2024 Impact Report

Five Years of Engagement: Middle East Studies at Ohio State University, 2019–2024
 

Overview

Over the past five years, Middle East Studies at Ohio State University has demonstrated robust growth and significant impact across academic programs, interdisciplinary course offerings, and co-curricular engagement. The Middle East Studies Center (MESC)  has become a hub for students and faculty interested in the Middle East, fostering language proficiency, cultural understanding, and career readiness. Our activities and events:

  • The Middle East Studies Forum is a vibrant community of scholars that highlights aspects of the academic profession and fosters professional networking.
  • MESC supports student organizations, film screenings, guest lectures, and cultural festivals, enriching campus life and promoting cross-cultural understanding.
  • The Center regularly hosts career events, connecting current students with graduates in fields such as academia, public service, media, and others.

Unique Strengths

  • The breadth of language instruction and interdisciplinary coursework focused on the Middle East distinguish OSU regionally and nationally.
  • The level of collaboration between units in multiple disciplines supports continuous improvement and innovation in programming.
  • The integration of ancient and modern studies, as well as a strong focus on diaspora and transnational issues, positions OSU as a leader in the field of Middle East Studies.

Academic Engagement and Outreach

The Center has a long tradition of organizing events that connect the academic community with the general public, fostering an environment of learning and cultural exchange. The Middle East Studies Center organizes 1 to 2 signature events every year that we lead and collaborates with partners to co-host many more to extend our reach and impact. Signature events in recent years have featured archeologists working in the Gulf region, Syria and Turkey. From September 30, 2023, to October 1, 2024, the events organized by the Middle East Studies Center attracted a total of 1,049 attendees. These events reached diverse audiences, including higher education students and faculty, the general public, and K-12 educators and students. Each audience group engaged with the events in different ways, contributing to the overall success of the Center's outreach efforts. 

The Middle East Studies Center (MESC) at Ohio State University organizes a diverse range of events, targeting various audiences. The primary target audiences are:

  • Higher Education (university students, faculty, researchers)
  • Schools and Teachers (K-12)
  • General Public

To maximize impact for each audience, we ensure event topics appeal to their learning level, interests and offer pathways for growth. We integrate input from our faculty by collaborating closely on guest speakers, student advising, and shared program goals. We gather feedback from our student students faculty and staff in regular meetings, mid-course surveys, event surveys, advisory board meetings and meetings with student leaders. 

Our affiliated faculty are actively involved in public outreach, collaborating with schools and other community organizations to reach different audiences.  Many events are co-sponsored by various departments and organizations, such as University Libraries, the Department of Near Eastern and South Asian Languages and Cultures, the Mershon Center for International Security Studies, the Department of History, the Department of Anthropology, and the Area Studies Centers of the Office of International Affairs.  Signature events in recent years have featured archeologists working in the Gulf region, Syria and Turkey. For example we co-hosted the Antiquities Smuggling in the Middle East panel on April 2nd with CIBER and the Risk Institute in the Fisher College of Business, then for our signature event, we screened the documentary "Artifact War" the following day, a film that featured one of the panelists, Amr Alazm.

Higher Education 

The majority of the events targeted higher education audiences, including students, faculty, and researchers. Most of these events include members of the general public in addition to students and faculty. These include conferences, presentations, and information gatherings of our community of faculty, students, staff and alumni. We consider the Middle East Studies Center to be a platform for academic discussions, intellectual discourse, and community building within our university and beyond. The total attendance for higher education-targeted events was significant, reflecting the strong interest in Middle Eastern studies within this audience group. 

  • Conferences: Conferences attracted 197 attendees, featuring formal academic discussions and presentations on various topics related to the Middle East. These events allowed scholars and students to share their research findings and engage in collaborative projects.
  • Presentations: Presentations were the most attended type of event, with 553 attendees. These events covered a wide range of topics, from cultural and artistic expressions to contemporary social and political issues, making them highly engaging for higher education audiences.
  • Gatherings: Gatherings, including informal social events and discussion forums, attracted 105 attendees. These events fostered connections among students, faculty, and community members, creating a supportive network for those interested in Middle Eastern culture and issues. 

Digital Arabia Project

The Middle East Studies Center collaborated with Near Eastern and South Asian Languages and Cultures (NESA) to organize and host the launch workshop of OCIANA 2 on September 12th and 13th: ociana.osu.edu. OCIANA 2 will serve as the main international database for the epigraphy of Arabia, extending from Najrān to the Syrian frontier. The project currently comprises over 50,000 records and updates can be expected weekly in the near future. There are over 30,000 unpublished ancient inscriptions that await entry. 

Over a hundred scholars, online and in-person, joined us on the occasion to inaugurate the new asset and learn about how it might support their research. Thanks so much to our co-sponsors who made the workshop possible. We are greatly appreciative of the following units and programs:

  • Digital Laboratory for the Study of Ancient Textual Documents
  • The Translational Data Analytics Institute (TDAI)
  • Start-up funding from OSU Global Arts and Humanities Larger Grants

Internationally recognized experts spoke on topics ranging from the keynote on Arabia’s written history to “Digital Approaches to Research on the Thamudic D” script(s) by Jérôme Norris, University of Lorraine. Keynote speaker Michael C.A. MacDonald is a Research Associate of the Khalili Research Centre, and an Honorary Fellow, Wolfson College, Oxford. Ali al-Manaser, University of Jordan, gave a presentation in Arabic on the state of fieldwork in Jordan. Other renowned scholars such as Laïla Nehmé joined us in addition to our own James Moore and Ahmad Al-Jallad. James Moore presented OSU’s new Digital Lab for Ancient Textual Objects (DLATO). Check out Al-Jallad's TEDx Talk about research connected to OCIANA, as well as this recent publicizing article on Live Science For more on the team managing OCIANA 2, see ociana.osu.edu/staff. The MESC team showcased OSU's Anthropology Department’s Near Eastern Archaeobotany Laboratory as part of a tour for our esteemed guests.

K-12 Educators and Students 

A few events specifically targeted K-12 educators and students, providing them with professional development opportunities and educational resources related to the Middle East. These events were designed to enhance the educators' understanding and expertise, enabling them to bring new knowledge and perspectives into their classrooms. Additionally, events for middle and high school students aimed to engage younger audiences in learning about the Middle East. 

  • Trainings: Trainings focused on skill development and educational workshops, attracting 194 attendees. These events were particularly valuable for K-12 educators, offering both theoretical and practical learning experiences that could be applied in their teaching.
  • Cultural Ambassador Speaker for Columbus Council on World Affairs "World Cultures" Event: This in-person presentation on October 6, 2023, at Franklin University in Columbus, attracted 60 middle and high school students. The event featured Zari Mahmoudi as the speaker and was co-sponsored by the Columbus Council on World Affairs. It aimed to promote understanding and appreciation of world cultures among younger audiences, encouraging them to engage with global issues. 

General Public 

Several events were designed to engage the general public, making knowledge about the Middle East accessible and interesting to a broader audience. These events included presentations and trainings that provided valuable insights and hands-on experiences. 

  • Seeking Peace at Home: Central Ohio Faith Leaders Speak: This online presentation on December 4, 2023, attracted 87 attendees. It brought together faith leaders from different communities in Central Ohio to discuss peace and interfaith collaboration. The event promoted interfaith dialogue, addressed contemporary issues, and highlighted local efforts in promoting peace.
  • Arabic Calligraphy Workshop: We’ve offered two Arabic Calligraphy workshops, the first was held on October 27, 2023, and the second on March 28th, 2025. These in-person, hands-on trainings attracted 50 participants, and then 35 participants. Participants learned about the history and techniques of calligraphy and had the opportunity to practice writing in Arabic script. 

Middle East Studies at Ohio State University in Numbers

  • In Academic Year 2024, 2,040 students enrolled in courses with at least 25% Middle East content, reflecting strong and sustained interest across the university.
  • 443 students participated in language instruction courses for Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, Turkish, Uzbek, and Akkadian.
    • Arabic is the most widely taught Middle Eastern language at OSU, with courses at all proficiency levels and the largest enrollments.
    • Hebrew maintains steady enrollments, while Persian, Turkish, and Uzbek are offered regularly in smaller classes.
  • In 2023–2024, eight students completed majors in Middle East-related fields, and 39 completed minors-most commonly in Arabic, but also in Hebrew, Turkish, and Central Asian Studies.

Faculty, Professional Staff, and Specialized Library Resources

  • Students benefit from the expertise of 36 tenure-track faculty across 10 departments.
  • The Center’s professional staff and interns are highly qualified and engaged in interdisciplinary collaboration.
  • Library resources are extensive, with notable holdings in Ottoman and Central Asian history and unique research assets such as the OCIANA epigraphy image database.

Courses Offered

The Middle East Studies curriculum at Ohio State University is highly interdisciplinary, integrating history, political science, anthropology, religious studies, and literature. Students gain historical knowledge, cultural awareness, and the ability to analyze contemporary issues such as international relations, social structures, gender dynamics, and religious diversity.

Recent and Upcoming Courses Include:

  • Islamic Studies:
    • The Quran in Translation
    • Introduction to Islam
    • The Early Islamic Conquests
    • Islam, Politics, and Society in History
    • Muslims in America and Europe
  • Jewish Studies:
    • Introduction to the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament
    • Culture of Contemporary Israel
    • Introduction to Jewish Culture, Thought, and Practice
    • Women in the Bible and Beyond
    • History of Zionism and Modern Israel
    • Israel/Palestine: History of the Present
    • Israeli Film & Society
  • Near Eastern and South Asian Languages and Cultures:
    • Introduction to the Modern Middle East
    • Ancient Empires
    • Citizenship and Diaspora
    • Messages from Beyond (divination, prophecy, occult)
    • Lost Languages, Lost Cultures
    • Stories of Belonging and Difference
    • Oligarchs, Penthouses, and Yachts (Eurasian elites)
    • The Middle East Close-Up
    • Films of the Middle East
    • Mythology of Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia
    • Words Across the World
  • South Asian Studies:
    • Understanding Bollywood, Knowing India
    • Citizenship and Diaspora (India/Pakistan & Israel/Palestine)
    • Citizenship in South Asia
    • Desi Diaspora
    • Living Everyday Lives (caste in South Asia and race in the US)
  • Language Courses: Regular offerings in Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, Turkish, Uzbek, Akkadian, and, most recently, Syriac.

Conclusion

The Middle East Studies Center at Ohio State University has established itself as a vibrant, interdisciplinary hub for education, research, and engagement on Middle Eastern topics. Its broad curriculum, strong enrollments, diverse language offerings, and dynamic extracurricular programming have made a measurable impact on students and the broader university community.