CCAS has the privilege of hosting two undergraduate interns from the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations (NCUSAR) in Washington DC, who will be working with CCAS faculty and staff this summer. We are pleased to welcome Matthew Audi and Aydin Henderson.
By way of introduction, they have each interviewed and written profiles about one another, which you can read below.
Matthew Audi
Hometown: Suffern, New York
Research Interests: Lebanese culture & politics, identity, human rights, consociationalism and sectarianism
Matthew is a rising senior at Bowdoin College, Maine studying Anthropology and Government with a concentration in comparative politics. He is interested in continuing to learn about Middle Eastern politics and hopes to get a better sense of what paths are available for careers in Middle East policy. Matthew is also excited to connect with other students and professionals who are passionate about the region. He runs track and cross country at Bowdoin College, as well as helping with fourth-grade literacy at a local elementary school. Matthew enjoys being in a city where professionals in various areas like governments, non-profits, and academics all interact, and having the opportunity to attend events and connect with people who are enthusiastic about similar things, in the place where these things are happening. He hopes to explore the city more over the summer and wants to go on runs in the city and the National Mall. One of the things he loves about Middle Eastern culture is cooking food and sharing stories, and the diversity of culture and language in the Middle East, which he sees as an opportunity to learn more about others and himself. In the future, he is considering working either in education and academia or with non-profits relating to the Middle East region.
Aydin Henderson
Hometown: Istanbul, Turkey
Research interests: Christian-Muslim relations, medieval history, Cold War politics, and climate policy
Aydin is a rising junior at Wheaton College (IL) studying history and international relations. Last year, he researched urban identity, as well as Palestinian identity and social stratification in the Gulf. In high school, he volunteered at his parents’ community center for Syrian refugees in Istanbul, which emphasized the unfortunate human consequences of political conflicts. He is interested in mitigating refugee crises at the source, providing aid to those in need, and encouraging empathy for refugees and immigrants. Aydin chose the CCAS internship program to explore his interests in academia and graduate school research. He is excited to meet new people in Washington DC with a wide variety of viewpoints. This internship has allowed Aydin to explore DC’s many events, and he has enjoyed commuting and living in an urban environment. At Wheaton, he is a member of the Men’s Glee Club, and he sings and plays guitar in a rock band. He also loves rock climbing, backpacking, and kayaking; and hopes to take advantage of the DC area’s parks. Aydin loves the hospitality of people in the Middle East; he appreciates meaningful conversations over food and tea. After college, he hopes to work for a non-profit.