| MESC Quarterly Newsletter - December, 2025
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We are glad to be back!
The MESC quarterly Newsletter is our way of connecting with you, our community, and sharing the work that we are doing each quarter. We hope to share events and celebrate the achievements of our community all year long. If you have any updates, events, or news to share, please let us know at mesctr@pdx.edu.
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| Welcome Note From the Director
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Dear MESC Community,
We are very pleased to be back and provide updates about the events, book talks, and lecture series that we organize or co-sponsor at PSU and across the community.
It's been a great year of engagement with students, faculty, and the community, and of communicating with the university about the vital work that the Middle East Study Center does. I would like to thank all our faculty, staff, students, and visiting scholars for their support and for constantly showing up at our events.
As we settle into the academic year, here are a few highlights from the spring and summer 2025 events:
* Our summer event featuring PSU alum Dr. Francis W. Wambalaba
* A book talk on The Most American: The Life of Jordan’s King by Aaron Magid
* A talk on Somali deportees by visiting scholar, Dan Van Lehman
* A visit by Tarbell mentor Dr. Arar, who spoke to our students about the politics of migration
Stay tuned for new visiting scholars joining us this spring, and for two visiting lectures as part of the Tarbell Mentorship program. We continue to work with the Foundation on vital fundraising efforts to support the Center.
We look forward to engaging with and supporting you this year. We look forward to the newness to come, and we would be glad to celebrate our community and faculty's achievements. Please, if you have any achievements to share for our next newsletter, kindly send the details to our email address mesctr@pdx.edu
Thank you.
Warmly,
Lindsay Benstead
MESC Director
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We welcomed Dr.Rawan Arar for a two-day spring campus visit, during which she shared her research with students and delivered a public lecture on mapping the spatial and political dimensions of refugee displacement.
Dr. Arar's work illuminated the complex challenges refugees face, deepening our community's understanding of displacement and mobility. Thank you, Dr. Arar, for your valuable insights!
Stay tuned for the announcement of our 2025/26 Tarbell Mentors!
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During this summer hybrid presentation, Prof. Francis W. Wambalaba, PhD, AICP, addressed the critical need for academic institutions to bridge the gap between theoretical education and industry requirements. He highlighted the concerning trend of digitally skilled youth engaging in fraud for quick wealth, emphasizing the importance of redirecting these talents toward ethical applications.
Dr. Wambalaba showcased innovative programs at USIU-Africa that train young hackers to become ethical cybersecurity professionals, creating career pathways in banking, research, government, and technology sectors. This approach addresses both youth unemployment and the global cybersecurity skills shortage.
The session concluded with a dynamic Q&A moderated by Dr. Lindsay, where participants discussed job market navigation, employment trends, skills gaps, and technology-driven career advancement, fostering important dialogue on youth empowerment and ethical technology use.
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The presentation sparked rich engagement, with some attendees having lived in Jordan or known King Abdullah II personally. Aaron Magid's insights into how the King maintained Jordan's stability amid regional wars and refugee crises proved eye-opening, particularly his survival through the 2011 Arab Spring when many regional leaders were overthrown.
Discussions covered the Kingdom's history and the King's family background, providing context for his leadership approach. The Q&A session devled into comparisons of Jordan with other Arab nations, the role of the King's children during his medical treatments abroad, Jordan's balance between tradition and modernization, and its unique governing approach in the region.
The session offered valuable insights into Middle Eastern politics and the complexities of regional leadership.
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November 15 - 19 is International Education Week!
This well-attended hybrid event featured Dan Van Lehman, an expert with over 25 years of experience in Somali deportation cases. He shared how a rejected court testimony motivated him to create a comprehensive journal guide that now helps advocates strengthen evidence in deportation cases.
Van Lehman explained Somalia's conflict origins and refugee journeys to Kenya, Ethiopia, and Yemen, while presenting deportation data across three U.S. administrations. He detailed how most Somalis arrived in the U.S. through Family Reunification and Humanitarian programs serving both majority and minority Somali groups.
The Q&A explored the deportation process, deportees' experiences upon return, family separations, and challenges facing vulnerable ethnic minorities, sparking thoughtful discussions on immigration policy, human rights, and asylum complexities.
The session provided great insights into the humanitarian implications of deportation and the unique vulnerabilities facing Somali communities.
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In collaboration with the PSU Graphic Design Department, we welcomed Professor Dina Benbrahim (University of Connecticut) for an enlightening discussion on Moroccan design histories that challenge colonial narratives and recenter Moroccan perspectives. Thank you to all attendees and our collaborative partners!
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