Each summer, CCAS partners with the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations (NCUSAR) in Washington, D.C. and with the Student Ambassadors Program at Bethlehem University in the West Bank to bring undergraduate student interns to Georgetown’s campus to work with CCAS faculty and staff. This summer, CCAS had the privilege of hosting a dynamic team of interns from both the United States and abroad. Thank you to our four wonderful interns!
NCUSAR Interns
Madison Jerabek
Madison is a rising junior studying English and political science at Converse College in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
What made you want to do your internship at CCAS?
When I applied to intern through the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations, we were given a list of organizations we could choose to apply to. After researching every one, I realized that I wanted to intern at CCAS because it would give me the opportunity to expand my worldview and participate in research related to the Arab world. The various subjects covered at CCAS have enabled me to look at the culture and realities of life in the Arab world, rather than focusing solely on policy and leadership.
What is the most interesting project you have worked on at CCAS?
The most interesting project I have worked on at CCAS was coding returnee interviews for the International Organization of Migration (IOM) project with Dr. Davis.
What is your favorite quote and why?
“I am the wisest man alive, for I know one thing, and that is that I know nothing.” -Socrates
This is my favorite quote because if there is one thing that I’ve learned, it’s that I have so much left to learn. This quote reminds me of the importance of learning continuously and constantly challenging my own beliefs.
What has been one of your favorite experiences at CCAS?
My favorite experience at CCAS was taking a field trip to Shenandoah National Park with some of the staff and the other interns. It was a great opportunity to bond and spend time with the incredible people that work here.
What inspired you to apply for an internship in the United States this summer?
I am planning on traveling to the MENA region, and I wanted to use the time I have before leaving to gain a critical understanding of culture and beliefs throughout the Arab world.
What are you researching?
I am completing a research project that analyzes the connections between water scarcity and political instability in Palestine. I am studying the impacts water scarcity has on migration and humanitarian needs and how this contributes to the conflict between Israel and Palestine.
Marina Rivera
Marina is a rising senior studying international relations at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.
What made you want to do your internship at CCAS?
I was interested in doing an internship at CCAS because of its exclusive focus on the Arab world and emphasis on academia and education.
What is the most interesting project you have worked on at CCAS?
The most interesting project I worked on during my time at CCAS was the IOM-GU project: “Access to Durable Solutions Among IDPs in Iraq: A Longitudinal Study of 4000 Iraqi families displaced by ISIS.” Though learning qualitative coding software and analyzing interviews from IDPs in Iraq presented their unique challenges, it was an incredibly engaging experience and I feel extremely lucky to have been a part of such an important project.
What is your favorite quote and why?
“In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: it goes on.” -Robert Frost
This quote by Robert Frost has always been one of my favorites. It reminds us to practice mindfulness and be resilient in the face of adversity. I believe that there is merit to looking for the best in our bad days and trusting that everything happens for a reason.
What has been one of your favorite experiences at CCAS?
My favorite experience with CCAS was joining the team for the Eid al-Fitr festivities towards the beginning of the duration of my internship. The team welcomed us with such open arms and demonstrated their passion for sharing the culture of the Arab world with the community.
What inspired you to apply for an internship in the United States this summer?
Having worked overseas at the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh last summer, I really wanted to spend time in Washington to gain a holistic understanding of U.S. foreign policy. Having spent this summer in the capital, I have a greater appreciation for all of the remarkable work that happens in Washington and the profound effect it has on the rest of the world.
What independent project did you work on during your time at CCAS?
“Yemen: The Neopatrimonial State.” I did an investigation into the dynamics of President Saleh’s autocracy and the underlying organization of power which led to political and economic destabilization. I particularly focused on Saleh’s network of patronage, the political economy of the oil industry, and the mismanagement of water resources.
Bethlehem University Interns
Khalil Marei
Khalil is a rising senior studying business and marketing at Bethlehem University.
What is the most interesting project you have worked on at CCAS?
The most interesting thing that I did at CCAS was writing short stories. I have always loved to express my emotions and thoughts through writing prose, but here at CCAS I had the support of the staff to work on developing my skills and start writing short stories about the struggles Palestinians go through in their daily lives and how they affect them on a personal level.
What is your favorite quote and why?
“You never know your limits until you exceed your limits.” -Anonymous
This quote gives me daily inspiration to go out of my comfort zone and to step over the constraints that family, society, and religion have placed on me. Through this quote, I am able to see a bigger picture of the world and understand how people think and feel. This is how I’m able to understand myself more and more every day.
What has been one of your favorite experiences at CCAS?
My favorite experience at CCAS was the ability to meet new people from all around the world on a daily basis, and having the chance to be around professors who are experts in their fields. I also had the chance to have conversations with them and to have them review our work and projects.
What inspired you to apply for an internship in the United States this summer?
I have always dreamed of doing my master’s degree in the U.S., so this summer program was the best way to create connections with universities and people that I can refer to when applying to study in this country. Also, it was a great chance to experience an American style of living.
Ahmad Abu Monshar
Ahmad is a rising senior studying business administration with a minor in psychology at Bethlehem University.
What is the most interesting project you have worked on at CCAS?
I have been working on writing a business plan for an app called “EROS,” which contains sex education information for both teenagers and adults to help them learn reliable information easily. This app is meant for people in the Middle East region and specifically Palestine, which suffers from a lack of interest in sex education for social and religious reasons.
What is your favorite quote and why?
“If you are creative, you must be dissident.” -Nawal El Saadawi
What has been one of your favorite experiences at CCAS?
As a Palestinian living in the West Bank and occupied by Israel, I have difficulty moving around and meeting people from different countries, especially Arab countries. However, at CCAS I had the opportunity to meet people from Tunisia, Algeria, Libya, and Lebanon, and even from Gaza.
What inspired you to apply for an internship in the United States this summer?
Growing up with American movies, novels, and songs in Palestine, I learned a lot of things about America. When our university announced that there was a scholarship for participating in an internship in the U.S., I was excited and decided to apply. I learned more about America and enjoyed living freely without restrictions on movement. It makes me think about what we experience daily in Palestine.