Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies Program

Expertise: Urban anthropology, infrastructure, religion, youth politics, Islamism, Arabian Peninsula Middle East

Karen is a PhD candidate in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies at Brandeis, where she earned an MA in 2011. She is also a Schusterman fellow at the Schusterman Center for Israel Studies. She holds an MA in religion from the University of Georgia and a BA in English and religious studies from the University of Arizona. She teaches courses on Jewish and Israeli history at Brandeis and as a community educator in a variety of settings throughout the Greater Boston area and New York.

Kyla Parks is a junior double majoring in Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies and International Global Studies with minors in Arabic and Economics. On campus, Kyla is a Waltham Group Coordinator for LaCE (Language and Culture Enrichment) and is treasurer of the Brandeis Football (Soccer) Club. She also spent last fall working at the Massachusetts Trial Court in Lowell as a legal intern. Kyla's future plans include studying abroad at the University of Jordan in Spring 2022 and pursuing a masters in International Security after graduation with hopes of someday working for the government. Kyla loves to talk to people with similar interests, so please do not hesitate to contact her with questions about classes, IMES, double majoring or minoring, studying abroad, internships, or just to have a conversation!