MIDDLE EAST NORTH AFRICA SIG

The Middle East North Africa SIG (MESIG) brings together scholars, educators, and development practitioners interested in the study of the region. Through high quality scholarship, dissemination, and service we seek to enhance educational policy, programming, and pedagogy, and to foster understanding of the region’s peoples more generally. The MESIG is not associated with any political or religious affiliation. Our geographic scope includes the broader Middle East and North Africa region, as well as locales with historic or contemporary ties to the region and their peoples.

History
The Middle East Special Interest Group was established in 2007 through the initiative of several founding members with the support of Gita Steiner-Khamsi. The founding officers were Sina Mossayeb, Reza Arjmand, and Maryam Soltanzadeh. Today there are close to 50 registered and unofficial members of the MESIG.

2023-2024 SIG OFFICERS

• Fadhila Hadjeris, University of California Los Angeles, USA: Interim Chair January-March.
• Samaya Mansour, Teachers College, Columbia University, USA: Interim Chair February-March.
• Mona  Younes, Beyond Borders, USA: Past Co-Chair, Unit Planner/Program Chair.
• Jewad Halawani. George Mason University, USA: Past Co-Chair, Unit Planner/Program Chair.
• Shytance Wren, University of Maryland, USA: Past Secretary and Treasurer.
• Yara AbdelAziz, University of Toronto-Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, Canada: Past Communications Manager.

The MESIG currently engages its purpose through the following activities and seeks to develop it functions according to the growing needs of its membership and the field. Members wishing to serve the MESIG by enhancing its capacities are invited to contact the MESIG by email or bring ideas to the MESIG Business Meeting at the CIES Annual Conference. At present, the MESIG:

• Facilitates forums and panel discussions about educational issues pertaining to the region
• Disseminates information about research, publications, opportunities, and events through an active listserv
• Mentors junior scholars and promotes quality emergent scholarship through an annual student paper prize
• Promotes the scholarship of our membership through the MESIG website (under construction)
• Facilitates access to resources for scholars and practitioners through the MESIG website (under construction)
• Convenes an annual business meeting at the CIES conference to connect members for the purposes of furthering collaboration, supportive networks, and the overarching goals of the MESIG

External website: https://ciesmesig.weebly.com/

Email: cies.mesig@gmail.com