University of North Texas
Contemporary Arab and Muslim
Cultural Studies Institute (CAMCSI)

The Contemporary Arab and Muslim Cultural Studies Institute (CAMCSI) is an interdisciplinary institute composed of faculty drawn from the visual arts, social sciences, and humanities at the University of North Texas. CAMCSI serves UNT as the coordinating body and the primary source of support for the various courses and academic programs that cover the Arab and Muslim worlds, which include the Arab states, Iran, Turkey, central and south Asia and other parts of the world with Muslim communities.

The Institute was established in 2008 with a research and service mission, to respond to the critical need for the understanding and further the interdisciplinary studies of the contemporary Arab and Muslim worlds at UNT. An Institute focusing specifically on contemporary cultural issues fosters a mutual appreciation, both within the United States and elsewhere in the world, of the richness and the complexities that unite as well as divide the many communities that make up the populations and geographic regions of the Arab and Muslim worlds.

Research and service activities of CAMSCI are organized in four primary areas:

• Arabic language
• Cultural diversity
• Media and the popular imagination
• Visual arts

The activities of the Institute emphasizes the above four areas as they interact with academic disciplines including anthropology, economics, political science, applied linguistics, women’s studies, history, art, music, etc.

CAMCSI commitment aims to reach wide— pre- and post-secondary educators and students, independent scholars, the media, business, and the general public — through the institute’s many activities. These include the following:

• Actively supporting the teaching and research of UNT’s Arab and Muslim worlds specialist faculty, graduate students, and scholars through research and travel grants.
• Increasing the availability of related courses at UNT, including through hosting visiting faculty and study abroad programs.
• Organizing and sponsoring lecture series, film series, seminars, art exhibits, and major research conferences.
• Enhancing area languages teaching and learning at UNT through direct and indirect support of both teachers and students.
• Promoting interdisciplinary and collaborative work through partnerships and joint sponsorship with other institutions in the Arab and Muslim worlds.
• Supporting Arab and Muslim worlds-related community and cultural activities and programs.

Nada Shabout, Director (940) 565-4027, nada.shabout@unt.edu

Mailing Address

University of North Texas
College of Visual Arts and Design
CAMCSI 1155 Union Circle, # 305100
Denton, TX 76203-5017

Internal Advisory Committee

Chelliah, Shobhana, Department of Linguistics and Technical Communication
Elverskog, Liljana, the Arabic program
Jordan, Ann, CPACS
Koop, Marie-Christine, Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures
Levin, Melinda, Department of Radio, Television, and Film
Milnes, Robert, College of Visual Arts and Design
Sahliyeh, Emile, International Studies Program
Shabout, Nada, Art History
Spencer, Sandi, Women's Studies Program
Stockdale, Nancy L., Middle Eastern History

CAMCSI Affiliated Faculty
Boubekri, Nourredine Chair, Department of Engineering Technology
Bose, Neilesh  Assistant Professor, Modern South Asian HistoryChelliah, Shobhana
Associate Professor, Department of Linguistics and Technical Communication
Cukor-Avila, Patricia Director of Graduate Studies, Department of Linguistics and Technical Communication

Elverskog, Liljana Principal Lecturer and Coordinator of the Arabic program
Gibbons Jr., Earl F. Vice Provost and Associate Vice President for International Education
Ignatow, Gabe  Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology
Jordan, Ann  Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, CPACS
Khalaf, Tania Assistant Professor in Radio, Television and Film
Koop, Marie-Christine Chair, Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures
Larson-Hall, Jenifer Assistant Professor, Department of Linguistics and Technical Communication

Levin, Melinda Chair, Department of Radio, Television, and Film
Milnes, Robert  Dean, College of Visual Arts and Design
Meernik, James Chair, Department of Political Science
Munshi, Sadaf Assistant Professor, Department of Linguistics and Technical Communication
Sahliyeh, Emile Director, International Studies Program
Shabout, Nada  Associate Professor, Art History
Shope, Bradley Faculty Professional Development Specialist

Spencer, Sandi Director, Women's Studies Program
Stockdale, Nancy L. Assistant Professor, Middle Eastern History
Suleman, Saleha  Assistant Vice Provost for International Education

 Upcoming events:

The Muslim Cultures Film Series, a program of the UNT Contemporary Arab & Muslim Cultural Studies Institute, begins with a free screening of the award winning film Amreeka. The film will be introduced by Dr. Nancy Stockdale from the UNT Department of History.

 Media Library, Chilton Hall, Room 111C, Wednesday, February 17, 4:00pm.