Careers and Alumni in Arabic Language Flagship

Jeannie is a recent 2021 graduate with a B.A. in Arabic and International Studies and a minor in Aerospace studies. Ms. Williams studied abroad in Meknes, Morocco; Ibri, Oman; and Muscat, Oman, during her time at the University of Mississippi with a Project GO scholarship. Jeannie is currently in the Language Enabled Airmen Program, which helps Airmen maintain and further develop language skills and graduate to the Foreign Area Officer career field. Ms. Williams will commission into the U.S. Air Force this October, and hopes to pursue a master’s degree in International Studies.

Paul was one of three students to complete the first Capstone year for the UM Arabic program. Mr. Hunt earned his B.A. in Arabic and International Studies with a minor in Math in 2019 and then attended the Capstone in 2019-2020. During his time at UM, Paul spent many summers and one semester abroad at three different programs in Amman, Jordan, and earned a Critical Language Scholarship to study Urdu at the American Institute of Indian Studies in Uttar Pradesh, India. Paul also picked up playing the oud while in Amman. Mr. Hunt is now pursuing a M.S. in Statistical Science at Indiana University.

Qua Sayles earned a B.A. in International Studies and a minor in Arabic in 2014. During her time in the UM Arabic program, she earned a Critical Language Scholarship and a Gilman Scholarship to study and conduct research in Jordan and Palestine. After graduating, Ms. Sayles earned an M.A. in Forced Migration and Immigration Studies at DePaul University in Chicago and worked with refugee resettlement organizations in the area. Currently, Qua is working with Partnership and Grant Management at Loyola University of Chicago and working as a freelance Arabic Instructor.

Charlotte headed off to the Harvard Kennedy School to earn a Masters in Public Policy and is the recipient of the prestigious Charles B. Rangel Fellowship to start her career in Foreign Service. At UM, Ms. Armistead earned a B.A. in Arabic and International Studies with a minor in Intelligence & Security Studies. She spent a summer and semester abroad in Amman, Jordan and received a Critical Language Scholarship. Ms. Armistead completed Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs and Georgetown University’s Master of Foreign Service program, and is now pursuing a career in the Foreign Service. She will be working at the US Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria. 

Orion graduated in 2014 with a B.A. in Economics and a minor in Arabic. Mr. Wilcox participated in several abroad programs and received the Critical Language Scholarship, the Gilman Scholarship, and admittance to the prestigious CASA program in Amman, Jordan. Mr. Wilcox spent significant time in Jordan, Palestine, and Sudan working on USAID projects and served as a Program Officer for IREX. Now, Orion is the Research Manager at DT Global and has just received the Foreign Language & Area Studies Award to pursue an M.A. in Middle East Studies at George Washington University in DC.

John graduated in 2019 with a B.A. in Arabic and International Studies as a Croft Scholar, a Barksdale Award recipient, a Taylor medalist, and a Rhodes finalist. Mr. Chappell spent significant time in Morocco and Jordan studying and conducting research, which led to his thesis on communal water politics in Morocco. While pursuing a J.D. and M.S. in Foreign Service at Georgetown University, John also worked with the Middle East Institute and Foreign Policy for America. He is currently a Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy Intern and a Sahel-focused Marcellus Fellow of the John Quincy Adams Society.