My work is driven by a commitment to culturally immersive pedagogy and interdisciplinary research. I joined CMU in 2012 as a French instructor, but my dedication to Arabic language and culture quickly led me to help build and shape the Arabic program.

My scholarship sits at the intersection of literary-cultural studies, indigeneity, minoritization, and food studies. In my publications, I critically examine the historical and political forces that have shaped and marginalized various groups across the Middle East and North Africa. I bring these complex dynamics of power, identity, and representation directly into the classroom.

I believe that language acquisition must be anchored in authentic sociocultural frameworks. Through projects like the two online Arabic curricula for beginner Arabic and the interactive documentary on Palestinian and Israeli food cultures, I use experiential learning and digital humanities to make education accessible. My goal is to transform the classroom into a space where students can critically analyze the socio-historical narratives shaping Arab society, cultivate intercultural competence, and achieve linguistic mastery anchored in rich sociocultural frameworks. 

As the Director of the CMU Doha Study Abroad program, I aim to connect students with the rich cultural heritage and learning initiatives of Qatar. 

Education / Training:

PhD, The Ohio State University, Ohio, USA

MA, Kent State University, Ohio, USA

Al Alsun (Faculté des Langues), Ain Shams University, Egypt

OPI Tester Full Certification, Arabic.

Areas of expertise:

• Literary Cultural Studies

• Minority Studies

• Media and Film Studies

• Food Studies

• Palestinian and Israeli Food Cultures

• Travel Pedagogy

• Intercultural Dialogue and Competence

• Arabic Pedagogy and Technology

Courses taught: 

• Elementary through Advanced Arabic

• Elementary Arabic I Online

• Arabic for Oral Communication

• Arabic for Global Exchange Online 

• Elementary and Intermediate French 

• Introduction to French Culture 

• Elementary I and II French Online 

• Arab Identities and Gender Roles in Conflict Zones in the Arab World 

• Arab Women of the Middle East and North Africa 

• Understanding Cultural Complexities: Minorities in the Middle East and North Africa 

• Interpreting Global Texts and Cultures

• Global Food Cultures (team-taught)

• The Digital Souk: Immersive Stories of Arab Culture

• Global Minorities: Stories of Resistance in Arab Countries (CMU-Qatar)

• Arab Society in Flux: Migration, Displacement, and Cultural Change (CMU-Qatar)

• Egyptian and Levantine Foodways: Cultural Economy, Politics, and Terroir (CMU-Qatar)

Interdisciplinary Courses:

• Dietrich College Grand Challenge First-Year Seminar: Palestinian and Israeli Food Cultures (with Michal Friedman, Department of History, Spring 2021, Fall 2021, and Fall 2022).

• Documenting Israeli and Palestinian Food Cultures: Teaching and Travel (with Michal Friedman, Department of History, and Ralph Vituccio, Entertainment Technology Center, Spring 2023).

Media highlights:

• CMU Humanities Center Announces 2026 Faculty Research Grant Recipients (May 2026).

• Cross-Institution Collaboration Develops Online Elementary Arabic II Program (January 2026).

• Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences Faculty Spotlight (December 2024).

• Empowering Civility: Students Cultivate Respectful Conversation Skills in Modern Languages Course (March 2024).

• CMU's Deeper Conversations Initiative Aims to Build Bridges of Connection and Understanding: The Possibility of Peace (January 2024).

• A recipe for Understanding: Grand Challenge Seminar Students Explore History and Culture Through Food (February 2023).

• Social justice and the Arab world (April 2021).