June 9, 2023
2023 NMES Graduation Celebration
Michael Sims, Burcu Ege, Jennifer Hunter, and Maral Sahebjame
June 8 was a special day for the Interdisciplinary PhD Program in Near and Middle Eastern Studies–for the first time, graduating students were celebrated and recognized with a hooding ceremony.
Joined by faculty members, their fellow students, and family members, four graduating PhDs were hooded in a traditional ceremony that marks the culmination of years of hard work.
In her opening remarks, NMES PhD Program Director Cabeiri deBergh Robinson described how doctoral hooding not only recognizes the success of a student in completing their dissertation and degree, but also symbolizes an important transition from student to junior colleague.
From left: Arbella Bet-Shlimon, Michael Sims, Resat Kasaba, Burcu Ege, Cabeiri deBergh Robinson, Arzoo Osanloo, Maral Sahebjame, Michael Williams, Jennifer Hunter
The four students–Michael Sims, Burcu Ege, Maral Sahebjame, and Jennifer Hunter–were each hooded in turn by their committee chairperson: Professors Resat Kasaba (Jackson School), Cabeiri deBergh Robinson (Jackson School), Arzoo Osanloo (Law, Societies, and Justice), and Professor Emeritus Michael Williams (Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures), respectively. A fifth graduate, Pelin Tunaydin, was unable to attend.
The graduates and their faculty mentors reflected on their academic journeys to reach this point, calling out the support of friends, family, and other faculty members and noting challenges that had to be overcome, while also looking ahead to the future. Although these reflections were at times emotional, there were moments of levity too, especially when it came to the challenge of actually placing the hoods on the students correctly. Resat Kasaba confessed that after more than 30 years as a faculty member, he still had to search for instructions on YouTube!
Congratulations Michael, Burcu, Maral, Jennifer, and Pelin as you move into the next stages of your lives and careers!