Free Public Keynote Presentation: Nov. 16 at 12:00 pm on Zoom
Teton County Model United Nations (TCMUN) keynote speaker, Dr. Nadia Oweidat, presented a free public address at noon on Monday, November 16, titled: “A Million Clicks to Freedom: The Virtual Battle of Ideas in the Arab World.” Check out the video here:
Dr. Oweidat discussed her personal journey from tribal Jordan to the University of Oxford, via Washington, D.C. Her research focuses on the constructive and positive change agents who are creating content in Arabic to further human rights and democratic values in the Arabic-speaking world.
Dr. Oweidat is an Assistant Professor at Kansas State University and a Senior Middle East Fellow at New America. She holds a D.Phil. in Oriental Studies from the University of Oxford, an M.A. from the University of Wyoming in International Studies, and a B.A. from the University of Jordan in English Literature. Dr. Oweidat researches and teaches classes on Islam and history and security of the modern Middle East in the History and Security Studies Programs at KSU.
Prior to her academic career, Dr. Oweidat worked as a Research Associate at the RAND Corporation. She initiated and co-led a research effort on works by Arabic-speakers that counter violence and extremism, including fiction, nonfiction, cartoons and films that advance values of tolerance, pluralism and the ability to deal with ambiguity without violence. Dr. Oweidat also initiated and led an analysis of the grassroots Egyptian reform movement Kefaya. In addition, she has conducted research on Islamic extremism and counter-terrorism strategies, the ideological evolution of al-Qaeda, Salafi jihadi networks, jihadi strategies in Iraq, Iranian ascendancy in the Arab world, and radicalization of Muslim youth.
Dr. Oweidat is a columnist for the U.S.-Government-funded Middle East Broadcasting Network. She has appeared on various Arabic and English networks including the BBC, BBC Arabic, CNN, Al-Jazeera Arabic, Al-Arabiya, France 24, and National Public Radio. Many of Dr. Oweidat’s speaking engagements are freely available on her YouTube Channel.