INDS Graduates Tackle Different Perspectives on Ideology, Culture, and Power
Saif Al-Issa
Interdisciplinary Studies graduate Saif Al-Issa praises his major for making him a 鈥渨ell-rounded person who has a strong background in two fields.鈥� For Saif, this was filmmaking and politics, subjects that came together in his final thesis project about Islamophobia in the U.S. After taking several courses in film, media, political science, and history, he realized how deeply ingrained Islamophobia is in the U.S. His thesis explores anti-Muslim sentiment and policies within the government, as well as the media鈥檚 amplification of Islamophobic politicians. Saif hopes that his efforts will someday 鈥渃hange the current narrative and help Americans understand that Muslims are people just like them, and that they should not constantly be put in the situation of being seen as the 鈥榦ther.鈥欌�� According to Dr. Will McConnell, Saif鈥檚 thesis advisor, 鈥渋n the depth and breadth of his final project, Saif emerged as a fully-fledged scholar of interdisciplinary forms of researchers studying the roots of Islamophobia in North America. His work shows great promise, and I am excited to see what social awareness his future work will bring for those in the Muslim communities in North America.鈥� In looking back at his college career, Saif says the best thing about Woodbury is the faculty, how knowledgeable they are in their fields and, most importantly, how invested they are in their students. 鈥淭he professors in CLAS,鈥� Saif says, 鈥渉ave all been extremely supportive and compassionate. I always felt that they cared about me and my success.鈥�听
Abdulla Alawadhi
Interdisciplinary Studies also celebrates graduating senior听Abdulla Alawadhi.听Abdulla鈥檚 thesis advisor, Dr. Doug Cremer, says, 鈥淎bdulla is a remarkable student and scholar. …听His grace and sincerity are wonderful examples of humility and strength. His openness to new learning and experiences, his insights into politics and history, and his unfailing kindness have made it听a great pleasure听to be his professor and his friend.鈥澨鼶r.听McConnell says Abdulla鈥檚 thesis project听鈥渢akes on the complex history and current political formation of the Arab Ba鈥檃th party (now, the Arab Ba鈥檃th Socialist party). … Focusing his scholarly gaze on the Ba鈥檃thist ideology as it emerges in Syria, Iraq, and Egypt, he captures similarities and differences in the complex weave of economic and social development in these countries, inviting readers into the fascinating and troubling implications of the Arab Cold War and the Arab-Israeli conflict, as well as the historical struggle for Arab autonomy and听sovereignty.鈥澨鼳s part of听his studies,听Abdulla also completed an internship with the government of Bahrain, which gave him insight into how he might incorporate these ideals into his own social and historical experience. 鈥淚 know he would welcome the chance to use his deep love of history and political science to produce good in听his country!鈥�,听says Dr. McConnell.听听听
Millicent (Millie) Rayner
Congratulations听to听Millicent (Millie) Rayner, who also graduates from the Interdisciplinary Studies program this spring.听Millie鈥檚 thesis analyzes the historical trajectory of Disney鈥檚 vision,听mission,听and guest experience听in the context of听recent developments in听Disneyland Park鈥檚 intellectual property. Titled 鈥淭he Most Intellectual Property on Earth: An Analysis of the Disneyland Resort鈥檚 Avengers Campus and Galaxy鈥檚 Edge,鈥� her work integrates cultural theory, psychology, marketing, media studies, history, urban studies, and fieldwork research methods. Beginning with an evocative statement from Walt Disney听himself听鈥斕�淒isneyland will never be completed; it will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world鈥� 鈥� she takes us on a deeply informed journey both across multiple disciplinary perspectives on听鈥渢he business鈥� of Disney, and into the physical design of the park itself, which she sees as听“text鈥澨齩f Disney鈥檚 emerging business model.听Dr. McConnell says, 鈥淢illie鈥檚 work was so provocative,听innovative,听and insightful that I wish I could read it for the first time again.鈥� He also suggests Millie听has,听鈥渁 tremendously promising future in Disney itself; she will be a leader in the analysis of current intellectual property models and the design and application of methods for developing successful steps in intellectual property incorporation!鈥�听
Last Updated on May 11, 2023.听