Mission and Vision
The Center is dedicated to promoting understanding of the Middle East and North Africa through an interdisciplinary lens. We engage scholars from fields such as anthropology, history, political science, religious studies, literature, and art to generate nuanced insights and critical scholarship. We aim to foster a campus and public culture where diverse perspectives on MENA thrive and contribute to global and local conversations.
Title VI National Resource Center Grant
CMENAS is a designated National Resource Center (NRC) supported by the U.S. Department of Education through the prestigious Title VI program. We are the only public university in New York State to hold this distinction, which highlights our leadership in Middle East and North Africa studies. This multi-year grant has allowed CMENAS to expand its language course offerings, develop new interdisciplinary courses, and bring high-profile guest speakers to campus. It also strengthens our outreach mission through educational partnerships and public programming across New York State.
Engagement and Collaboration
We partner with SUNY campuses such as SUNY Broome and SUNY Purchase, expanding access to MENA content across the state. On campus, we collaborate with departments such as History, Anthropology, Political Science, Art History, and research centers. These partnerships ensure that our work reaches students, scholars, educators, and communities in meaningful ways.