Media representation allows Arab Americans to reclaim their narrative. That’s why the Jack G. & Bernice Shaheen Endowed Media Scholarship supports Arab American storytellers who are uplifting their communities through journalism, film, and other media. This year, the scholarship, housed at the Center for Arab American Philanthropy and in partnership with the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), has awarded seven outstanding students.
Keep scrolling to learn more about them!
Sarah Al-Arshani is a master’s candidate at New York University’s Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute, where she will study journalism and international relations. Since graduating from the University of Connecticut with a Bachelor of Arts in journalism and political science in 2019, she has worked as a breaking news reporter for Insider and USA Today and interned at The Jordan Times in Amman.
Sofia Kasbo is a senior journalism major at Seton Hall University and Managing Editor of the university’s newspaper, The Setonian. She has reported on breaking news, protests, small business features, and op-eds advocating for body positivity and student press rights. With experience in writing, photography, and digital media, Sofia also serves as President of Seton Hall’s Society of Professional Journalists chapter, where she takes initiative in leading projects and supporting her peers in the journalism community.
Mariam Bagdady is an Egyptian-American writer and journalist committed to amplifying underrepresented voices. She is a 2024 graduate of the University of Southern California with a degree in Communication and an emphasis in law. Since graduating, she has worked with social impact organizations through The Goldhirsh Foundation and freelanced for arts and culture publications including Flaunt Magazine, Atwood Magazine, TMZ, and The Daily Nexus. Mariam will continue her journalism career at Northwestern’s MedillSchool of Journalism, where she plans to focus on stories that center Middle Eastern, BIPOC, and Indigenous communities.
Yezen Saadah, a Palestinian American, is a rising senior at New York University studying cinema studies, Middle Eastern studies, and journalism. He just wrapped up his tenure as editor-in-chief of NYU’s independent student publication, the Washington Square News, and is a contributing writer for the Institute for Palestine Studies’ blog, Palestine Square.
Mena Nasiri is a Michigan-based Iraqi filmmaker driven by her passion to tell authentic and compelling stories of underrepresented communities. She seeks to create films that are educational, inspirational, and create meaningful change, primarily related to the Arab experience. Having contributed to every part of the filmmaking process over dozens of productions, Mena has refined her directing skills through hands-on experiences in diverse roles and is now focusing on documentary work. Her personal connection to marginalized identities fuels her enthusiasm to challenge industry norms. Mena will be graduating soon with degrees in Film, Television, and Media and Mechanical Engineering at the University of Michigan and her interdisciplinary academics uniquely form her dynamic filmmaking skillset.
Leena Fraihat is a recent graduate from the University of Virginia. Graduating with honors, she majored in Media Studies and minored in Public Writing and Rhetoric. In the fall, she will start at Columbia University’sGraduate School of Journalism to obtain her master’s degree in Science. Leena is passionate about storytelling and dialogue in the face of social issues and aspires to work in broadcast journalism to uplift the voices of diverse and underrepresented communities.
Christian Baba is a San Francisco native and writer, currently pursuing a Master’s in Narrative Writing at the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism. He serves as a research assistant at UC Berkeley School of Law’s Human Rights Center, and is currently collaborating with Harvard’s FXB Center on a study of media coverage of the war in Gaza. Christian has worked in marketing for leading media companies, including A24, and has worked on the acclaimed film The Last Black Man in San Francisco. He currently works in public affairs and community engagement for local and state agencies, bringing a creative, service-driven approach to storytelling.