Students

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.

Charlie Collins

Charlie Collins is a senior from the Southside of Chicago studying International Law, Islamic Studies, and Middle Eastern Studies. Charlie joined Arabic Flagship because he was interested in converting to Islam and learning more about the religion, and he wanted to increase his understanding of the world, so he can be more conscious of the things that are happening around him. In the short term, Charlie envisions himself traveling to an Arab country, and in the long term, he hopes to go to law school. Outside of studying, Charlie is learning how to play the cello and he works as a community educator (CUE).

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. She joined the Flagship in 2022 in order to improve her Arabic, especially speaking skills, and to meet people who also study/speak Arabic at the cultural events. She is hoping to work in some type of internationally focused work, possibly through the State Department. She enjoys hiking, reading, traveling, and cooking.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 Australia, 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.

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.