JTC 24: Passion Blossoms Into a Career Path

At a young age, Jacquelyn Stewart-Kuhn developed a passion for language and culture, inspired by her family's eagerness to explore and learn about different cultures. But it wasn't until she visited Egypt in 2018 that she decided to pursue Arabic in college.

A native of Mobile, Alabama, Stewart-Kuhn graduates in May from the University of Mississippi with a degree in Arabic and international studies, specializing in the Middle East and social-cultural identity.

"I heard about the Croft Institute for International Studies through a brochure and college fair," she said. "I was impressed with the rigor of the program and the outcomes. I hadn't found a program like that anywhere else, especially in Arabic."

Originally, Stewart-Kuhn had planned to study global health and considered learning the Arabic language as a skill. But over four years, her love for Arabic blossomed into a career through UM's linguistic anthropology courses, a study abroad trip to Morocco and the constant encouragement and enthusiasm by the Arabic flagship professors.

"I fell in love with Arabic," she said. "I love studying it, teaching it and could wax poetic about it all day.

"We have the most amazing professors who are genuinely kind and pour their love and passion into everything they do."

As her proficiency grew, Stewart-Kuhn began volunteering as a bilingual tutor and interpreter for Oxford School District students and parents from Arabic-speaking countries.

Volunteering has always been a cornerstone of her life, from rescuing cats and working with disabled children to teaching horseback riding as physical therapy and founding the Palestine Children's Relief Fund, which raises money for medical missions to the Levant region to help children dealing with the aftermath of war.

"Being able to give back and make people feel welcome in a foreign environment, while educating others about the Middle East and Arabic culture, is my greatest achievement," she said. "No academic honor could ever top that feeling."

Further enriching her experience, Stewart-Kuhn served as a tutor and summer teaching assistant for the Arabic Flagship Program.

Learning a second language opens so many doors. It's not just linguistic understanding; it is also cultural and societal understanding."

During her final semester, she collaborated with the Commission for International Justice and Accountability, translating sensitive documents by the Islamic State. The documents translated would be used in international court cases prosecuting ISIS members for crimes against humanity, human rights violations and war crimes.

"It's been a huge learning experience," she said. "I'm a different person coming out of college than I was when I started.

"Learning a second language opens so many doors. It's not just linguistic understanding; it is also cultural and societal understanding."

Stewart-Kuhn cherishes her time in Oxford, particularly the vibrant Muslim community she actively participated in. Coming from a small town in Alabama where she was raised in a "white Christian private school" environment, Ole Miss presented a culture shock.

Despite being well-traveled, she hadn't experienced such rich diversity firsthand. Meeting new people and gaining new perspectives significantly affected her.

Today, she embraces her identity as a confident, open-minded Muslim woman who readily accepts life's complexities.

"It is kind of funny," she said. "I came (to the University of Mississippi) with a very different plan, and I'm leaving with a very different future, and I'm not complaining in the slightest.

"This university represents all the best parts of Mississippi and the South that people aren't aware of."

Beyond her academic excellence, Stewart-Kuhn's journey is marked by prestigious milestones. These include induction into the Phi Beta Kappa honor society, being named a Taylor Medal finalist, receiving National Merit and Honors College scholarships, and, most recently, earning the Arabic Honors award from the Department of Modern Languages.

Notably, in 2026, she anticipates the publication of her thesis co-authored with her adviser, Kristin Hickman, professor of anthropology and international studies, in the Journal of North African Arabic. The research explores the interaction between various Arabic dialect groups, specifically challenging the notion that some dialects are superior to others spoken in places such as Morocco and Algeria.

While Stewart-Kuhn's current chapter concludes, a new adventure awaits. In June, she plans to return to Morocco for another year of intensive language study. This immersive experience will not only fulfill her study abroad requirement but also propel her Arabic fluency to an even higher level.

Stewart-Kuhn has been fueled by the passion ignited by mentors including Hickman; Emad Gerges, modern languages instructor in Arabic; and Allen Clark, associate professor of Arabic and co-director of the Arabic Flagship Program. She envisions pursuing either a master's degree in linguistic anthropology or a doctorate in sociolinguistics.

"My path definitely leads to academia, and I want to continue publishing research," she said.

Ultimately, she aspires to share her knowledge and passion by becoming a professor, inspiring future generations to explore the richness and complexity of language and the cultures it shapes.

See more photos from Jacquelyn Stewart-Kuhn's Journey to Commencement