Middle East and North African Studies Symposium

The Middle East and North African Studies symposium is an annual event organized by a committee of students that aims to celebrate the cultures of the Middle East and North African regions of the world. 

Title card for 10th annual MENA Symposium

Please join us February 27 - 29, 2024 for the 10th annual Middle Eastern and North African Studies Symposium. Driven by the Middle Eastern North Africa Studies program at Lewis & Clark, this year’s symposium sets out to explore linguistic diversity and identity, multicultural communications, and language politics.

Keynote Speakers

Nabil Boudraa: “Navigating the Linguistic Mosaic in Algeria: Unraveling the Complexities and Paradoxes of Multilingualism”

Tabrez Ebrahim: “Islamic Theory of Intellectual Property Law”

Schedule

The full schedule can be found on this year’s symposium webpage.

Symposium Cochairs

  • I am a cochair of the MENA Symposium and I suggested this year’s theme of Language and Politics. I was thrilled that the concept of multilingualism, a linguistic mosaic, and its relation to politics was incorporated into the symposium!

    Jana Qasem BA ’26
    Tigard, Oregon
    More about Jana
  • I am a cochair for the MENA Symposium—an experience that broadened my perspective on the intricate workings of our world and offered a valuable complement to my academic journey.

    Nadav Ben-David BA ’25
    Sunnyvale, California
    More about Nadav