We hosted a multidisciplinary panel discussion that brought together experts on Middle East politics and affairs to discuss the latest developments in the war in Iran.

Panelists Nidal Betare, Dr. Grant Farr, and Dr. Harout Akdedian offered multidisciplinary perspectives on the situation's evolving domestic, regional, and international dimensions, with Dr. Lindsay Benstead moderating the discussion and leading a Q&A session.

The discussion provided students, faculty, and the public with a timely, expert-driven analysis of the situation in Iran, free and open to the public.

As part of our Tarbell Mentor Program 2026, Dr. Richard McClary visited Portland State University for a two-part engagement combining a classroom session in ARH 399 with a public lecture.

On April 14, 2026, Dr. McClary met with students in ARH 399 to discuss his career path as an Islamic art historian and offer guidance to those pursuing similar academic and professional trajectories.
His public lecture examined the proliferation of both heavily restored and newly manufactured decorative ceramic vessels in the art market, with a focus on polychrome mina'i ware and pieces with luster decoration. The event offered students direct mentorship from a leading Islamic art expert while raising public awareness of authenticity issues in the Islamic ceramics market.

For our online lecture series, we had Alireza Nader, the President and Senior Advisor at Nader Research Group, join us for a combined class session and public lecture, with students and the public attending together in the same session.

Nader shared his expertise on Iran and U.S. policy in the Middle East, drawing on his background as a former senior researcher at the RAND Corporation and senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD). His career includes advising the U.S. government on Iran, testifying before Congress, and lecturing at George Washington University, giving attendees a high-level, policy-informed perspective on inequalities in Iran.

The event brought students and the public together in a single online session, reflecting the Center's effort to make expert analysis accessible to a broad audience.

Joulia Bou Karroum presented an online lecture on war, crisis, and survival in Lebanon through a feminist lens, as part of our online lecture series. Bou Karroum, a Gender Equality, Safeguarding, and Social Inclusion (GESSI) expert with over 18 years of experience in the MENA region, shared insights drawing on her work coordinating the EU-funded Women Empowerment Hub in Lebanon.

The lecture addressed themes of gender equality, human rights, and inclusive development in conflict-affected contexts, offering attendees a grounded, expert perspective on the intersection of gender and crisis response in Lebanon.

MESC Co-sponsored Events

By: The Cascade Festival of African Films

MESC Scholarship