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Matteen Mokall, Second-year Middle East Concentrator
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Matteen Mokalla is a second-year SIPA student pursuing an MIA degree with a regional concentration focusing on the Middle East. His course works include, classical Persian literature, Arabic, and various courses on modern Middle Eastern history and politics. He spent the last summer touring the Middle East.
Prior to SIPA Matteen worked in the technology industry and also worked as a research assistant for both the Village Voice and Mother Jones Magazine. Matteen completed his undergraduate education at University of California, Berkeley where he studied politics and did extensive course work at the Graduate School of Journalism.
Why did you choose Middle East studies as your concentration?
“SIPA has outstanding faculty in this field. Where else besides SIPA can one take courses with Rashid Khalidi and Richard Bulliet? I also think the region is infinitely fascinating.”
What do you see yourself doing after you graduate?
“I hope to work in television news as a producer or start my own not-for-profit media organization that focuses on the Middle East.”
What has been the best part of your time at SIPA?
“Hands down the people I have met. When I went back home to Napa I used to joke with my parents that because of SIPA I now had a friend from almost every country in the world. I never knew any Khazaks, Iraqis, Bhutanese, of Fins before coming to SIPA. It turns out there are lots of great people from around the world working for positive change.”
Can you describe some of the activities you get involved in outside of class?
“I have been active with the SIPA newspaper, Communiqué, as well as The Morningside Post (a SIPA student blog - http://www.themorningsidepost.com/). I often write about the Middle East for both of these publications.”