Middle Eastern & North African Studies
The Middle East and North African region is an area of the world not well understood by many Americans. The minor in Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) studies offers a thorough survey of the cultures, politics, and religions of the region throughout history, with a strong focus on the contemporary period.
You’ll have the opportunity for firsthand exploration during both short-term and semester-long study abroad programs in Morocco, Jordan, and Israel. Through these immersive experiences, you’ll probe issues like the effects of human mobility on local communities and global politics; learn from discussions with asylum seekers and refugees; and examine the challenges of democratic transition and human rights.
Expert Faculty
Telephone: T. 407.646.2183
Hannah Ewing, PhD
Associate Professor of History
Research interests: Byzantine Empire, ancient and medieval Mediterranean, and the history of monastic reform
Todd French, PhD
Associate Professor of Religion
Director, Master of Liberal Studies ProgramResearch interests: Early Christianity, Byzantine hagiography, Syriac, Islam, mysticism, gender, poverty, and extremes in religion
Yudit Greenberg, PhD
George D. and Harriet W. Cornell Chair of Religion; Director of Jewish Studies Program
Research interests: Modern and contemporary Jewish thought; cross-cultural concepts of love, eros, and the body; feminist philosophy and theology; and comparative religion
Rachel Newcomb, PhD
Professor of Anthropology
Research interests: Cultural and applied/public anthropology, Middle East and North Africa, gender, Islam, globalization, immigration, and food studies