds and world-views, playing guitar, songwriting, spending time with family and friends, making very bad linguistic jokes, and learning.

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

Portfolio

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.

Major: Government and Middle Eastern Studies

Joined AFP: Fall 2010

Academic Interest: Arabic, History, International Security

Career Goal: Dylan has a number of aspirations, including State Department, NGO, IGO, or an American think tank such as New America Foundation.

Hobbies: Playing soccer, reading, spending time with friends

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.

Major: History

Joined AFP: Fall 2010

Academic Interest: History, Arabic, French

Career Goal: Pace would like to work as a translator or liaison in various countries, affording me the opportunity to travel and work.

Hobbies: Pace enjoys traveling, speaking Arabic, and working with his hands.

Portfolio

Major: Arabic Language & Literature, International Relations and Global Studies.

Joined AFP: Spring 2009

Academic Interest: Middle Eastern Studies, Arabic Literature and History

Career Goal: Dickie wants to use 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. He is specifically interested in working with refugees in obtaining asylum and successful resettlement.

Hobbies: Soccer, motorcycle riding, traveling, and being with his family and friends

Portfolio

Major: Economics and Arabic

Joined AFP: Spring 2010

Academic Interest: International and social relations, its economical implications and the use of language as imperative for its transcendence

Career Goal: Rolando wants to get his Master’s degree in Arabic Lit to be perhaps followed by a degree in international law or economics. The ultimate goal is to work for an international organizations of the likes of the OECD, or non-profit international organizations such as UNICEF.

Hobbies: Reading Harry Potter in Arabic

Portfolio

Major: Multimedia Journalism

Joined AFP: Spring 2009

Academic Interest: Graphic design, Arabic, typography and Middle Eastern contemporary art

Career Goal: Leah hopes to work with Arabic news or art publications, translating Arabic articles into English and helping design ways to publish both Arabic and English text for magazines and websites. She is currently focusing on spending as much time in the Middle East as possible and later on will pursue a masters in Design.

Hobbies: Leah loves to work on graphic design, study Arabic typography, look at maps, ride her bicycle, and go on adventures.

Portfolio

Major: Biology

Joined AFP: Summer 2011

Academic Interest: Medicine and Public Health

Career Goal: My goal is to go on to medical school and complete my residency in internal medicine. I intend to complete some of my medical training in the Middle East, and once I am a practicing physician, I would either like to permanently practice in the Arab world or participate in humanitarian efforts that bring physicians to practice abroad for short periods of time.

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

Major: Arabic Language and Literature & History

Joined AFP: Fall 2011

Academic Interest: Arabic, History

Career Goals: Ethan wants to travel abroad in the Middle East while working for the U.S State Department or in the private sector with international businesses.

Hobbies: Playing music, riding horses and playing polo, ballroom dancing

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!).

Portfolio

Major: Geography

Joined AFP: Fall 2010

Academic Interest: To become fluent in Arabic and proficient with GIS mapping software, and obtaining a Master’s Degree in meteorology.

Career Goal: To work for a department of the government involved with the Middle East. She would like to combine her geographical/meteorological background, GIS mapping abilities, and Arabic fluency in a position for the government either in foreign affairs, education or national security.

Hobbies: Playing the oboe and piano, listening to music, going to concerts, traveling, working at Chick-fil-A, visiting National Parks, watching movies, following NBA and NFL, shopping and going out with friends.

Major: International Relations & Global Studies and Arabic

Joined AFP: Fall 2010

Academic Interest:  Arabic, Foreign Policy, Middle Eastern History and Culture

Career Goal: Samuel hopes to obtain a PhD in International Relations and to work for an international organization or non-profit for the advancement of human rights and the promotion of understanding across cultures.

Hobbies: Reading, learning, enjoying the outdoors, listening to music, bird watching, keeping up with world news, and enjoying the company of friends.

Major: International Relations and Global Studies, Arabic Language and Literature, Middle Eastern Studies

Joined AFP: Summer 2010

Academic Interest: Arabic language, International Relations, History

Career Goal: George hopes to work for the US Government, possibly in the US Foreign Service, or in the private sector using his language abilities to develop profitable, cross-cultural business relationships.

Hobbies: Reading, soccer, and spending time with family

Portfolio

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.

Major: Radio-Television-Film

Joined AFP: Spring 2010

Academic Interest: Arabic, film production and storytelling on the screen

Career Goal: Arielle plans to find a way to infuse film-making with her Arabic language skills.

Hobbies: Reading, swing dancing and other forms of dance, playing outside, consuming music.

Portfolio

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

Major: Arabic

Joined AFP: Spring 2010

Academic Interest: Arabic, Middle Eastern History, Political Affairs

Career Goal: Laurel hopes to be able to use Arabic in her work every day.

Hobbies: Bellydancing, Salsa and other Latin dance, Yoga

Major: Middle Eastern Studies

Joined AFP: Spring 2011

Academic Interest: Arabic, Hebrew, Psychology

Career Goal: Caroline hopes to work abroad in the Middle East and be able to use Arabic skills to further wherever my career path takes me, be it government agency to non-profit organization. She is interested in work with US-Middle East relations and policies, but also would love to work with the differing cultures, languages and lifestyles of the various regions.

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.

Major: History and Economics

Joined AFP: Fall 2010

Academic Interest:  Languages, International Relations, Global Finance

Career Goal: Andrew wants to work in an overseas capacity for the State Department or the private sector, preferably in the Middle East.

Hobbies: Camping, running, reading, writing

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

Major: Government and Economics

Joined AFP: Spring 2010

Academic Interest:  American Domestic Politics and Foreign Policy, Languages

Career Goal: Charles would like to enter law school and work in the legal profession. 

Hobbies: Playing the electric piano

Portfolio

Major: Plan II and Arabic

Joined AFP: Summer 2010

Academic Interest: Arabic, Natural Sciences, Literature and Middle Eastern History.

Career Goal: 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.

Hobbies: 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.

Major: Arabic & Computer Science

Joined AFP: Summer 2011

Academic Interest: Arabic, Computer Programming & Mathematics

Career Goal: Something fun and interesting that will allow me to use what I learned from both of my majors

Hobbies: Singing, playing piano, watching old WB network television shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Young Americans, hanging out with whoever

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

Major: Plan II Honors and Middle Eastern Studies

Joined AFP: Fall 2010

Academic Interest:  Arabic, Middle Eastern Studies, International Relations

Career Goal: Dana like to work abroad in some capacity, either as a Foreign Service Officer or with an NGO.

Hobbies: Travel, Model United Nations, Ballroom Dance, Reading

Major: History & Arabic Language and Literature

Joined AFP: Summer 2011

Academic Interest: Arabic, History, French

Career Goals: After the Arabic Flagship Program, Eric plans on entering a public affairs graduate program. Once his education is complete, he will apply for the US State Department.

Hobbies: Running, reading, football, hanging out with friends, coffee shops.

Major: Middle Eastern Studies, Government & Liberal Arts Honors

Joined AFP: Spring 2010

Academic Interest: Terrorism, United States-Arab government relations & rhetoric of extremist groups

Career Goal: Evan would love to further pursue an advanced degree and focus intensively on research about the Middle East and its different peoples. His dream would be to serve on the front lines promoting American interests in the region, either in the State Department or the Intelligence Community.

Hobbies: He is a blog addict, ’80s rock music connoisseur, world news junkie, and Dallas Mavericks groupie. His perfect day would have to include playing basketball, watching a Tom Hanks movie, and eating Chinese food.

Major: Sociology

Joined AFP: Fall 2011

Academic Interest: Languages, Human Rights Issues, History

Career Goal: I eventually want to become highly proficient in Arabic and French and somehow use those skills in my career. Or I would like to work for a non-profit that focuses on basic human rights and social justice. Hopefully there will be a way to mesh my two goals into a meaningful career.

Hobbies: Swimming, reading, traveling, being outside

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.

Major: Government and Arabic

Joined AFP: Fall 2009

Academic Interest: Human/Civil Rights Issues, Political Theory, Social Issues and Movements

Career Goal: Lindsey will pursue a degree in human or civil rights law. She plans to work, hopefully with a nonprofit or NGO, toward creating better and more respectful relations between the Arab and Western worlds. She hopes to find a career where she can use Arabic in a meaningful way, whether through legal practice or in other ways.

Portfolio

Major: Economics and Middle Eastern Studies

Joined AFP: Spring 2011

Academic Interest:  The Middle East, Foreign Policy, Economics

Career Goal: Samantha plans to pursue a graduate education in Arabic, Middle Eastern Studies, or International Law. She hopes to work for a think tank or intelligence organization, dealing with international security and/or diplomacy.

Hobbies: Playing the violin, soccer, learning languages, politics, Model United Nations.

Major: International Relations and Studies

Joined AFP: Fall 2011

Academic Interest: Global Studies, Arabic, Foreign Languages

Career Goal: I hope to find a career where I can employ my knowledge of foreign languages, geography, and politics in service to the United States.

Hobbies: Playing the viola, violin, and mandolin, acting, linguistics, current events, politics, and exercising.

Major: Economics

Joined AFP: Fall 2010

Academic Interest: World Politics, World History, International Relations

Career Goal: Vineet aspires to work after graduating, eventually go to law school, and maybe go into politics one day.

Hobbies: Reading news/books, exercising, “studying”

Major: Arabic Language and Literature

Joined AFP: Fall 2011

Academic Interest: Arabic Language and Literature, Religious Studies

Career Goals: Scott plans to attend Dallas Theological Seminary and pursue the Christian missions field.

Hobbies: Comparative religion, Attic Greek, music, writing

Major: Microbiology & Japanese

Joined AFP: Fall 2011

Academic Interest: Medicine, Foreign Languages, Linguistics

Career Goals: Alexander hopes to attend medical school and specialize in either pathology or general medicine. He plans to become involved with an international medicine program such as Doctors Without Borders or the International Red Cross and Red Crescent and work overseas in impoverished areas.

Major: Plan II Honors and Government

Joined AFP: Fall 2010

Academic Interest: International and Domestic Politics, Human Rights, and Middle Eastern Studies

Career Goal: Zoya aspires to obtain a degree in human rights law or a PhD in international development, and work with non-profit organizations for women’s rights, with a focus on equality and education, in Middle Eastern countries and the U.S.

Hobbies: Reading, traveling, writing columns, political activism, keeping up with the news, theatre

Portfolio

Major: International Relations and Radio-Television-Film

Joined AFP: Fall 2009

Academic Interest: TBD

Career Goal: TBD

Major: International Relations & Middle Eastern Studies

Joined AFP: Summer 2011

Academic Interest: Arabic, International Development

Career Goal: Rachel’s goal is to work for the US State Department, United Nations, or other international organization specifically dealing with developmental issues and foreign policy in the Middle East.

Hobbies: Traveling, reading, soccer, and hiking

Major: Arabic Language and Literature and Asian Cultures and Languages: Hindi-Urdu

Joined AFP: Summer 2008

Academic Interest:  Arabic, Foreign Policy, Urdu

Career Goal: Journalism, international policy analysis

Major: Arabic

Joined AFP: Fall 2009

Academic Interest: Class and gender dichotomies, educational methodology, environmental awareness

Career Goal: Allison would like to work overseas for a non-governmental organization and facilitate a dialogue between the US and the Arab world more effective than the War on Brown People and hope to present an aspect of the United States quite different from the war machine and a decidedly less ruthless form of capitalism.

Hobbies: Allison enjoys reading, following current events, playing with her cats, and being sarcastic and hyperbolic at the same time.

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.

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

Major: Liberal Arts Honors – Government, Arabic Language and Literature

Joined AFP: Fall 2010

Academic Interest: International and Human Rights Law, U.S.-Middle Eastern Relations

Career Goal: Grace hopes to work as a diplomat someday and is interested in civil service. She 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

Major: Marketing

Joined AFP: Spring 2011

Academic Interest: Marketing, Arabic, Middle Eastern Studies

Career Goal: Monaya wants to work in a company/doing research that somehow combines her interest in Arabic and Palestine with business and marketing.

Hobbies: Soccer, trying new food, traveling, reading, people-watching, activism, spending time with family and friends, triathlons