Study Abroad in Syria: Intensive Arabic Language & Culture Studies in Aleppo – Faculty & Staff

Syria Faculty

Language faculty come from the University of Aleppo. Area studies faculty either come from the University of Aleppo or are hired independently by CET. Most faculty have experience teaching US students. All have either completed or are working towards an advanced degree within their field.

Syria Staff

CET maintains full-time, bilingual staff at each of its locations.

The Academic Director oversees the curriculum, trains faculty and monitors courses. S/he works with faculty to accommodate specific student needs.

The Resident Director manages housing, local roommates, activities and student acclimation, health and welfare. S/he is trained to prevent and handle student emergencies.

Staff Bios

Dr. Assem Faress, Academic Director

Dr. Assem Faress holds a double PhD in English and Comparative Literature from Indiana University. He has extensive Arabic language teaching experience including positions at The Ohio State University, where he was a Fulbright Visiting Scholar and Acting Director of the Arabic Language Program, and Middlebury College. As a native of Aleppo, Dr. Faress applies his vast Syria experience in addition to his expertise in the areas of curriculum design, pedagogy and teaching methodology to oversee CET Syria academics.

Syria Alumni

Hear what CET Syria program alumni have to say! Click here to contact a former student.

Academic Advisory Board

CET maintains an advisory board of US-based scholars. The Middle East and North Africa Advisory Board meets annually to discuss curriculum and derive teaching standards. Board members visit the program in order to evaluate it and, when possible, teach courses or conduct teacher-training workshops.

Kristin Smith Diwan
Assistant Professor of Comparative and Regional Studies, American University

John Eisele
Associate Professor of Arabic, College of William and Mary

Joshua Landis
Co-Director of the Center for Middle East Studies; Associate Professor of Middle East Studies, University of Oklahoma

Nashwa Taher
Teaching Instructor in the Arabic Language, George Washington University

Max Weiss
Assistant Professor of History and Near Eastern Studies, Princeton University

Paul Wulfsberg
Preceptor in Arabic, Harvard University

Munther Younes
Reis Senior Lecturer in Arabic Language and Linguistics; Director of Arabic Program, Cornell University