News

On May 12th, the UNC Area Studies Centers - CMEIS, the Carolina Asia Center, the African Studies Center, the Center for European Studies, the Center for Slavic, Eurasian, and East European Studies, and the Institute for the Study of the Americas - worked together to host an Area Studies [...]

In early April, scholars and students of the Middle East traveled to Wake Forest University to attend the annual conference of the North Carolina Consortium for Middle East Studies. Titled "Memories & Futures in Middle East Studies–Temporalities, Nostalgias, Anxieties," this year’s conference featured presentations on protest and resistance, memory [...]

Carolina’s Persian Studies program has experienced significant growth since its launch in 2010, now enrolling over 150 students annually and ranking 14th nationally in Persian language enrollment. Dr. Shahla Adel, the University’s first full-time Persian language instructor, played a key role in establishing the program. Supported by a 2016 [...]

On March 26, CMEIS hosted an evening of insightful discussions, powerful stories, and thought-provoking perspectives in belated honor of International Women's Day. Our panel featuring Mikaila Rummage, Rassil Barada, and Ayse Keskin Saglam illuminated the global experiences, contributions, and challenges of women in the Middle East. From gender [...]

Dr. Amal Eqeiq, Chair of Arabic Studies and Associate Professor of Comparative Literature at Williams College, joined us on March 20th to deliver a lecture on South-South solidarity. Dr. Eqeiq considered art movements - particularly muralists and hip hop artists - in Chiapas and Palestine. [...]

On March 18, the Center for Middle East & Islamic Studies and the Carolina Asia Center supported the UNC Muslim Students Association in hosting a beautiful iftar gathering. The evening was filled with vibrant community and tasty dishes! The staff of CMEIS appreciate students of MSA [...]

Shamim Hossain, as the Center's Digital Humanities Podcasting Intern, engaged in planning, developing, and implementing digital podcast resources for educator use in the classroom at the high school and beginner undergraduate level. He worked under the supervision and alongside CMEIS’s Associate Director, Dr. Micah Hughes during 2024. Shamim is [...]

As the Arabic Translation and Interpretation Intern, Dahna Buheis, engaged in translating and interpreting Arabic, working closely with TABLE during October and November, 2024.  This internship offered a unique opportunity for Dahna to enhance their language skills and cultural literacy while contributing to meaningful community activities. During my [...]

Dear CMEIS Students, Faculty, Staff, and Community, The Center for Middle East and Islamic Studies strongly condemns the intrusion and assault that occurred at the Muslim Student Association meeting yesterday. Such acts of violence and intimidation have no place on our campus or in any community. We [...]

Kris Evans, our Middle East and Islamic Cultural Heritage Preservation Intern, worked closely with local historical societies and museums to document and preserve cultural artifacts. As a CMEIS undergraduate intern Kris worked with the Center’s outreach manager during October and November 2024. The internship offered a unique opportunity for [...]

What a lovely event celebrating World Arabic Language Day with the community in North Carolina! The day was filled with activities, including an Arabic spelling competition and calligraphy lessons for attendees. People enjoyed listening to Arabic music, savoring delicious food, and reciting poetry. The Arabic spelling competition was a [...]

We had an incredible experience delving into the mesmerizing art of Ebru with the talented Hatice Erbaş Sorkunlu! The event began with an insightful presentation by Dr. Micah Hughes, Associate Director for the Center for Middle East and Islamic Studies, who provided an overview of Islamic art. This set [...]