Students

Abdulmotaleb Alsaad

Abdulmotaleb Alsaad was born in Iraq and was raised in Syria for the first 12 years of his life. He is currently majoring in International Relations and minoring in Middle Eastern Language & Culture. Abdul joined the Arabic Flagship Program because it allowed him to connect with professional staff and members in the field. Abdul is excited to study abroad in Jordan and Morocco where he will be able to better his understanding of Arabic culture and improve his Arabic communication skills. He dreams to continue his International work focusing on immigration and refugees. Abdul's interest in working for the State Department and the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs is at an all-time high and he strongly believes that this is a profession he can excel in. Outside of school, Abdul spends his time playing soccer and volunteering to teach English to incoming refugees into the United States. He also serves a role in his Muslim community at Indiana University by assisting with Mosque events.

Avery Antill

Avery Antill was born and raised just south of Houston, Texas. She developed a love of learning languages in middle school when she started taking German. She now attends Indiana University for its amazing foreign language departments and flagship programs. She finds the culture, history, and current events of the Middle East fascinating, so she decided to become a member of the Arabic Flagship Program. She is pursuing a major in Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures and an area certificate in Journalism in hopes of working as an international correspondent in the Middle East. In her free time, she enjoys rock climbing at Hoosier Heights, photography, hiking, and sailing on Lake Monroe.

Cecilia Ball

Cecilia Ball is a senior from western Massachusetts, majoring in Neuroscience with a minor in Arabic. She became interested in learning Arabic while living in southern France, where many of her classmates spoke the language. After finishing her studies, she plans to work in healthcare and hopes to work with an NGO, helping to provide medical services in underserved areas.

Brendan Bondy

Brendan Bondy was born in Michigan and was raised in Dallas, Texas. He is currently studying International Studies and Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures with a focus in Arabic. Brendan joined the Arabic Flagship Program because he wanted to learn more about the Arab World and its rich language and culture. Through studying Arabic at IU's robust summer Language Workshop, Brendan excelled in his Arabic studies and learned important aspects of Arab culture.

Becca Bruss

Becca Bruss grew up in Wabash, IN and is double majoring in Middle Eastern Languages and Culture and Geography with a minor in Outdoor Recreation, Parks, and Human Ecology. Flagship has supported her in strengthening her proficiency through personal tutoring and community activities, as well as through providing study abroad opportunities. After graduating, Becca hopes to work in GIS while traveling in the Middle East, learning about customs and culture.

Maddie Butler

Maddie Butler (she/her) is a senior studying International Law and Institutions, Arabic, and French. She aspires to attend law school to work in immigration law and advocacy, and she joined the Arabic Flagship Program to foster her language skills in pursuit of this career. Maddie believes that language learning is necessary for building cross-cultural relationships with immigrant communities. She has been extremely grateful for the community and family atmosphere within the Flagship Program, and it has served as the cornerstone of her time at IU.

Elizabeth DeSantis

Elizabeth DeSantis is a senior from Memphis, TN. She double-majors in Broadcast Journalism and Middle Eastern Language and Culture. A multimedia journalist, she is currently a production assistant based in NYC for ABC's World News Tonight show. She joined the Arabic Flagship Program as a freshman because she wants to work as a foreign correspondent based in the Middle East and North Africa after graduating. As a journalist, she has covered stories of antisemitism, Islamophobia and refugeeism in her work. Her passion is sharing the stories of communities typically underrepresented in the media and furthering pluralism in the industry. She is an education and economy beat reporter for Indiana Public Media and an investigative reporter for the Arnolt Center of Investigative Journalism. Her work has appeared in ABC’s World News Tonight show with David Muir, WVPE News & Radio, WFYI Indianapolis Public Radio, Lakeshore Public Radio, WFIU Public Radio, WBAA, WBWB B97 , WHCC Hoosier Country 105, and she has contributed to investigative stories for USA Today and Investigate TV. Elizabeth has made many lifelong friends in her time in the Arabic Flagship program, and she attributes receiving her internship at World News to the language and cultural knowledge that the has gained through her participation in the program.

Elizabeth Dexter

Elizabeth Dexter is a senior from Evansville, Indiana majoring in Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures (Arabic) while also pursuing a minor in International Studies and a certificate in Islamic Studies. Outside of class, Elizabeth is involved in Indiana University's Model Arab League team, the Hutton Honors Council Asssociation, and the Epsilon Phi chapter of Alpha Sigma Alpha. In her free time, she enjoys reading, listening to music, and spending time with friends and family. After completing the Arabic Flagship Program, Elizabeth would like to pursue a master's degree in Arabic. Her career goal is to work as an FBI agent, but she is also interested in being a translator for the United Nations or teaching Arabic as a second language.

Jenna Felty

Jenna Felty is a junior from New Palestine, Indiana. She is double-majoring in International Studies and Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures. She is also a member of the Hamilton Lugar School Living-Learning Center. Her career goals are ever changing, but in the future she hopes to work as a Foreign Service Officer in an Embassy in the Middle East and eventually become a United States Ambassador.

Stuart Findley

Stuart Findley is a junior double majoring in Cybersecurity and Global Policy while also pursuing a minor in Arabic. Stuart is thankful that the Arabic Flagship program has allowed him to meet some of the greatest people he knows. He is excited to get to study and practice speaking with them for the next few years at Indiana University, and inshaallaah he will travel to Morocco and Jordan in the future to experience the culture first-hand. Outside of his studies, Stuart is a member of the Sigma Nu Beta Eta Chapter, Cybersecurity Club, and Running Club.

Sydney Gable

Sydney Gable is from Phoenix, Arizona and is studying International Law, Arabic, and Economics. I joined the Flagship in 2022 in order to improve my Arabic, especially speaking skills, and to meet people who also study/speak Arabic at the cultural events. I am hoping to work in some type of internationally focused work, possibly through the State Department. I enjoy hiking, reading, traveling, and cooking.

Rachel Gorman

Rachel Gorman is a senior in the Arabic Flagship Program. She's from Toledo, Ohio and is majoring in International Studies and Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures. She joined the Flagship to have more exposure to different Arabic dialects, including Iraqi and Levantine Arabic. She loved the extra instruction and education from native speakers in the program. After graduation, she hopes to teach English in Palestine and attend law school. She plans to study immigration law and continue to use the Arabic skills from the Flagship while working with refugees and immigrants. Outside of school, she is a sister of Sigma Kappa Sorority, a member of the Hutton Honors College, an English writing tutor, and an undergraduate researcher. She is so grateful for all of the support from this wonderful program, Professor Youseif and Professor Alramadan have been the most incredible role models and educators.

Nathan Hatchett

Nathan Hatchett is a senior from Columbus, Indiana. He is majoring in International Studies and Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures while also minoring in Linguistics. He became interested in Arabic right before coming to Indiana University when he saw information about the Flagship. Outside of school, Nathan plays lacrosse for the Indiana University Men's Lacrosse Club, is an active member of the Boy Scouts of America, and enjoys studying other languages. After graduating, Nathan is thinking about the Peace Corps or working for the State Department in the Foreign Service Office.

Leah Heneveld

Leah Heneveld is a senior from Zeeland, Michigan majoring in International Studies and Middle Eastern Languages & Cultures.  She is also pursuing minors in Spanish and History, and additionally studies Pashto.  Outside of classes, she enjoys singing, giving tours of IU, and the Great British Baking Show. Leah joined the Flagship as a freshman in order to strengthen her language abilities in a welcoming community, and better prepare for going abroad in the future.  She is thankful for the relationships she has built through the Flagship and is excited to use the skills she has learned while in Morocco next year.  After graduating, she hopes to work abroad for a few years before going back to for a master’s degree. 

Emma Holdren

Emma Holdren is a Junior from Denver, Colorado. She is majoring in Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures (Arabic) and Environmental and Sustainability Studies. She is grateful for all of the opportunities Flagship provides to improve her Arabic and learn about culture. In the future, she hopes to work in an internationally focused career and use her Arabic possibly in international education or the foreign service. Outside of class, Emma enjoys trying new foods, travelling and spending time outdoors.

Hayleigh Keasling

Hayleigh Keasling is a Junior from Liberty, Indiana studying pursuing a double major in International Studies and Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures with a minor in Informatics. She joined the Arabic Flagship in order to achieve proficiency in the hopes of using the language in her future career. Hayleigh hopes to one day join the Foreign Service and work for the U.S. Department of State, hopefully in the region. Outside of class, Hayleigh is a member of Indiana Model United Nations and is a Hoosier Scholar Ambassador. Being in Flagship has given her the skills to complete an internship with the U.S. Department of State in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs.

Isobel Kennedy

Isobel Kennedy is a senior from West Lafayette, Indiana. She is majoring in International Studies and Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures while also earning a certificate in Urban Studies. Apart from her studies, she likes to explore the nature in Bloomington, spend time with her friends, and go on roadtrips. In the future, she hopes to work in the development of self-sufficient communities in the Middle East.

Aidan Khamis

Aidan Chaouki Khamis is a freshman living in Livermore. California, and is pursuing a double major in Cognitive Sciences and Political Science/Philosophy. This is Aidan's first year in the program and as a Palestinian-American Aidan seeks to expand his Arabic skills from solely dialect to Modern Standard Arabic as well as improve his writing and writing skills.  So far he has enjoyed the welcoming and overarching support of the faculty in the program. In his free time Aidan likes to read and paint and is interested in cars. In the future he looks to develop the skills and vocabulary to use Arabic in his field of study and is hoping to live in the Middle East or North Africa in the future as well.

Abbey Krulik

Abbey Krulik is currently completing her Capstone year and is from Lebanon, Indiana, with majors in Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures and International Studies and a minor in Political Science. Outside of her coursework, Abbey enjoys exploring Bloomington, riding her bike, and spending time with her friends. After completing the Flagship program and her undergraduate degrees, Abbey plans to move to Washington, D.C. to utilize her Arabic skills in the pursuit of a career in foreign policy.

Patrick Lee

Patrick Lee is a junior from St. Louis, Missouri majoring International Law and Institutions and Near Eastern Languages and Cultures. Additionally, he is pursuing a honors certificate in Liberal Arts and Management. Patrick joined Flagship at the beginning of his college experience not knowing a single word in Arabic, and now thanks to an amazing team of professors and tutors, he can hold his own in conversation (or so he hopes). Between his freshman and sophomore years, Patrick studied 2nd-year Arabic at the Indiana University Summer Language Workshop and spent the past summer in Amman, Jordan studying the language. After capstone, he is hoping to work for the State Department or an NGO building and strengthening cross cultural connections and relationships.

Heidi Livingston

Heidi is a junior from Union City, Indiana. She is majoring in International Studies and Middle Eastern Languages & Cultures and minoring in Public and Environmental Affairs. She joined the Arabic Flagship to achieve proficiency in the language and learn more about the culture. Outside of academics, she enjoys playing volleyball, trying new food, and spending time in nature. In the future Heidi hopes to work in the nonprofit sector with climate change adaptation and food security in the MENA region. The Flagship has allowed her to accelerate her language-learning through the Summer Language Workshop and a summer abroad in Amman, Jordan.

Kendrick Mernitz

Kendrick Mernitz is a junior from Carmel, IN. She is double majoring in Cybersecurity & Global Policy and Middle Eastern Languages & Cultures. Kendrick joined the Flagship to gain a high proficiency in another language while learning about the culture. So far, the Flagship has given me an incredible community of teachers and friends to learn from and with. After graduation, Kendrick hopes to go to law school to pursue international or human rights law.

Ben Tomas Morgan

Ben Tomas Morgan is a native of South Bend Indiana and joined the IU Arabic Flagship in the fall of his freshman year, 2019. Ben is pursuing a double major in International Law & Institutions and Middle Eastern Languages & Cultures. He joined the Flagship because he wanted the opportunity to improve his language skills and to take advantage of all the opportunities the flagship offers to learn and practice Arabic outside the classroom. Since then, Ben has participated in flagship tutoring and clubs that helped prepare him for classes, a semester abroad in Jordan, and hopefully the Morocco capstone. Outside the flagship, Ben enjoys pickup soccer, is an avid news junkie, violinist, and spends time with friends.

Laila Morris

Laila Morris is from Chicago, Illinois. She studied the Arabic language for 5 years at Lindblom Math and Science Academy under the tutelage of three fantastic teachers. She is majoring in International Studies and is looking to add a double major in Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures. She joined the Arabic flagship program to further her fluency in the Arabic language as well as immerse herself in a new culture. In the future, she hopes to work for the United States Department of State as a Foreign Service Officer, connecting other cultures to the United States and broadening the minds of those unfamiliar with non-western cultures.

Margaret Pebworth

Margaret is a senior from Indianapolis, Indiana pursuing a Bachelor's of Science in International Studies while also minoring in Statistics and Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures. On campus, she is involved with the Hutton Honors College, the IU Dance Marathon on the Logistics Committee, the beekeeping club, and CHAARG club. She is also a part of the Global Leaders and Professionals Program and the Shreve Scholars Program. She is interested in the ways in which quantitative analysis can be applied to global studies as well as the interrelation of food, cooking, and culture. After her Capstone year, she would like to end up working with the federal government or in the nonprofit sector. Ideally, it will be a job where she can use her language and math skills.

Abby Potter

Abby is a junior from Fort Wayne, Indiana. She is majoring in International Studies and Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures (Arabic) with a minor in Global Media. Outside of the classroom, she likes to embroider, browse the news, and catch a coffee or tea with a friend. After living abroad in Austrailia, she became interested in Arabic when she met and befriended a girl whose parents worked as Foreign Service Officers in Egypt and Jordan. After graduating from Indiana University, she hopes to work abroad with the State Department or pursue a career in media with networks like Al Jazeera.

Lilly Reising

Lilly Reising is a Sophomore from Evansville, Indiana majoring in Law and Public Policy with a minor in History. She started studying Arabic through the Indiana University Summer Language Workshop in 2022 and joined the Flagship to continue learning the language with like-minded individuals. After graduating from IU, she hopes to go to law school.

William Rodenbeck

William Rodenbeck is a sophomore from Seymour, Indiana majoring in International Studies. He became interested in learning Arabic after researching linguistics and learning about some of the Arabic language's unique linguistic features. Outside of class, he is a member of the IU Marching Hundred where he plays the Mellophone.

Kaitlin Scott

Kaitlin Scott is a senior from New Castle, Indiana majoring in International Law and Institutions and Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures and minoring in Spanish. She joined the Arabic Flagship Program at the onset of her freshman year to achieve professional proficiency in a critical language. Kaitlin is also a Shreve Scholar and student in the Hutton Honors College. On campus, she has advocated to protect student rights as a member of the IU Student Government Congress and Executive Branches. She now works closely with the Hamilton Lugar School's Communications Team as a Social Media Intern and with the IU Alumni Association as a Student Fellow. In the future, she aspires to legally consult an international organization or join the foreign service.

Sachin Talagery

Sachin Talagery is a junior from Plano, Texas, pursuing a double major in Middle Eastern Languages & Cultures and International Studies. He is also studying Persian and plans to minor in Central Eurasian Studies. He joined the Flagship for the community that it builds around gaining a deeper understanding of Arabic-speaking cultures. He is grateful for the Flagship's diverse dialect offerings, like Yemeni, Iraqi, and Sudani, and has enjoyed representing the Flagship at the Qatar Debate US Universities Arabic Debate Championship. Outside of class, Sachin is a member of Indiana Model United Nations. He is now a student worker for the Hamilton Lugar School Dean's Office and was a Peer Mentor for the HLS Living Learning Center. In his free time, he enjoys listening to South Asian and Middle Eastern music and seeks to re-develop fluency in his mother tongue Konkani. After his capstone year, he aspires to pursue a career in government service or international organizations, hopefully in Southwest Asia or North Africa.

Sabine Thomas

Sabine Thomas was born and raised in Bloomington and later moved to Wabash, IN. She is majoring in Middle Eastern Languages and Culture along with International Studies with a minor in Creative Writing. So far, Flagship has offered many skill training resources and the support of a tight-knit community on a large campus. She aims to strengthen her Arabic proficiency throughout her time at IU through language courses and study abroad opportunities, which will prepare her for the Flagship's Capstone program in Morocco. After graduation, Sabine aspires to work for NGOs in the Middle East that focus on furthering girls' education.

Eden Zaborowski

Eden Rose Zaborowski is from Columbus, Indiana and is pursuing a double major in International Studies and Middle Eastern Language & Cultures. She joined the Flagship as a way of continuing her Arabic studies after participating in the Morocco YES Abroad program and deepening her knowledge of Arab culture. Eden's long term goal is to work in a government agency or NGO and she is currently interning in the Foreign Service Institute for the Department of State. Being a member of the Arabic Flagship helped her to qualify for this position, as well as spend summer 2022 in Amman, Jordan. In her free time, Eden enjoys swimming, reading, volunteering in refugee aid organizations, and travel.