Middle East

Dialogue Vanderbilt continued its mission of fostering meaningful conversations with its second event in its series which aims to cultivate open discussions about faith and how it influences people dealing with pressing societal issues. The discussion featured Maha Elgenaidi, founder of the Islamic Networks Group, in conversation with Vanderbilt University Divinity School Dean Yolanda Pierce.  Read More

The Vanderbilt Project on Unity and American Democracy’s latest Vanderbilt Unity Index shows the country continuing its trend toward more polarization, ending 2023 down nearly three points from the start of the year. Read More

Dialogue Vanderbilt recently hosted an insightful fireside chat between Rabbi David J. Wolpe and Vanderbilt Divinity School Dean Yolanda Pierce. The Jan. 18 event was part of a series organized by Dialogue Vanderbilt that aims to foster open discussions about faith and how it influences people dealing with pressing societal issues.  Read More

Vanderbilt Divinity School and the Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries announced a grant of $350,000 from the NEH that is enabling Vanderbilt to partner with Texas A&M and Marquette universities to continue preserving the history of Syriac culture, a medieval dialect once spoken widely by Middle Eastern Christian communities.  Read More

"Cultures in Clay," a new exhibit at Vanderbilt Divinity Library, spotlights a 4,000-year-old cuneiform writing system on tablets used by ancient Sumerians, Babylonians and Assyrians. Read More

The threats from Baghdad are growing, The efforts of Kurds to attain their own Middle East homeland are ramping up after 92 percent voted for independence. Michael A. Newton, professor of law at Vanderbilt University Law School, can comment on… Read More

For international student Rani Banjarian, differences are what make him feel a part of the university community. Read More

David Michelson, an assistant professor of the history of Christianity at Vanderbilt Divinity School, is among three recipients of funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities to preserve Middle Eastern culture in danger of extinction. Read More

Key moments in the development and interaction of Judaism, Christianity, Islam and other religions are being preserved through Syriaca.org, an international collaboration edited by scholars at Vanderbilt and Princeton universities. Read More

Ehud Barak’s appearance at Vanderbilt’s 2013 Impact Symposium has been postponed until Sunday, April 7. The March 18 event will now be a conversation with former Sen. George Mitchell, moderated by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist David Maraniss. Read More

As a Mormon, Mitt Romney’s religious beliefs have a basis on the American continent.  Assistant Professor of Religious History Kathleen Flake explains how that might affect the Middle East and Israel. View 2012 election expertise information for Kathleen Flake>> Visit ElectionVU to find all Vanderbilt experts on… Read More

Margaret Scobey, former U.S. ambassador to Egypt, will speak Feb. 1 at Vanderbilt University on “Egypt and the Arab Spring.” Read More

Watch video of former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Richard Myers giving the keynote address for Vanderbilt University’s 2011 National Security Symposium. Vanderbilt’s Naval ROTC welcomed Gen. Myers Oct. 21. This year’s symposium focused on past, present and future U.S. policy in the Middle East with an eye… Read More