Welcome to the Middle East Center (MEC) at Florida State University. Created in 2006, the MEC's main objective is to provide an academic environment for students from a multitude of disciplines to develop a deeper understanding of the Middle East. The MEC also administers FSU's Bachelor of Arts in Middle Eastern Studies, as well as minors in Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies.
Upcoming Events
Florida State University’s Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics and the FSU Middle East Center will host the 15th annual Middle East Film Festival, showcasing films that provide insight into international cinema and share perspectives rarely seen in mainstream media. The festival, which runs Feb. 1 through February 22, is sponsored by the FSU Middle East Center and the Student Life Cinema and features four films screening over the course of four Thursdays. Click here for more details and to learn more about our films lineup for this year.
The Middle East Center and the Music School would like to invite you to a lecture titled 'Musical Cultures on the Silk Road' by Latif Bolat, a Turkish Music Sufi Scholar. The lecture will be on Thursday, December 7th at 1 PM in HMU 229.
What is the secret behind the name "Egypt"? Why are the pyramids among the world’s seven wonders? Do Egyptians still speak the ancient Egyptian Language? Are there other secrets behind the temples, the tombs, the mummies, etc.? Join us on Wednesday, November 8th, at 6 p.m. at The Globe Auditorium to hear Dr. Farida Badr unpack Egypt's secrets. Participants will sample an Egyptian dessert, Om Ali, at the end of the lecture.
The Middle East Center at FSU invites to attend the 2023 Jeannette B. Chapman Endowed Lecture on Thursday, April 13th at 5:30pm at the Claude Pepper Center (636 W. Call Street). This year's speaker is Steven A. Cook who will give a talk titled: "Americans and the Middle East: Where do We Go From Here?"
Join Diplomat in Residence C.B. Toney on Monday, April 18 at 5:00pm EDT as he celebrates Arab American Heritage Month. You’ll hear from Dr. Zeina Tamer Schlenoff and Ms.Nicole Schlichter as they discuss their Foreign Service experiences.
Register at: http://ow.ly/ICkW50IGQpa
Recent Events
Arabic Honor Night
The Middle East Center recognized students who have excelled in Arabic classes this semester. Thank you to our students for all of your hard work!
Jeanette B. Chapman Endowed Lecture Series for Middle Eastern Studies
Student Highlights
The College of Arts and Sciences has featured our recent Fall 2022 graduate Caroline Sizemore (MES) from among more than 700 A&S bachelor students graduating this fall. Click here to read more about Caroline's accomplishments.
Madelyn Johnson is a double major in Middle Eastern Studies and International Affairs with a minor in History. As a sophomore, Maddy received the Boren Scholarship to travel to Jordan and study Arabic at the University of Jordan. While in Jordan, she was also able to intern at Al Hadaf, a locally-run NGO assisting Iraqi refugees. Madelyn's Boren experience strengthened her love for the language and the region and opened so many doors to future internships and study abroad opportunities.
Payton Parkin is a senior studying Middle Eastern Studies and Public Administration through Florida State's Emergency Management and Homeland Security (EMHS) program. Being connected with her peers, professors, and academics within the Middle Eastern Studies Program has been an instrumental factor in Payton's success at Florida State University. In Fall 2020, Payton became the Founder of Florida State's Arabic Honor Society (AHS), the first collegiate Arabic honor society in the United States. With this organization, Payton aims to promote excellent scholarship by providing an atmosphere for academic and professional mobility. She hopes AHS will leave a lasting legacy at FSU and expand to other universities nationwide.
Ariana Richter is a double major in International Affairs and Middle Eastern Studies. She is currently working on a thesis paper that discusses regional conflicts and their effects on humanitarian crises, specifically focusing on the Civil War in Yemen and rising rates of child marriage. She hopes to one day become a refugee lawyer and assist individuals who are fleeing persecution in their home country. Using her Arabic skills, she is interested in assisting women and children located in the Middle Eastern successfully seek asylum in the United States.