- University News Archive - ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Professor Travels to Oman to Study Middle Eastern Food Security and Environmental Sustainability

John Hill — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 13:22:52 +0000

Dr. Rebecca Glazier, a professor in the School of Public Affairs at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, spent two weeks in January studying food security and environmental sustainability in Oman, a small county on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula. Now she’s bringing what she learned back to the classroom to teach ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students about Oman’s efforts to improve environmental sustainability and food security, problems that are among the world’s most urgent concerns. “We met with government officials that are running innovative programs in water desalination, starting camel milk collectives with local farmers, and planting a million date palms across the country to increase local food production,” Glazier said. “We were also lucky enough to connect with local people and to share meals with families in the mountains and in the desert, to learn more about their lives, what they eat, and how they live.” Glazier took the study abroad trip with faculty members and students from the University of Houston at Clear Lake. Dr. Marie Curtis, associate professor of anthropology and cross-cultural studies, was awarded a grant for a that aligned with U.S. State Department areas of concern around food security and environmental sustainability. “There are not as many study-abroad options in the Arab world, and the State Department encourages programming that offer students a diverse set of options,” Curtis said. “Food security and environmental sustainability are of global concern, and because I developed this program to cover those topics as they relate in the Arab world, our proposal stood out.” The group traveled to from Jan. 3-16, where they visited with professors, governmental officials, scientists as well as visited a number of cultural and historic sites.

The group visits Al Misfah village on a hillside in Oman.

“Oman is a beautiful country with a rich history and culture,” Glazier said. “I had so many incredible experiences there. I got to sleep in a 200-year-old home in the mountains, which was only reachable by a stone footpath. I hiked to the top of a dune in the desert to catch the sunrise and got to ride a camel through the desert at sunset. Visiting the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in the capital of Muscat was an amazing experience. It is really beautiful and is the spiritual heart of the city.” Glazier also teaches in ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s Middle Eastern Studies program and leads the university’s Model Arab League course. Glazier said her experiences will help prepare students who participate in Model Arab League, a simulation of an international organization, the League of Arab States, which represents 22 countries. “My students are researching a number of topics for their Model Arab League class this spring, including issues of food security in the Arab world and environmental challenges like water scarcity,” Glazier said. “Some of the solutions that Oman is implementing are innovative, and I am excited to talk with my students about them. Being able to share pictures and stories about Arabic culture and my travel experiences also brings things alive for students in a way that regular lecture doesn’t.” In addition, Glazier is hoping to use this experience to plan a future study abroad course to Oman for ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students. “Dr. Curtis worked so hard to design an innovative course and to give students the opportunity to study abroad in a place where students may not typically choose to go,” Glazier said. “I hope to be able to design a similar course for our students at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. Oman is a safe country, with very few COVID cases and no terrorism. For our students who are interested in Middle Eastern Studies, it is a great country to visit.”

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Students Win Awards at Model Arab League Conference

John Hill — Thu, 07 Apr 2022 12:44:16 +0000

Five University of Arkansas at Little Rock students have won awards highlighting their skills in representing Arab countries in international politics. The student diplomats received awards during the Bilateral Chamber Regional Model Arab League held Feb. 12-13 in Houston. The Model Arab League is a student leadership development program created by the National Council on US-Arab Relations. It is a simulation of an international organization, the League of Arab States, which has 22 member countries. The ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students who won awards include:

Distinguished Delegation Award to Faith Herd for her representation of Qatar in the Special Council on Poverty and Unemployment
Outstanding Delegation Award to Chloe McGehee for her representation of Qatar in the Joint Defense Council.
Best Chair Award to Caleb Mimms for his leadership of the Council of Arab Social Affairs for Qatar
Distinguished Delegation Award to Logan Mosley for his representation of Iraq in the Council of Social Affairs
Distinguished Delegation Award to Yvonne Rodriquez for her representation of Iraq in the Council of Social Affairs

Altogether, 14 ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students presented at the Bilateral Chamber Regional Model Arab League. The students and their assignments include:

Ibraheem Abbood, Special Council on Poverty and Unemployment for Iraq
Dana Abou-Diab and Isabel Ward, Council of Arab Environmental Affairs Ministers for Iraq
Armando Arellano, Council of Arab Social Affairs for Iraq
Owen Haynes, Council on Political Affairs for Iraq
Alex Martin, Council on Political Affairs for Iraq
Jack Schlotter, Joint Defense Council for Iraq
Tripti Shukla, Council on Political Affairs for Qatar
Lamar Townsend, Council of Arab Environmental Affairs Ministers for Qatar

The ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Model Arab League participation is supported by the Middle Eastern Studies program, which subsidizes the student travel and conference participation costs.

Graduating SGA President DeKay Headed to George Mason University to Pursue Law Degree

John Hill — Fri, 14 May 2021 16:48:45 +0000

After just three years at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, Landon DeKay, of Maumelle, has completed his studies one year ahead of schedule and will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in political science this month. “I feel like I just started school, but I’ve loved my time at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock,” DeKay said. “Initially, I was not set in stone in going to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. I initially wanted to attend a larger university. After studying abroad and doing research with professors and being involved in all the student organizations, I’ve really learned to love ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and all that it offers its students. I’m sad to be leaving, but I’m looking forward to the new adventures I will have in law school.” This fall, DeKay will attend Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University in Arlington, Virginia. “I am planning on concentrating my studies on national security law,” he said. “Throughout my undergraduate tenure, I focused much of my studies on foreign policy and the Middle East. I have also been involved with the Middle Eastern Studies Program at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and have competed in numerous Model Arab League competitions in the U.S. and in Morocco. I have grown to love studying the implications to our national security following 9/11 and the rise of domestic terror groups here in the United States. To me, national security is one of the most interesting areas to study, and that is why I want to continue learning about how we can better protect our security interests while in law school.” As president of the Student Government Association, DeKay is best known around campus for his work advocating on the behalf of students. “I’ve loved being involved in the SGA and seeing the work I’ve done with different senators come to fruition,” DeKay said. “After the mass protests after the killing of George Floyd, I worked with SGA to advocate for the creation of the Racial Barriers Committee to look at current university policies and procedures that might disproportionately impact students of color at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. I hope that SGA has inspired positive change at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock.” DeKay’s time as president also included a global pandemic that left most students taking classes from home and some facing emergencies on an unprecedented level. “I knew coming into the school year that my term as president would be impacted by COVID 19, but I didn’t realize how impacted it would be until I experienced it firsthand,” he said. “I met with the leaders on campus to see how COVID-19 impacted our students. I also served on numerous university committees to see how we could help students negatively impacted by COVID 19, like delivering computers for students who needed technology to take classes online.” Since there were few on-campus events during the 2020-21 school year, DeKay said the SGA spent much of its time revising the constitution and donating portions of the SGA budget to student groups on campus who needed funds for projects or events. “It’s essentially been a year of rebuilding SGA,” DeKay said. “We made 11 different changes to our constitution. I hope the next president will see SGA grow exponentially.” In addition to his work with the SGA, DeKay counts conducting research with the Little Rock Congregations Study, a 2020 summer internship with U.S. Rep. French Hill’s office, and a 2019 trip to the International Model Arab League Conference in Morocco among his most memorable college experiences at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “I would definitely say my trip to Morocco has been one of my most influential parts of going to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock,” he said. “It was partially funded by the Middle Eastern Studies Program, so having the opportunity to study abroad for a reduced cost was life-changing. This trip was my first time going abroad. I saw firsthand how people in other countries live their daily lives, which was eye-opening. This trip made me even more invested in international service and public affairs.” DeKay highlights Dr. Richard Harper, dean of students, and Dr. Rebecca Glazier, professor of public affairs, as two mentors who made a significant impact on his life at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “Dean Harper has been a huge mentor. He’s the advisor for SGA so I worked with him on numerous projects,” DeKay said. “I would also definitely say Rebecca Glazier has been a great mentor. She was also my faculty mentor for my Signature Experience Project. I’ve been in one of her classes every semester I’ve been at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. She has been one of the most motivating professors I have ever had. I would also like to thank all the professors from the School of Public Affairs, like Dr. Williams and Dr. Giammo. Both of you have made a big impact on my life and have prepared me for my future studies in law school.” As DeKay reflects on his time at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, his advice for new students is to find and get involved in something they love. “I tell new students not to be afraid to get involved in things they are interested in,” he said. “I know coming to college can be intimidating for new students, but you should take it one day at a time, meet new people, and then go from there.”

��Vlog��ý Little Rock grad looks forward to career in tech industry, starting orphanage

John Hill — Thu, 21 May 2020 13:26:27 +0000

A University of Arkansas at Little Rock graduate is looking forward to a future in the tech industry, followed by fulfilling her lifelong goal of helping children.�� Mariam Bouzihay, of Jonesboro, has graduated from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in information technology.�� In the fall, she will attend the New York University Tandon School of Engineering in the Management of Technology program to study user experience and interface design. The program is designed for college graduates and professionals who aim to make a difference in a world where economic and social advancement is increasingly dependent on integrating technology and business. Her lifelong goal, after establishing a career in the tech industry, is to open an orphanage. “My ultimate goal is to open an orphanage, but I want to have a career first,” she said. “I’ve always enjoyed helping people, and I feel if people had that one person who was there for them that they could achieve so much. A child needs a support system, so I want to be there for those children and help others.” Bouzihay’s decision to come to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock was a family affair. Her older sister, Nora, attended ��Vlog��ý Little Rock as a Donaghey Scholar, so, naturally, Bouzihay was intrigued. She has been an active participant in the EAST Scholarship Program at Nettleton High School in Jonesboro and wanted to continue that at her university. After being accepted as an EAST Scholar, Bouzihay has been involved in a number of community service activities. “As an EAST Scholar, you teach yourself technology skills, and you put them to use to create a service project to help your community,” she said. “During my sophomore year, I worked with ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Children International. We created an after-school EAST program at Wakefield Elementary, where the students created designs for their dream playground. During my junior and senior years, I helped plan events and get volunteers for the STEM Education Center, so I coordinated events like the robotics competitions, community engineering nights, and girls coding competition.”�� Throughout her time at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, Bouzihay has had some amazing experiences that make her stand out. She was a fellow in the Career Connections Powered by Facebook program, served as a strategic communications intern for the Judge David L. Bazelon Center of Mental Health Law in Washington, D.C., as well as an events and donor relations intern at the Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, Rhode Island. Last year, Bouzihay was one of 10 U.S. college students selected for the Joseph J. Malone Fellowship in Arab and Islamic Studies cultural immersion program in Qatar. Bouzihay traveled to Qatar to learn about the country’s culture, society, and economics, as well as government priorities, concerns, and needs as pertaining to Qatari-U.S. relations. “My favorite off-campus college experience was going to Qatar,” she said. “It was exciting to meet with different diplomats and consulates. We were guests of the government, and we learned about the culture and met other students and professors from the U.S. who shared the experience. We experienced things that most students will never get to see.” Her favorite on-campus experiences included being involved in activities that made a difference to the university and the community, like serving as president of the Model Arab League and the Student Alumni Board as well as serving as the chief of staff and public relations officer for the Student Government Association. “My best on-campus experience is creating connections with people and being able to give back to the university,” Bouzihay said. “I love ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. I think it’s Arkansas’s best kept secret. We have so many amazing programs, and I’ve been glad to help grow and shine some light on these programs. Since my freshman year, I’ve wanted to make changes on this campus, and that has pushed me to succeed. SGA helped me gain connections on campus, like being on the reaccreditation steering committee, and learning how things work in higher education.”�� Bouzihay was thankful to a number of mentors who helped her succeed during her time at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “My biggest mentor is Rebecca Glazier, since I was in Model Arab League. She opened a lot of doors, and that is why I went to Qatar,” Bouzihay said. “Sandra Leitermann at the STEM Education Center has also been an inspiration to me. I really look up to her. I work very closely with Kristi Smith and Samantha Wiley in the Bailey Alumni Center in my job as a communications intern. They have given me great opportunities to grow and advice.” As someone who participated in the Upward Bound college preparation program, Bouzihay knows the importance of having a good mentor, which is why she decided to serve as a mentor to students in ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s Charles W. Donaldson Scholars Academy and the Student Affairs Success Initiatives. “I saw how important it was to have positive mentors and have someone to relate to you,” she said. “I always wanted to give back, especially since the Charles W. Donaldson Scholars Academy and the Student Affairs Success Initiatives focused on minority students. Some people just need one person to listen and help them. Anyone can be a mentor, but it takes a lot to be a positive mentor. I’m a first-generation student, so I know what it’s like and how to help new students navigate the system.” While looking back at her college career at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, Bouzihay is grateful for the journey that has left her with a lifetime of exciting memories. “It was a learning experience. It opened doors I didn’t think would be possible or even existed,” she said. “It showed me the importance of giving back to the university and, no matter what, to give it your all. Without ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, I wouldn’t have had the experiences I’ve had or met the people I have. I thank ��Vlog��ý Little Rock for that. I’m excited to move on to new experiences and use what I’ve learned these past four years.”

��Vlog��ý Little Rock grad plans to transform the world through transitional justice, conflict research

John Hill — Tue, 19 May 2020 13:23:54 +0000

A University of Arkansas at Little Rock graduate wants to make the world a better place by becoming a scholar in transitional justice and peace building in countries affected by conflict and civil war.�� Ra’phael Davis, a native of Newport, Arkansas, is graduating with bachelor’s degrees in international studies and philosophy as well as a certificate in professional Spanish. In the fall, Davis will begin a Ph.D. program in political science at Ohio State University, where he will study international relations and comparative politics. He is also a recipient of the Dean’s Distinguished Graduate Enrichment Fellowship, a fellowship that lasts for three years and is supplemented by a two-year assignment as a teaching or research assistant. “There is a deep seated moral commitment from me since I was in grade school to help reduce conflict in the world, specifically for marginalized groups,” Davis said. “In the fourth grade, I learned about genocide. It startled me just to learn that it existed. I knew that somebody had to do something to stop this, and that is what stuck with me. I wanted my life committed to helping other people and improving their lives. I want to find ways to prevent genocide, hold people responsible, and improve people’s lives after conflict.”�� After taking a 2018 seminar on peace building and post-conflict reconstruction with Dr. Eric Wiebelhaus-Brahm, associate professor in the School of Public Affairs, Davis was inspired to apply for the National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates in Conflict Management and Peace Science. After spending the summer of 2018 conducting research at the University of North Texas with Dr. Jaqueline Demeritt, Davis’ research on the impact of transitional justice and reparations on post-civil war peace was published in two academic journals on philosophy and international relations. “As a transitional justice and conflict scholar, I can attest that he is poised to make important contributions to the field,” Wiebelhaus-Brahm said. “Ra’phael is interested in how victims and conflict-affected communities respond to material and symbolic forms of reparation.” Davis was also selected by the United Nations to work as a volunteer with Education Watch Pakistan, which focuses on human rights education, where he helped produce two books on the state of human rights in Pakistan. “He has taken on several roles in the community that demonstrate his character, leadership, and citizenship,” Wiebelhaus-Brahm said. “He currently works with Global Ties Arkansas, which seeks to promote understanding by bringing foreign leaders to the U.S. He has interned with The Confess Project, which is implementing mental health awareness campaigns through social media and in majority African American neighborhoods to combat the stigmatization of minority men’s mental health.” While at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, Davis found ways to give back to the community that have helped him become the man he is today. In addition to being a Donaghey Scholar, Davis has served as president of the International Honor Society of Philosophy, president and founder of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s International Studies Association for Undergrads; and president of the Ethics Bowl Debate Team. He’s also volunteered as a mentor with the Student Affairs Success Initiative (SASI). “SASI’s mission was compelling, because I would have the chance to be influential in helping other first-generation and minority students succeed in college,” Davis said. “I began mentoring a group of 9-10 students for the 2018-2019 school year with SASI. Thankfully, I was able to help the majority of these students on a one-on-one basis which I think improved their chances at educational success. One of my mentees was taking a math class, but he could not afford the textbook for the class. He also would not reach out to his family back home because of the extreme poverty he knew his family was facing. Within a matter of hours, I was able to connect him with the resources he needed on campus, allowing him to get his textbook and do well in class.” Among his many accomplishments, Davis also earned a competitive Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship from the U.S. Department of State in 2019 to study abroad at Maastricht University in the Netherlands. As part of a course in social policy, he worked with other international students to develop a project on poverty and mental health in migrant communities in the Netherlands. “We worked with a local nonprofit called Trajekt to help improve the lives of immigrants and forced migrants in the Netherlands by finding innovative ways to reduce poverty levels and foster social integration in trauma sensitive ways,” he said. “In the end, we developed a proposal for programming through funding from the Maastricht municipality to help with the community mission in another country. It didn’t matter that we might never see the people we would impact again, it only mattered that we improved the lives of others in the human community.” Over the summer, Davis plans to work with fellow ��Vlog��ý Little Rock alums Connor Donovan and Madeline Burke to create a virtual summer program on international and political affairs for high school students. The Gilman International Scholarship Alumni Network, of which Davis and Burke are alumni, has a COVID-19 action fund, and the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock alums plan to apply for a grant to fund the summer program. “If we get the grant, I hope high school students will learn that these careers are possible for them in political science and international relations, what colleges have strong programs in these areas, and to have an idea of what career options are available,” Davis said. “People often don’t know about the resources and job options that are available in these kinds of careers.”

��Vlog��ý Little Rock to share Moroccan adventures with community, honor Miguel Lopez

Ajani Oyindamola — Fri, 01 Nov 2019 15:41:14 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock will host a community event on Friday, Nov. 8, recounting the adventures of 17 students who competed at the International Model Arab League conference in Morocco in October.�� The community event, free and open to the public, will take place from 5-8 p.m. at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Downtown, 333 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock.�� The Model Arab League is a student leadership development program created by the. It is a simulation of an international organization, the League of Arab States, which represents 22 countries. From Oct. 17-26, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students served as representatives of Sudan, Kuwait, Oman, Tunisia, and Morocco in the conference simulation, followed by a cultural immersion in Morocco. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s School of Public Affairs will present the inaugural ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Model Arab League Alumni Excellence Award to Miguel Lopez, Hispanic resource officer for First Community Bank. Lopez graduated from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock with a bachelor’s degree in political science, graduate certificate in nonprofit management, and master’s degree in public administration. As an active member in the community, Lopez serves on the boards of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Alumni Board, Just Communities of Arkansas, Harmony Health Clinic, Museum of Discovery, and Goodwill of Arkansas Education Initiatives. “Miguel Lopez is an outstanding ��Vlog��ý Little Rock alum who attended our first trip to the International Model Arab League in Morocco in 2016,” Glazier said. “Since then, Miguel has become an active community leader. We hope that hearing about his journey will serve as an inspiration to students who hope to become leaders like him.”

��Vlog��ý Little Rock students ride camels while camping in the Moroccan desert. Photo by Larry Rhodes.

The event will also feature a silent auction with items brought back from Morocco, including hand-crafted rugs, jewelry, tea glasses, pottery, and scarves. Framed photographs from Morocco taken by Larry Rhodes, learning technology coordinator in the College of Social Sciences and Communication, will also be available for sale. All funds raised from the silent auction will go to the creation of a new scholarship fund to help students who have participated in Model Arab League simulations study abroad. First Community Bank has generously donated $2,500 toward the new scholarship. In the upper right photo, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students visit the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, Morocco, the largest mosque in Africa. Photo by Larry Rhodes.

Three ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students win awards at Model Arab League

Ajani Oyindamola — Thu, 14 Mar 2019 13:19:40 +0000

Three University of Arkansas at Little Rock students won awards during the Feb. 15-17 in Houston.�� The Model Arab League is a student leadership development program created by the. It is a simulation of an international organization, the League of Arab States, which has 22 member countries. Julie O’Hara, senior political science major, won the Outstanding Delegation Award, while Solane Nemera, senior political science major, and Sydney Brazil, junior philosophy major, won the Distinguished Delegation Award. “Winning an award was a huge surprise because Solane Nemera and I were in a committee with very talented and prepared delegates,” Brazil said. “I thought we did a great job, but it was still a shock to win an award at my first Model Arab League conference.” Brazil and Nemer represented Egypt on the Special Council on Women and Children, where they spent a majority of time discussing the impact of displacement and conflict in preventing children from accessing a stable education and evaluating ways in which the Model Arab League can reduce the number of children who are out of school. “The amazing thing about the Model Arab League is that you are debating about very relevant issues,” Brazil said. “Negotiating with other delegates and working on draft papers really gets your adrenaline pumping, while passing a resolution that offers a potential solution gives you such a sense of accomplishment.” More than 20 ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students participated in the conference. They met with the Egyptian Consulate to help them prepare to represent Egypt during the conference. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students also represented Kuwait and Morocco. “I applied for Model Arab League because it sounded really fun,” Brazil said. “I have always been interested in international relations and was curious as to how diplomacy worked. My experience thus far has been so amazing. I’ve made new friends, learned about a part of the world I wasn’t very familiar with, and improved my presentation and critical thinking skills. It has added so much value to my life through awareness of issues in other parts of the world and truly awesome friends.” Students who competed in the Bilaterial Model Arab League include Anna Aguilar, Mariam Bouzihay, Nora Bouzihay, Sydney Brazil, Angela Burton, Colin Davies, Landon DeKay, Molly Edwards, Ravan Gaston, Jorge Gonzalez, Dorothea Greulich, Leon Kockaya, Faith Madkins, Kristen Miller, Claire Mitchell, Solane Nemera, Jonathan Nwosu, Jessica Olson, Julie O’Hara, Hope Roberts, Madison Rogers, Makell Swinney, and Issac Thomas. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students will next compete in the National University Model Arab League Conference April 4-7 at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock student visits Qatar on international fellowship

Ajani Oyindamola — Tue, 12 Mar 2019 13:01:52 +0000

A University of Arkansas at Little Rock student will share her knowledge of the government and culture of the Middle Eastern nation of Qatar after being selected for a prestigious international fellowship that included a diplomatic visit to Qatar. Mariam Bouzihay, a ��Vlog��ý Little Rock junior psychology student from Jonesboro, was one of 10 U.S. college students selected for the Joseph J. Malone Fellowship in Arab and Islamic Studies cultural immersion program to Qatar, a peninsula nation with a population of 2.6 million that borders Saudi Arabia to the south and is surrounded by the Persian Gulf on all other sides. “The whole point of the program is to expose people to different countries,” Bouzihay said. “There are many stereotypes about the countries in the Middle East and North Africa region. Last spring, I got to represent Qatar in the Model Arab League, and then I got to experience Qatar in real life. It was an amazing experience.” Since 1984, the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations has provided American professionals in academia, government, and business educational experiences in the Arab world through the fellowship, which places its participants into the dynamics of Arab-U.S. relations and provides first-hand exposure to the region’s cultural, economic, political, and social diversity pursuant to increased knowledge and understanding. After an orientation in Washington, D.C., Bouzihay traveled to Qatar from Nov. 16-23, 2018, with the other fellows and five professors to learn about the country’s culture, society, and economics, as well as government priorities, concerns, and needs as pertaining to Qatari-U.S. relations. Qatar is quite different than most people would expect, Bouzihay said. Its economy was largely based on the pearl industry. Now, Qatar is a high-income economy backed by the world’s third-largest natural gas and oil reserves and has the highest per-capita income in the world. The United Nations has classified Qatar as a county of high human development, and it is widely regarded as the most advanced Arab state for human development. Since 2017, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates have embargoed Qatar, breaking off economic and diplomatic ties. “It’s been interesting to see how Qatar has rose up after the blockade began,” Bouzihay said. “A lot of people expected Qatar to fall, but the country fought back and established ties with other countries, which caused Qatar to become very self-sufficient. They are even hosting the FIFA World Cup in 2022, and they will be the first Arab country to host the event. After it’s over, Qatar plans to donate its stadiums to other countries that don’t have stadiums.” During the trip, Bouzihay’s group met with officials from the U.S. Embassy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Office of Counterterrorism, and the Ministry of Defense. The group also visited the Museum of the Islamic Art, Aljazeera, Qatar National Library, Al Udeid Base, Qatar Petroleum, and the 2022 FIFA World Cup Supreme Committee. “As part of the one-year fellowship, I will implement a variety of programs, events, and outreach efforts in my home community,” Bouzihay said. “These programs aim to share my newfound knowledge of Qatar with the American public, multiplying the educational impact of the program. Many people are unaware of the true Middle Eastern and North Africa region, so it is important to spread my experience and the things I learned during that time.”

High school students to participate in Model Arab League

Ajani Oyindamola — Wed, 20 Feb 2019 22:07:14 +0000

More than 170 Arkansas high school students will participate in an annual international leadership program that gives students a taste of life as an international diplomat.�� The University of Arkansas at Little Rock will host the High School Model Arab League conference on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 22-23. The Model Arab League is a student leadership development program created by the. It is a simulation of an international organization, the League of Arab States, which represents 22 countries. “The Middle East is an area of critical importance to international politics,” said Dr. Rebecca Glazier, director of the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Model Arab League and associate professor in the School of Public Affairs. “Many of the issues there — from religious extremism to water shortages to gender inequality — are issues that matter for the whole world. Thinking through potential solutions to these problems is a great way for students to get engaged and feel hopeful about the future of the Middle East and the world,” she said. During the two-day event, high school students from across the state will serve as delegates on committees. The ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Middle Eastern Studies Program donates the conference fees to help deserving high school students attend the conference. The conference will be run by ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students, who will chair committees, organize awards, and serve in key roles. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students who are helping to organize the conference and their positions include Jonathan Nwosu, secretary general; Mariam Bouzihay, assistant secretary general; Rashad Roberts, Joint Defense Council; Nora Bouzihay, Council on Palestinian Affairs; Sarah Fulmer, Council on Political Affairs Ministers; Faith Thomas, Council on Arab Social Affairs Ministers; Julie O’Hara, Council of Arab Economic Affairs Ministers; and Leon Kockaya, Council of Arab Economic Affairs Ministers. Participating high schools include Bryant High School, Caddo Magnet High School, Conway High School, Fayetteville High School, Haas Hall Academy, Haas Hall Rogers, Jessieville High School, Little Rock Central High School, Pulaski Academy, and Texas High School. Mariam Bouzihay, a ��Vlog��ý Little Rock junior psychology student from Jonesboro, will speak at the conference’s opening session at 9 a.m. Friday, Feb. 22, in the Engineering and Information Technology Building Auditorium. As the recipient of the Joseph J. Malone Fellowship in Arab and Islamic Studies, Bouzihay traveled to Qatar in November to learn about the country’s culture, society, and ��economics, as well as government priorities, concerns, and needs as pertaining to Qatari-U.S. relations. “As part of the one year fellowship, I will implement a variety of programs, events, and outreach efforts in my home community,” Bouzihay said. “These programs aim to share my newfound knowledge of Qatar with the American public, multiplying the educational impact of the program. Many people are unaware of the true Middle Eastern and North Africa region, so it is important to spread my experience and the things I learned during that time.” ��Vlog��ý Little Rock has hosted the Model Arab League since 2008. The event is sponsored by the, the League of Arab States Information Office, and the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations. For more information, contact Dr. Rebecca Glazier, raglazier@ualr.edu, or visit the Model Arab League.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock wins first ever award at National Model Arab League

Ajani Oyindamola — Thu, 26 Apr 2018 13:05:14 +0000

Two University of Arkansas at Little Rock students received the Distinguished Delegation Award for their representation of Jordan at the National Model Arab League Conference April 4-9 at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.�� Leon Kockaya, senior political science major from Istanbul, Turkey, and Brenden Gammill, senior history major from Little Rock, won the award while serving on the Council of Environmental Affairs Ministers. This is the first time ��Vlog��ý Little Rock has won an award from the National Model Arab League Conference. “We discussed topics ranging from the obligations of the Paris Climate Accords to water scarcity and issues of waste disposal and recycling,” Gammill said. “These topics are important everywhere in the world, but what is more important is gaining an understanding that even when facing something as ubiquitous as global climate change that all countries are unique and will be forced to make choices based on their own capacities, limitations, and conflicting goals.” The Model Arab League is a student leadership development program created by the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations. It is a simulation of an international organization, the League of Arab States, which represents 22 countries. Twenty ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students attended the conference, including Abigail Resendiz of Bryant; Ashlyn Johnson of Pocahontas; Benjamin Bowers of Benton; Brenden Gammill, Colin Davies, Jonathan Nwosu, Julie O’Hara, and Daniel Stuckey, all of Little Rock; Hedi Davis of Kake, Alaska; Jorge Luis Gonzales of Brownsville, Texas; Kevin Shatley of Hot Springs; Leon Kockaya of Istanbul, Turkey; Makell Swinney of Fort Smith; Mariam Bouzihay of Jonesboro; Maurico Bryant of Gurdon; Molly Edwards of Magnet Cove; Paige Topping of Pine Bluff; Ryan Bourgoin of Sherwood; Scott Foltz of Cabot; and Solane Nemera of Sherwood. The students also met with Anas Al Oran, consular general of the Embassy of Jordan, on April 5 to learn what it is like to represent the country or Jordan in international diplomacy. “I am incredibly proud of our team. This conference represents a national stage and to see our students succeed here is really wonderful,” said Dr. Rebecca Glazier, associate professor of public affairs and faculty advisor to the Model Arab League. “Getting to travel to Washington, D.C., work with students from around the country and the world, meet diplomats, and engage in simulated international negotiations is really a great opportunity for our students. This is exactly the kind of high-impact experience that sets ��Vlog��ý Little Rock apart.” For more information, contact Dr. Rebecca Glazier, raglazier@ualr.edu, or visit the website.

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