معرفی
Waleed F. Mahdi is an Associate Professor at the University of Oklahoma’s David L. Boren College of International Studies, holding joint appointments in International & Area Studies, Modern Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, and Film and Media Studies. He specializes in US-Arab cultural politics, focusing on cultural representation, identity politics, and visual studies. Mahdi earned his PhD in American Studies from the University of Minnesota (2015), MA in Cultural Studies from the University of New Mexico (2008), and BA in English Literature from Taiz University, Yemen (2003).
His research explores intersections of imperial security, diasporic agency, and cinematic representation. Notable works include Arab Americans in Film (2020) and his current book project on Yemen’s visual agency. He co-directs the Center for Middle East Studies and serves as President of the Arab American Studies Association (AASA). Mahdi has received prestigious awards like the 2023 Arts and Humanities Faculty Fellowship and the 2021 Arab America Foundation’s “40 Under 40” honor.
Mahdi’s teaching spans courses on US-Arab relations, global Islamophobia, and Arab visual cultures. He has led multi-institutional research collaborations, including projects with Columbia University and the Doha Institute. His scholarly contributions challenge dominant narratives through edited volumes like The Aesthetics of Dissent (2020) and MENA Migrants and Diasporas (2022).
His research emphasizes marginalized voices, redefining fields like Arab American Studies by centering peripheral communities. Mahdi’s work bridges academia and activism, addressing urgent issues like Yemeni agency amid war and diasporic struggles.
