It’s been quite a while since I added anything substantial to this blog. I feel very grateful for all the mentors and advisors who encouraged me, the coauthors who worked with me and the bosses who took a chance on me. Now, I am yet another transition and tasked with the opportunity to make meaning out of where I find myself. In midcareer and midlife, the initial thrills and frustration of learning to publish have waned, but the desire to do more meaningful things has increased. I’ve read quite a bit about how life is supposed to be less interesting at this stage, but I am excited for the ability to decide a direction–even though that process is more exhausting than exhilarating. Despite the lack of novelty, there is agency in being in a middle: neither at the top or bottom, neither at the beginning or end. May the middle be filled with fortitude and learning!
Islamic Scholarship Fund Wednesday, Mar 31 2021
Uncategorized 5:47 pm
As we are nearing Ramadan, I have decided to raise $700 for the Islamic Scholarship Fund. The organization works towards improving media representation of Muslims among other goals. The scholarships are open to any member of a U.S. Muslim community, and does not depend on the applicant’s religion. There are other scholarships for policy-oriented careers too.
Here is a URL for anyone interested in donating: https://www.launchgood.com/campaign/ramadan_isf_fundraiser#!/
Summer Institutes and Professional Developments Thursday, Jul 7 2016
Education and Research and Service and Teaching 4:33 pm
Since graduating from my doctoral program in December 2014, I have had the privilege of participating in several courses.
In April 2015, I completed the requirements for a course Empowering Women in Technology Start-Ups (ewits). The course, which was organized by University of Florida Office of Technology Licensing, UF Tech Connect and the Florida Innovation Hub, allowed us to work together in groups to simulate the process of commercializing a new technology patented by the university.
By July 2015, I earned a certificate of completion for participating in the 2015 Summer Institute for Educators by the University of California Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center. The program grouped educators according to the level of students taught to find ways to incorporate social and emotional learning to one’s curriculum.
In June and July 2016, I participated in the Annenberg-Oxford Media Policy Summer Institute. Here, I got to learn about issues and methods of studying media policy globally. The two-week seminar took place at the University of Oxford. This turned out to be a convenient location since it was a short train ride away from the London School of Economics and Political Science’s Middle East Center, where I am a visiting fellow until August 2016.
2016 Publications Thursday, Jul 7 2016
Research 4:18 pm
Alkazemi, M. F., Alnashmi, E., & Wanta, W. (Forthcoming). Mass Communications Students’ Motivations: The Case of Kuwait. Journalism & Mass Communication Educator.
De Maio, M., Alkazemi, M.F., & Wanta, W. (2016). An examination of the Roman Catholic Church’s agenda-setting function in Argentina. Journal of Media and Religion, 15(1), 15-28.
Fall 2015 Thursday, Jul 7 2016
Teaching 4:13 pm
As of fall 2015, I accepted a position as an assistant professor of mass communication at Gulf University for Science and Technology (GUST) in West Mishref, Kuwait. In my first year, I taught multiple sections of Introduction to Public Speaking, Cases in Public Relations and Fundamentals of Advertising.
Teaching at GUST has invited me to an event in which Bill Gates was honored, attend at Ted Talk in Kuwait and attend a presentation at the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Science. The diverse group of faculty have made for wonderful company, and we have visited the Kuwait Camel Racing Club, Al-Shaheed Park and have multiple dinners at the Mubarakiya market.
I look forward to beginning my second year in September 2016.
Media and Food Regulation in Kuwait. Thursday, Jul 7 2016
Research 4:08 pm
In the summer of 2016, I have been honored to serve as a visiting fellow at the Middle East Center at the London School of Economics and Political Science. To see my blog entry about this topic, please click here.
Candidacy Friday, Jan 24 2014
Education 8:54 pm
As Newton put it, all scholars must ‘stand on the shoulders of giants’. I am very proud to be working with Dr. Wayne Wanta (chair), Dr. Spiro Kiousis, Dr. Cory Armstrong and Dr. Patricia Woods (Middle East Studies).
I passed my qualifying exams and defended my proposal on October 1, 2013.
Research Internationally Friday, Jan 24 2014
Research Exchange, Murcia, Research, Spain 8:49 pm
After presenting our research in the World Journalism Education Congress in Belgium, Dr. Wayne Wanta and I visited Spanish researchers in the city of Murcia. Some of these scholars have visited the University of Florida as Fulbright scholars.
Teaching Experience Friday, Jan 24 2014
Teaching graduate teaching, journalism, mariam alkazemi, university of florida 8:35 pm
In the spring 2014, I am teaching a senior capstone course entitled, “Journalism Studies”. The course is a theoretical course, where we analyze the state of the media industry today through several perspectives: historical, economic, political, international, and others. My students are brilliant and many intend on enrolling in graduate programs after graduation.
This course, which centers around discussion, is very different than the large lecture I taught in the fall 2013 semester. The picture shown is from my classroom in fall 2013, where I taught “Mass Media and You” to more than 200 students, who were mostly in their first year.
Mariam F. Alkazemi 