Middle Eastern Studies at The University of Texas

04/24/2026

04/21/2026

Congratulations to Zaniel Moreno, Audrey Chambers, and Julia James Elmer, who were recently awarded Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships by the UT Center for European Studies to support their participation in the American Councils’ 2026 Intensive Turkish Summer Program (ITSP) in Ankara, Türkiye! All three students are studying Turkish with Dr. Jeannette Okur and will soon successfully complete the Intensive Turkish I-II course sequence offered by the Department of Middle Eastern Studies. Zaniel, who is interested in foreign language teaching as a future career path, is pursuing a B.A. degree in Middle Eastern Studies and Linguistics. Audrey, whose grandfather hails from Türkiye, is pursuing a B.A. in Anthropology with a focus on archaeology. Julia, who will complete her Master of Science in Global Policy Studies with an emphasis in Security, Law, and Diplomacy in May 2026, has been preparing for a career in the U.S. Foreign Service and broader national security community. All three students are excited to continue learning Turkish in an immersive environment and deepen their understanding of Türkiye’s history, culture, and evolving geopolitical role.

04/15/2026

Later this month, the Center for Middle Eastern Studies presents a mini film festival: Palestine and Israel on Film. Visit the link in our bio to learn more about these films. These events are free & open to the public.

Mon Apr 27 | 7:00pm | UNB 2.228
The Voice of Hind Rajab

Weds Apr 29 | 7:00pm | UNB 2.228
The Sea

04/02/2026

Thurs Apr 16 | 5:00pm | RLP 1.302D

Dr. Krista Dalton is an Associate Professor of Religious and Jewish Studies at Kenyon College. She will present a lecture that explores how the practice of eating together functioned as a critical social institution for the development of rabbinic culture.

04/01/2026

On March 25, 2026, the graduate students in the Department of and Center for Middle Eastern Studies invited student scholars from UT and around the country to present at the 15th annual New Generations Conference. Dr. Sara Omar, Assistant Professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies at Georgetown University, was invited as the keynote speaker. Read more about the event on our website - linked in our bio!

04/01/2026

Fri Apr 10 | 2-4:30pm | CAL 516
[Hybrid option available - visit the event page for details]

Graduating MA students and undergraduate students in the Middle Eastern Studies major capstone course will present their research projects at the annual showcase in April. Visit the link in our bio to learn more about the presenters and their work.

03/31/2026

Thurs Apr 9 | 4:00pm | RLP 2.206

Join us to hear Barnard College's Dr. Matthew Keegan discuss his new book: Before World Literature: The Trickster Tales of al-Ḥarīrī in an Age of Commentary.

03/30/2026

Dr. Na’ama Pat-El, the Ralph W. Yarborough Centennial Professor of Liberal Arts, has been named as the new Lead Senior Editor for the Journal of Semitic Studies. The journal is one of the leading international journals in the field of Semitic language studies. Dr. Pat-El will continue to serve on the Senior Editor team after cycling off as lead. Congratulations, Dr. Pat-El!

03/25/2026

Weds Apr 1 | 4-5pm | CAL 516

Enjoy a selection of Persian and Azerbaijani classical and pop music, presented by the local ensemble Goosheh Group. Goosheh are special melodic patterns within specific scales, and key to Persian music. The musicians will perform songs and share the narratives that surround them for a stirring hour of listening and learning.

Goosheh is Tamila Nikazm (voice), Kamran Aghaie (Tar), Rose Babak (Daf) with guest musicians Golriz Shayani (Guitar) and Shovkat Aliquliyeva (Kanoon).

03/24/2026

Weds Apr 1 | 12-1pm | CAL 516

Doctoral candidate Tyler Moser will present his talk "Cognitive (Dis)ability in the Sayings of the Book of Proverbs (10-29)." Bring your lunch and join us!

03/23/2026

Mon Mar 30 | 12:00pm | WCP 1.402

The Center for Middle Eastern Studies is proud to host a panel of experts to discuss the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran. This event is free and open to the public.

Panelists include historian of modern Iran and co-editor of Rethinking Iranian Nationalism and Modernity Kamran Aghaie, who specializes in the study of nationalism, particularly in an Islamic context. Dr. Aghaie will be in conversation with Jason Brownlee, whose timely new book Force Without Authority: America's Wars in the Middle East and South Asia just appeared in February. Our moderator is Shirin Khosropour, Founder and Director of the Peace and Conflict Studies Center at Austin Community College.