Nevine Abraham

Nevine Abraham is an Associate Teaching Professor and Coordinator of Arabic Studies in the Department of Languages, Cultures & Applied Linguistics at Carnegie Mellon University's Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences. She has been at CMU since 2012, initially as a French instructor before transitioning to her current role as a faculty member specializing in Arabic language and cultural studies. As Coordinator of the Arabic Studies program (2024-2027), she has developed comprehensive curricula including the first-semester online Arabic program that integrates Modern Standard Arabic with Egyptian and Levantine dialects.

Abraham earned her PhD in Twentieth Century French Literature and Culture from The Ohio State University, an MA in French Literature from Kent State University, and her BA from Ain Shams University in Egypt. She is also a certified OPI Tester for Arabic.

Her scholarly work is positioned at the intersection of literary-cultural studies, indigeneity, and issues of social justice and minoritization in the Arabic-speaking world. Abraham examines minorities in the intellectual, social, and political history of the Middle East and North Africa, with particular focus on Coptic studies and how institutions of power have marginalized groups. Her research illuminates how diasporic communities craft counter-narratives that subvert hegemonic systems while expanding understanding of minority groups in relation to the majority and the state. She has developed innovative approaches to teaching that integrate research into classroom practice, emphasizing cross-cultural literacy and critical examination of dominant narratives about the Arab world.

Analysis of Abraham's publications reveals consistent thematic threads across her scholarly output: examination of Coptic identity within Egyptian national frameworks, exploration of diasporic memory and resistance, and culinary studies as sites of national reimagination. Her work consistently challenges reductionist cultural paradigms and examines how marginalized communities navigate complex power structures through literature, film, and food cultures. The interdisciplinary nature of her scholarship bridges literary analysis, cultural studies, and political theory to provide nuanced understandings of minority experiences in the Arab world.

• The Simon Initiative Seeds Grant (2023)
• The Maurice and Laura Falk Foundation Grant (2023)
• Harnessing Innovation through Virtual Exchange for Enhanced Results (HIVE/HIVER) (2018-2024)
• College of Arts and Sciences Online Course Initiative (2007)
• Ohio5 Technology Foreign Language (2001-2002)

Abraham actively integrates her research into teaching practice, developing innovative courses that challenge students' preconceived notions about the Arab world. She has established interdisciplinary collaborations across CMU, notably co-teaching the Dietrich College Grand Challenge First-Year Seminar on Palestinian and Israeli Food Cultures with Michal Friedman from the Department of History. Her service extends to coordinating the Arabic Studies program, serving on the Artists and Scholars at Risk (ASAR) Program Committee, and co-moderating the Deeper Conversations series on topics like 'The Possibility of Peace' regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict. She also mentors graduate students teaching Arabic and serves as a mentor in the AAC Faculty-Student program.

Abraham has cultivated extensive campus engagement through cultural programming, organizing events that bridge Arab and Jewish cultures including cooking workshops, film festivals, and conversations on food and national identity. Her 'Discover the Unexpected: Arabic-Hebrew CommUNITY' series and related programming demonstrate her commitment to building intercultural understanding through shared cultural experiences, particularly focusing on culinary traditions as sites of connection and dialogue.