I n response to the popularity and impact of the January 2004 Teaching About Islam and Middle Eastern Culture seminar, the U.S. Department of State has reallocated funds in order to make it possible to offer an additional seminar at the American Center of Oriental Research (ACOR) in Amman, Jordan. The three-week-long seminar, being held December 28, 2004 through January 18, 2005, is offered in collaboration with the Council of American Overseas Research Centers (CAORC).
     The seminar will provide 12 faculty members in various fields the opportunity to learn more about the Middle East, think about how to develop courses or adapt existing courses in order to give more attention to the Middle East and/or Islam, and visit important archaeological sites such as Petra and Jerash.
     “We were pleased with the tremendous positive response we received from nominations for and participants in the first seminar,” said CIC President Richard Ekman, “and are delighted that the State Department allotted the funding for a second. As was the case last year, the seminar is designed for faculty members not already experts on this subject with the expectation that they use the new insights and knowledge they gained at the seminar when they return to their home institutions.”
     The seminar will again be directed by Pierre Bikai, director of ACOR, and will include specialists on the Middle East, Jordan, Islam, and other relevant topics. ACOR is dedicated to promoting research and publication in the fields of archaeology, anthropology, history, languages, biblical studies, Arabic, Islamic studies, and other aspects of Middle Eastern studies. Founded in 1968, ACOR provides advice, coordination, research facilities, and living and meeting space for scholars, and serves as a liaison between both academic and private Jordanian institutions and international scholars interested in working in the Arab world.
     Participants were selected from the 135 nominations that were received for the first seminar. Participation expenses—including travel to and from the U.S.—will be covered by the U.S. Department of State.
     Faculty members attending the seminar will include: Faith Childress, assistant professor of history, Rockhurst University (MO); Robert Dash, professor of politics, Willamette University (OR); David Davis, associate professor of history, Millsaps College (MS); Charles Guthrie, associate professor of history, University of Indianapolis (IN); Paul Hanson, professor of history, California Lutheran University; James Lazenby, assistant professor of philosophy, Gwynedd-Mercy College (PA); Michael Lodahl, professor of religion, Point Loma Nazarene University (CA); Julie Perry, assistant professor of English, Thomas More College (KY); Debra Picchi, professor of anthropology, Franklin Pierce College (NH); Darla Schumm, assistant professor of religion, Hollins University (VA); Gary Scudder, professor of history, Champlain College (VT); and Philip Wittman, professor of political science, Carroll College (MT).