Hometown: Phitsanulok, Thailand
Research Interests: Democratization, nationalism, LGBTQ, political Islam, authoritarianism, Palestinian-Israeli conflicts, Arabic language and literature, public policy, youth empowerment, public education, public health

Kannithi received the Royal Thai Government Scholarship for his undergraduate and graduate studies with a concentration on the Arabic language and the studies of the Middle East. He graduated from the University of Jordan (JU) in 2020 with a BA degree in Political Science. Prior to his undergraduate studies, Kannithi spent two years learning Arabic language at the University of Jordan Language Center and Qatar University. The experience he gained in the Arab World through his studies and work and the exposure to the lived realities of local people furthered Kannithi’s interests to pursue a MA degree in Arab Studies at Georgetown University.

Prior to his studies at Georgetown University, Kannithi began working as a diplomatic officer for the North Africa desk at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand. While at the Ministry, he had the opportunity to observe the work of Thai-Arabic interpreters during high-level visits and worked as an interpreter himself. After his graduation from Georgetown University, Kannithi will resume his diplomatic service at the Ministry.

Besides his pursuit for the MA degree in Arab Studies, Kannithi remains focused on developing his skills in the Arabic language, both Modern Standard Arabic and colloquial Arabic. He aims to utilize his Arabic skills in his diplomatic career and understanding the Arab World from the local perspectives. He believes that Arabic is the key to bridging the gap between what we think the Arab World is and what the local people aspire to be. He hopes that his journey in learning Arabic will inspire other non-native speakers to see the importance of the people’s language(s) and enter the Arab World with a humanistic understanding.