Call for Applications — Deadlines Approaching:
2024-25 Fellowship for UNC-Chapel Hill Graduate Students
“The Middle East and Islamic Studies Fellowship in Public Humanities”
The Center for Middle East and Islamic Studies is pleased to announce that in partnership with Carolina Public Humanities (CPH), we will be offering one fellowship for Middle East and Islamic Studies graduate students interested in public humanities. The CMEIS fellow will join a cohort of ten other fellows from various disciplines across the campus.
Duties and Benefits of the Fellowship Recipient: The fellow will be selected from disciplines in the humanities, fine arts, and social sciences in which public engagement is important for graduate education and future careers. The CMEIS Fellow will join an interdisciplinary graduate workshop that will meet three times in the fall of 2024 and three times in the spring of 2025, exact dates to be announced. These meetings may include group outings to humanistic events, discussions with public humanists, and other activities aimed at providing rigorous professional development in publicly-engaged scholarship. Fellows’ workload outside of meetings will be minimal (e.g., pre-circulated essays, podcasts, video clips, etc.), and meetings will typically include a shared meal. Fellows will also take part in the annual Maynard Adams Symposium for the Humanities.
In addition to participating in the six fellowship meetings, the fellow will be expected to develop a public outreach project or event. To facilitate the planning for these projects, the recipient will workshop their ideas with the Carolina Public Humanities Associate Director for State Outreach, Dr. Joanna Flynn, and the CMEIS Director, Dr. Claudia Yaghoobi. For the 2024-2025, this project should be completed no later than August 2025. Upon completion, the fellow will be asked to submit brief (2 page) report on their project in order to reflect on successes, challenges, and lessons learned about publicly engaged scholarship.
Stipend: The Fellow will receive a stipend of $3,000 (payable in three disbursements) for participating in monthly workshop meetings, attending the Adams Symposium in the spring, and developing a public project or event. Additionally, fellows may request up to $500 as a budget for their project. The Fellow will be required to attend all meetings, develop a public project, and submit a brief final project report.
Application Guidelines: Applicants must have completed at least one year of graduate study in a discipline that includes scholarship and teaching in the humanities, social sciences and/or arts. Graduate students are only able to hold this fellowship for one year. The following application materials are required:
- The applicant’s current CV. NOTE: Please title your CV “Applicant Last Name – CV”.
- A one-page letter from the applicant’s graduate advisor, explaining why the CMEIS Fellowship for the Public Humanities would be valuable for the candidate and how this applicant might contribute to the workshop’s activities. NOTE: Please title your advisor letter “Applicant Last Name – CMEIS Letter”.
- A statement from the applicant (up to 1,200 words or two single-spaced pages) that:
- Describes their interest in links between the humanities and public issues, why and how they think humanists and artists should engage with public audiences, and how they see this issue playing into their long-term career.
- Describes a program that the applicant envisions as a possible in-person or virtual public humanities project. This description could become the framework for a project in the coming year. Strong programmatic proposals will include specific details and may identify potential on- and off-campus partners (including, for example, a collaboration with a public school, museum, or other institution). Applicants are encouraged to consider innovative approaches and new formats for public outreach.
- NOTE: Please title your statement “Applicant Last Name – CMEIS Statement”.
Applicant Selection Process: Applications are due by September 15, 2024. The applicant’s CV and statement of interest should be emailed as a pdf attachment to the CMEIS Director, Dr. Claudia Yaghoobi (cmeisdirector@unc.edu). The letter from the faculty advisor should be submitted separately by the professor as a pdf attachment to the same email address. The CMEIS Fellowship Selection Committee will include faculty from various departments.
CMEIS Career Pathways Initiative
Undergraduate Internship in Digital Public Humanities (Podcasting) Project.
Description: CMEIS is seeking an enthusiastic undergraduate intern to join our Career Pathways Initiative project. The intern will engage in planning, developing, and implementing digital podcast resources for educator use in the classroom at the high school and beginner undergraduate level. The intern will work under the supervision and alongside CMEIS’s Associate Director, Dr. Micah Hughes, for a maximum of 20 hours during October and November 2024. The intern is expected to offer a public presentation of their project & experience in Spring 2025. This internship offers a unique opportunity for students to enhance their research skills and digital literacy while contributing to meaningful community resources.
Responsibilities:
- Plan and develop a podcast program for the initial digital resources launch
- Project implementation and management.
- Collaborate with team members, faculty, and community experts to ensure accurate and effective information.
- Assist CMEIS with official communication with partners (schools, teachers, etc.) and distribution of materials.
- Develop podcasting skills such as recording, audio editing, and sound-scaping.
Skills Developed:
- Project design and management
- Storytelling through digital tools
- Pedagogical resource development
- Applied humanities research
- Cultural literacy
- Team collaboration
Career Connections: This internship provides valuable experience for students interested in careers in:
- Education (curricular design, etc.)
- Project management
- Community resource development
- Nonprofit work
Requirements:
- Currently enrolled as an undergraduate student.
- Interest in the Middle East region or Islamic Studies (broadly).
- Basic skills in digital resources and file management software (audio experience preferred but not required)
- Excellent communication and organizational skills.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Attention to detail and a commitment to accuracy.
Application Process: Interested candidates should submit the following:
- A resume detailing relevant coursework and experience.
- A cover letter explaining interest in the internship and how it aligns with career goals.
- Contact information for one academic or professional reference.
Deadline: Applications must be submitted by September 15, 2024.
How to Apply: Submit your application materials in a single pdf file to the Center’s Associate Director, Dr. Micah Hughes, micah.hughes@unc.edu.
Undergraduate Internship for Arabic Translation and Interpretation Project
Description: CMEIS is seeking an enthusiastic undergraduate intern to join our Arabic Translation and Interpretation project. The intern will engage in translating and interpreting Arabic at local schools and providing interpretation services for community events under the supervision of CMEIS’s outreach manager for maximum of 20 hours during October and November, 2024. The intern is expected to offer a public presentation of their experience in Spring 2025. This internship offers a unique opportunity for students to enhance their language skills and cultural literacy while contributing to meaningful community activities.
Responsibilities:
- Translate and interpret Arabic language for new refugees at local schools.
- Provide interpretation services for various community events.
- Collaborate with team members to ensure accurate and effective communication.
- Assist in the organization and planning of events requiring interpretation services.
- Participate in meetings and contribute to project development.
Skills Developed:
- Language proficiency
- Cultural literacy
- Translation techniques
- Interpretation skills
- Team collaboration
Career Connections: This internship provides valuable experience for students interested in careers in:
- Translation
- Interpretation
- International Relations
- Localization
Requirements:
- Currently enrolled as an undergraduate student.
- Proficiency in Arabic language.
- Strong interest in Arabic language and cultural studies.
- Excellent communication and organizational skills.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Attention to detail and a commitment to accuracy.
Application Process: Interested candidates should submit the following:
- A resume detailing relevant coursework and experience.
- A cover letter explaining their interest in the internship and how it aligns with their career goals.
- Contact information for one academic or professional references.
Deadline: Applications must be submitted by September 15, 2024.
How to Apply: Submit your application materials in a single pdf file to the Center’s Outreach Manager, Alaa Hammouda at alaah@email.unc.edu
Undergraduate Internship for Middle East and Islamic Cultural Heritage Preservation Project
Description: CMEIS is seeking a motivated undergraduate intern to join our MEIS Cultural Heritage Preservation project under the supervision of the center’s outreach manager for maximum of 20 hours during October and November, 2024. The intern will work closely with local historical societies and museums to document and preserve cultural artifacts. The intern is expected to offer a public presentation of their experience in Spring 2025. This is an exciting opportunity for students passionate about history, cultural heritage, and preservation to gain hands-on experience in the field.
Responsibilities:
- Collaborate with local historical societies and museums.
- Conduct historical research to document cultural artifacts.
- Apply conservation techniques to preserve artifacts.
- Assist in the documentation and cataloging of cultural heritage items.
- Participate in meetings and contribute to project planning.
Skills Developed:
- Historical research
- Conservation techniques
- Documentation and cataloging
- Collaboration and project management
Career Connections: This internship offers valuable experience for students interested in pursuing careers in:
- Museum Studies
- Historical Preservation
- Cultural Resource Management
Requirements:
- Currently enrolled as an undergraduate student.
- Strong interest in Middle East history and Islamic cultural heritage.
- Excellent research and organizational skills.
- Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
- Attention to detail and commitment to preserving cultural artifacts.
Application Process: Interested candidates should submit the following:
- A resume detailing relevant coursework and experience.
- A cover letter explaining their interest in the internship and how it aligns with their career goals.
- Contact information for two academic or professional references.
Deadline: Applications must be submitted by September 15, 2024.
How to Apply: Submit your application materials in a single pdf file to the Center’s Outreach Manager, Alaa Hammouda at alaah@email.unc.edu
