King Fahd Center for Middle East Studies Introduces New Round-Table Series

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The first round-table session features Egypt, and will take place from noon to 1:30 p.m. Friday Sept. 13 in the Arkansas Union Room 507

The King Fahd Center for Middle East Studies will introduce a new monthly round-table series that will feature the experiences of students and faculty who have recently traveled or studied abroad in the Middle East.

"The purpose of this forum – and those that will follow – is to share our experiences and expertise and help place the rush of events in perspective," said Joel Gordon, professor of history and director of the King Fahd Center. "These forums are designed to be informal, more discussions than lectures or presentations, which will allow for audience members to pose questions and join the conversation."

The first round-table session features Egypt, and will take place from noon to 1:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 13, in the Arkansas Union Room 507. King Fahd Center faculty members Gordon and Jerry Rose along with doctoral students Matthew Parnell and Keith Whitmire will discuss their experiences abroad in Egypt this summer before and during the coup d'état that removed President Mohamed Morsi from office.  

"The Middle East has dominated headlines all summer and continues to be a central focus, even more than usual," says Gordon. "A large number of King Fahd Center faculty and advanced students were in the region this past spring and summer, where they witnessed events first hand."

This program is sponsored by the King Fahd Center for Middle East Studies, an interdisciplinary and interdepartmental area studies center that offers diverse cultural, intellectual, and educational opportunities for the University of Arkansas community.  It promotes research and teaching in interdisciplinary Middle East studies as part of the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Arkansas.