About US

middle East studies pedagogy Initiative

MESPI is a curated interactive platform for Middle East Studies resources, specifically tailored for the needs of teachers, researchers, and students. It is a one-stop-shop for course design on the macro level, lesson planning on the micro level, and for scholarship vis-a-vis specific topics, countries, and disciplines. The MESPI project strives to reorient the way educators and students research, learn, and teach the Middle East.

In Cooperation with The Middle East Studies Program at George Mason University (GMU), The Center For Contemporary Arab Studies at Georgetown University, The Asfari Institute For Civil Society And Citizenship at the American University in Beirut, the Center for Global Islamic Studies at GMU, we are launching he Middle East Studies Pedagogy Initiative (MESPI) to provide critical, user-friendly, and informative pedagogical material and instruction to educators in the field and beyond. MESPI will build on at least four counts: a) create and grow a community/network of educators; b) make available to them and to researchers, journalists, and students a wide array of resources; c) provide in good time a robust syllabus-building tool; and, finally, and most critically, d) MESPI will build partnerships with research centers, organizations, and projects that will constitute its evolving decision-making body.

Our Modules 

MESPI’s community based projects include the following modules and databases in complete form and in progress:

Essential Readings
Peer-Reviewed Articles Review
Engaging Books
New Texts Out Now
Language Programs Database
Degree Programs Database

MESPI’s modules in progress:

Syllabus Building Tool
Syllabus Library
Teaching the Survey/Intro Course
Secondary Education Module
Books Review Database
Textbooks Corrections Project
Wiki-Like Input Interface
Community Discussion List
Archives Module
Maps and Documents Module
Module on Teaching Methods
Modules on Essential Topics and Themes
Novels in the Classroom
Films in the Classroom

Our Modules 

MESPI’s community based projects include the following modules and databases in complete form and in progress:

Essential Readings
Peer-Reviewed Articles Review
New Texts Out Now
Engaging Books
Language Programs Database
Degree Programs Database 

MESPI’s modules in progress:

Syllabus Building Tool
Syllabus Library
Teaching the Intro/Survey Course
Secondary Education Module
Books Review Database
Textbooks Corrections Project
Wiki-Like Input Interface
Community Discussion List

Archives Module
Maps and Documents Module
Module on Teaching Methods
Modules on Essential Topics and Themes
Novels in the Classroom
Films in the Classroom

THE MESPI BOARD

MESPI BOARD

Adam Hanieh, SOAS
Ahmad Dallal, Georgetown Qatar
Akram Khater, NC State University
Amaney Jamal, Princeton

Arang Keshavarzian, NYU
Asef Bayat, University of Illinois
Asli Bali, UCLA
Beth Baron, CUNY
Fida Adely, Georgetown
Huseyin Yilmaz, George Mason University
Ilham Khuri-Makdisi, Northeastern

Jessica Winegar, Northwestern
Jillian Schwedler, Hunter College
John Willis, University of Colorado, Boulder
Khalid Medani, McGill University
Lara Deeb, Scripps College
Lila Abu Lughod, Columbia University

Lisa Wedeen, University of Chicago
Marc Lynch, George Washington University
Maria Dakake, George Mason University
Max Weiss, Princeton University
Melani Cammett, Harvard University
Muriam Haleh Davis, UCSC
Nadya Sbaiti, American University in Beirut
Nathalie Peutz, NYU AD

Pete Moore, Case Western

Peter Mandaville, George Mason University
Rochelle Davis, Georgetown University
Rosie Bsheer, Harvard University
Samah Selim, Rutgers University

Sara Scalenghe, Loyola University
Sarah Shields, UNC Chapel Hill
Sherene Seikaly, UCSB
Shira Robinson, George Washington University

Suad Joseph, UC Davis
Susan Douglass, Georgetown
Zachary Lockman, NYU
Ziad Abu Rish, Ohio University

THE MESPI TEAM

MESPI TEAM

Bassam HaddadCo-Director
Ziad Abu-RishCo-Director
Nadya SbaitiNEWTON Editor
Rosie BsheerMESPI Editor
Sherene SeikalyMESPI Editor
Rochelle DavisMESPI Editor
Huseyin YilmazMESPI Editor
Mekarem EljamalMESPI Associate Editor
Jacob BessenEssential Readings Editor
Shakeela OmarPeer-Review Articles Review (PRAR) Editor
Claire ChristensenPRAR Co-Coordinator
Maddie VagadoriMESPI Website Editor
Jonathan AdlerEngaging Texts and Essential Readings Editor
Willa HartPRAR Co-Coordinator
Kylie BroderickASI Liaison

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