Kristen Brustad, Chair
WMB 6.102, 306 Inner Campus Drive F9400, Austin, TX 78712 • 512-471-3881
Graduate Student Profiles
Javad Abedifirouzjaie
Graduate student
javadabedi@utexas.edu | FAC 27
Interests
Applied Linguistics, Language Pedagogy, Literature, and HistoryDena Afrasiabi
Graduate student
dena_afrasiabi@yahoo.com | FAC 27
Education
Ph.D. in Persian Studies, University of Texas at Austin
Interests
Second Language Acquisition, Teaching Persian as a Second LanguageRabiya Ali
Graduate student
Interests
Sociolinguistics, Applied Linguistics, Pedagogy, EthnomusicologyAhmad Aminpour
Graduate student
Education
PhD, The University of Texas at Austin
Interests
Kurdish and Persian fiction; modern political and intellectual history of Iran and IraqTimothy Arnold
Graduate student
Education
Bachelor of Arts in History, Yale University
Interests
New Media, Digital Preservation, Online Para-Communities, Contemporary Social and Cultural History, Social Movements, Sexuality, HIV/AIDS, GenderValerie Atwood
Graduate student
Interests
20th century history, International business and DiplomacyNiaz Aziz
Graduate Student
Interests
Pragmatics, Sociolinguistics, Discourse Analysis, Linguistics in Arabic and Kurdish Languages.Sarah Baker
Graduate student
slbaker@utexas.edu | FAC 27
Education
B.A. in Biblical Studies and English Language and Literature, Gordon College. M.A. in The Bible and Its World, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Ph.D. in Hebrew Bible/Ancient Near East, The University of Texas at Austin
Interests
Biblical Hebrew, linguistics, comparative Semitics, language pedagogyNesrine Basheer
Graduate student
nbasheer@utexas.edu | FAC 27
Education
PhD Student, MA in Applied Linguistics, Columbia UniversityKirsten Beck
Graduate student
Education
Ph.D. in Arabic Studies, University of Texas at Austin
Interests
Arabic Literature (Modern and Classical), Mental Health IssuesWilliam Bibee
Graduate student
Education
Ph.D., BA in Plan2, Classics and Linguistics, UT Austin. Ph.D in Biblical Hebrew at UT Austin.
Interests
Aegean Bronze Age scripts, historical linguistics, religion in the ancient world (specifically, incense ritual), writing systems, cultural contact in the Bronze AgeJoanna Caravita
Graduate student
jcaravita@utexas.edu | WMB 1.110
Education
Ph.D., Hebrew Studies, The University of Texas at Austin
Interests
Teaching Hebrew as a Foreign Language; Foreign Language Pedagogy; Native and Nonnative speakership; Peer mentoringShaylyn Carey
Graduate student
Education
BA in Middle East Studies and International Affairs, The George Washington University
Interests
Arabic Sociolinguistics, Language and Identity, Language and Conflict, Middle Eastern PolicyDaryl Carr
Graduate student
Education
MA- Middle Eastern Studies, UT-Austin
Interests
Nationalism, Citizenship, Political Mobilization, Identity, Ideology, Minorities, and the LevantHope Collins
Graduate student
Interests
Middle Eastern Politics, Revolution and Revolutionary Change, Egypt, Political IslamPriscilla Cunha
Graduate student
Education
BA in Near Eastern Studies, Linguistics, German Studies, Cornell University, MA in Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures, University of Texas at Austin
Interests
Teaching Arabic as a Foreign Language, Arabic DialectologyEmilie Durand-Zuniga
Ph.D. Student / Assistant Instructor
emiliezuniga@utexas.edu | 232-9432 (general) | FAC 27
Education
Ph.D. in Arabic Linguistics, UT-Austin
Interests
Sociophonetics, sociolinguistics, dialectology, pedagogyAnthony Edwards
Ph.D. Student
anthony.edwards@utexas.edu | FAC 27
Interests
Arab Cultural & Intellectual History, Arabic Sociolinguistics, Teaching Arabic as a Foreign Language (TAFL), Classical Arabic Grammar & LexicographyMahyar Entezari
Ph.D. Candidate
Education
BA in German Studies, University of California, San Diego — MA in Middle Eastern Studies, University of Texas at Austin — PhD in Middle Eastern Languages & Cultures, University of Texas at Austin
Interests
Languages, literatures, and cinemas of Persianate societiesRyan Fan
Graduate Student / Teaching Assistant
Interests
Arabic Dialectology, Language Contact, Teaching Arabic as a Foreign Language, Egyptian Sign LanguageLaura Fish
Graduate student
laurafish6@gmail.com | FAC 27
Education
BA in Near Eastern Studies, Cornell University, MA in Middle Eastern Studies, University of Texas at Austin
Interests
Language use in Arabic and Persian filmsKatherine Goodin
Graduate student
Education
B.A., Brown University
Interests
Arabic literature, Teaching Arabic as a Foreign Language, translation studies and Egyptian culture and dialectRachel Green
Graduate student
Interests
Sacred and secular in instances of belated modernity, memory, intertextuality, folklore, hadith & midrash, translation studies, literature and linguistics in Hebrew and ArabicShehnaz Haqqani
Graduate student
Education
BA, Emory University
Interests
Gender relations in Islamic Law, Virtual Identities, Pashtun/Afghan Ntionalism, Islamic hermeneutics, Religious Authority and Muslim Televangelism, Pashtun women's agency, Gender performances in the Pashtun societyEmily Hawthorne
Graduate student
Education
BA in French & Plan II; MA in Middle Eastern Studies, University of Texas at Austin
Interests
Marketing to religious minorities, Post-colonial French history, North African history and culture, Migration, Modern Islam in European and American cultureStephanye Hunter
Graduate student
Education
M.A. Middle Eastern Studies, University of Texas Austin
Interests
Israeli and Palestinian Literature; Migration; Memory and Archive; Postcolonial Studies; Gender StudiesPaige Ingram
Graduate student
Education
M.A. Middle Eastern Studies, The University of Texas at Austin
Interests
History of the Middle East; Islamic StudiesSarah Kaiser-Cross
Graduate student
sarahkaisercross@gmail.com | United States
Interests
Modern Middle Eastern Politics, Political Mobilization, Language and IdentityBenjamin Kantor
Graduate student
bpkantor@utexas.edu | WMB 1.110
Interests
Biblical Hebrew, Arabic, Comparative Semitics, Koine and Biblical GreekAlan Kauffman
Graduate Student/Teaching Assistant
Education
M.A. in Arabic Studies, University of Texas at Austin
Interests
Teaching Arabic as a Foreign Language, Curriculum and Coursework designBenjamin Koerber
Graduate student
Education
Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin
Interests
Arabic literature (contemporary and classical), cultural studiesThomas Leddy-Cecere
Graduate student
thomas.a.leddycecere@gmail.com | (802) 356-0197
Interests
Sociolinguistics, dialectology, historical linguistics, language contact, pidgin and creole languages; Arabic, North American EnglishAlexander Magidow
Graduate student
Education
Ph.D., University of Texas - Austin
Interests
Arabic linguistics, historical linguistics, differential case marking, representations of non-standard dialects in the mediaKatie Martins
Graduate student
Interests
Arabic grammatical theory; Jahili and early Islamic poetry; comparative Semitics; historical linguisticsAlex McLelland
Graduate student
Education
B.A. Public Policy Leadership, The University of Mississippi; M.A. Middle Eastern Studies, The University of Texas at Austin
Interests
Arabic, American Foreign Policy towards the Middle East, International Relations, Syria, The Arab SpringKyle McNew
Graduate student
Education
Middle Eastern Studies, UT Austin
Interests
Arabic, economic development, globalizationMichael Mendoza
Graduate student
Education
MA '13, plans to continue onto PhD, University of Texas at Austin
Interests
20th & 21st cent. Arab literature, Teaching Arabic as a Foreign Language, teaching dialects, Arab popular media, Arab news media, Arab societies and civilizations, dialect lexicographyLeah Miller
Graduate student
Education
BA in Linguistics, University of Rochester
Interests
Arabic Dialectology, Tunisian Arabic, sociolinguistics, historical linguistics, international businessAllison Minor
Graduate student
Interests
Civil society, participative and community-based development, decentralization/regionalization, rural developmentDrew Paul
Ph.D. Candidate
Education
Ph.D. in Arabic Studies, University of Texas at Austin
Interests
Arabic literature and language, Palestinian literature and film, Hebrew literature, Arabic pedagogyAnthony Raschke
Graduate student
Education
M.A. in Middle Eastern Studies, UT Austin: Center for Middle Eastern Studies
Interests
Modern Islam in cosmopolitan settings; Islam in American society and discourse. Counterculture and minority rights in the Middle East.Muna Rehman
Graduate Student & Teaching Assistant
munarehman@gmail.com | FAC 27
Education
BA in Arabic and Government, UT-Austin
Interests
Teaching Arabic as a Foreign Language (TAFL), Dialectology, Syntax of Arabic DialectsRobin Richards
Graduate student
Education
B.A. in Religious Studies with Honors, Rice University
Interests
The Modern Arab World, Political Islam, the contemporary Muslim BrotherhoodJason Schroepfer
Graduate student
j_schroepfer@utexas.edu | FAC
Interests
Arabic dialectology, phonology, language contact, sociolinguisticsJung Min Seo
Ph.D. Student & Assistant Instructor
jungmin@mail.utexas.edu | 232-9432 (general) | FAC 27
Education
B.A. in Arabic & M.A. in Arabic Linguistics, Hankuk Univ. of Foreign Studies (Seoul, South Korea); M.A. in Middle Eastern Studies, Columbia Univ. in the City of New York; Ph.D. in Arabic Studies, UT Austin
Interests
Arabic Linguistics, Sociolinguistics, Dialectology, Teaching Arabic as a Foreign LanguageJames Stewart
Graduate student
james.c.stewart@utexas.edu | 435-881-3760
Education
Double BA in History and Political Science from Utah State University, The Center for Middle Eastern Studies
Interests
History, Political Science, Arabic, HebrewCorinne Stokes
Graduate student
corinne.stokes@gmail.com | FAC 27
Education
M.A. in Arabic Studies, University of Texas at Austin
Interests
TAFL, Arabic/Persian language and culture, language in song and film, performance and verbal art, musicologyMichael Turner
Graduate student
Education
M.A., The University of Texas at Austin
Interests
Arabic Dialectology, the Maghreb, Amazigh (Berber) Languages, Language Contact, Sociolinguistic VariationAren Wilson-Wright
Graduate student
Interests
Religions of Ancient Israel, Semitic Languages and Linguistics, Contact Linguistics, Cross-Cultural ContactKevin Woldhagen
Graduate student
Education
Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures, University of Texas at AustinJulie Yelle
Graduate student
Education
BSFS, Georgetown University
Interests
Arabic dialectology, language contact, sociolinguistics, Palestinian literature, Francophone literature of the Arab world, contemporary Arab intellectual history, Arabic to English translationPhilip Zhakevich
Assistant Instructor
pzhakevich@gmail.com | FAC 27
Education
Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin
Interests
Hebrew Bible, Hebrew Language, Comparative Semitics, LinguisticsAnna Ziajka
Graduate student
Education
Ph.D. The University of Texas at Austin (expected 2017), B.A. Georgetown University (2007)
