As a writer, a political scientist, and a traveler, I am driven to understand how social identities develop, intersect, and shape our experiences. I grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, with a constant longing to explore the world outside my home country’s borders. After studying language and literature in Sevilla, Spain, I committed to saying ‘yes’ to opportunities to keep learning about places and people. Those ‘yes’ moments have led me to a Ph.D. with a focus on European politics, a year of teaching in the United Arab Emirates, and traveling to six continents (still working on Antarctica!). Beyond my original regional focus in research and teaching, these travels have molded my perspectives on identity, politics, and power from new angles. At a personal level, they have taught me more about my own identity as an Arab American and my connections to my Egyptian heritage. I believe that the marriage of personal experiences and multi-method research enriches scholarship, teaching, and policy spaces.

While earning my Ph.D. at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, I pursued a range of questions related to political behavior and party politics, with a focus on Europe and the United States. Currently, I am researching the religious bases of community identity and attitudes towards out-groups such as religious minorities and refugees (see my Research page above for more on my dissertation and ongoing projects). I aim to conduct research that is relevant to policymakers and civil society leaders towards justice and human rights for marginalized populations. While attending UNC, I also served as a committee director for National Model United Nations conferences in New York, where I have been inspired by many young future leaders.

I completed my B.S. in Political Science and my B.A. in Spanish at Texas Christian University in 2016. While at TCU, I researched domestic minor sex trafficking in partnership with a non-profit organization and faculty. I was also an NSF fellow with the Research Experience for Undergraduates at the University of North Texas, where I studied European integration and immigration attitudes.

Outside of my day job, you can find me studying languages, penning political and sapphic poetry, or honing my cooking skills while contemplating how food builds community identities. You can also find me writing about travel at https://www.adventuresofatravelersheart.wordpress.com/ and sharing photography on Instagram @adventuresofatravelersheart.