Osamah F. Khalil

Osamah F. Khalil serves as Associate Professor of History and Chair of the International Relations Program at Syracuse University's Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, with additional affiliations in Middle Eastern Studies. His academic leadership spans both historical scholarship and international relations curriculum development.

His educational foundation includes:

• Ph.D. in U.S. and Middle East History from the University of California, Berkeley (2011)
• M.A. in U.S. and Middle East History from the University of California, Berkeley (2005)
• MPH in Health Policy & Administration and International Health from Yale University (1996)
• B.A. in History and Biology from Temple University (1994)

Dr. Khalil's research critically examines the intersection of American foreign policy, intellectual history, and cultural representations of the Middle East. His work analyzes how knowledge production shapes U.S. policy frameworks, particularly regarding Cold War dynamics, the Arab-Israeli conflict, and contemporary geopolitical narratives. He investigates the symbiotic relationship between academic expertise, national security institutions, and public discourse, revealing how historical memory influences modern policy decisions through mythmaking and selective historical interpretation.

His publication trajectory demonstrates consistent focus on U.S. global engagement, evolving from foundational work on Middle East expertise to broader analyses of American military interventions and Asian geopolitics. Recent scholarship shows increasing emphasis on historical memory's role in contemporary politics, with book-length treatments examining America's relationship with global conflicts across multiple administrations.

His distinguished service includes:

• Dr. Ralph E. Montonna Professor for Teaching Excellence (2021-2022)
• Tenth Decade Project Leadership (2019-2022)
• Helen and Frank Pellicone Faculty Scholar Recognition (2018-2021)

Dr. Khalil actively contributes to academic governance through the Near East Foundation Board and Syracuse University Press Editorial Board, while mentoring students through distinction theses and specialized seminars. His teaching portfolio reflects his research expertise, connecting historical analysis to current global governance challenges through courses on Cold War popular culture, Vietnam memory studies, and global health politics.