Experience

• 

  InStride

  • Content Designer

    • Jan 2024 - Present

• 

  Reforge

  • Content Strategist

    • Jul 2022 - Apr 2023

    In 2022, I pivoted out of academia and landed at Reforge, where I was a content strategist. I worked in several cross-functional teams to write and design learning content for tech professionals in product, growth, and marketing. Some of the Reforge programs I worked on include Marketing Technology, Tech Fluency, and Marketing Leadership. I translated technical SME interviews and outlines into conversational voiceover narrative scripts for video and text learning content. I was part of an initiative to design the information architecture for an internal knowledge management system that housed Reforge's core insights.I was also on a series of design sprints that developed new multimedia content prototypes to improve learner engagement. The outputs we designed include a podcast, expert intro videos, expert framework walkthroughs, and animated educational videos. Key skills: content creation, content design, longform writing, shortform writing, editing, copywriting, Figma storyboarding, storytelling, knowledge management, information architecture.

• 

  Washington and Lee University

  • Lexington, Virginia, United States

  • Visiting Assistant Professor in English

    • Jul 2019 - Jun 2022
    • Lexington, Virginia, United States

    I moved from a large research institution (UCSD) where I taught Ethnic Studies to a small liberal arts college (W&L) to teach English and Writing and to deepen my commitment to student-centered learning.Since Fall 2019 I’ve designed 9 entirely new courses on contemporary literature, enhancing and diversifying existing curricular offerings. Some of these courses include: Asian American Racial Formations, Malcolm X, Animal Intimacies, and Postcolonial and Decolonial Literature. All of my courses build solid learning communities where students of all backgrounds learn to become effective readers, writers, researchers, and critical thinkers. Simultaneously, I advanced my own original research projects and presented my findings locally and at professional gatherings around the country. I also worked in cross-functional teams on a number of projects, including a team to design new metrics for assessment and as a Faculty Fellow with the Roger Mudd Center for Ethics to advance dialogue on ethics and technology. Since 2020 I’ve adapted my teaching for virtual and hybrid settings, using a range of delivery methods and technology (video production, collaborative note-taking, virtual whiteboards, project management tools) to make learning accessible during challenging and continually evolving circumstances.In 2022, I served as a strategic consultant for the Museums @ Washinton and Lee. I conducted UXR (interviews and surveys) to assess the state of faculty engagement with the museums. The output of this work was a white paper, which presented an overview of existing engagement and offered suggestions for boosting engagement for faculty as well as for external researchers and artists. Key skills: curriculum development, user-centered (UX) course design, inclusive design, qualitative research, project management, e-learning, writing, editing, coaching, mentoring, cross-functional collaboration.

• 

  Arab American National Museum (AANM)

  • Dearborn, Michigan, United States

  • Research Consultant

    • Sep 2016 - Jun 2022
    • Dearborn, Michigan, United States

    I was part of a nationwide team of researchers and consultants who gathered research to update the museum's permanent exhibits and collections in order to reflect changing demographics of Arab American immigrants.I also served as a judge for the Arab American Book Awards.Key skills: qualitative research, cross-functional collaboration, storytelling, public humanities, museums.

• 

  University of California San Diego

  • San Diego, California, United States

  • Lecturer in Ethnic Studies

    • Sep 2017 - Jun 2019
    • San Diego, California, United States

    I designed and taught 12 new courses during a two year period, most of the courses outside my subject matter expertise. Rather than relying on existing curricula, I used my perspective as an outsider to redesign the courses and make them as engaging and as accessible as possible to students who were taking Ethnic Studies courses for the first time. I taught students how to understand everything from structural racism to urban politics to medical ethics from a cross-disciplinary perspective. Some of the courses I taught include: Listening to the World; Organic Social Movements; Race, Medicine and Global Inequality; Environmental Racism; and Contemporary Immigration Issues. I designed innovative assignments to boost student engagement. Some of my original assignments include Spotify playlist projects, short movies, and structured interviews & conversations.I also advanced my own original research projects and regularly presented my findings at professional gatherings.Key skills: curriculum development, user-centered (UX) course design, inclusive design, qualitative research, project management, writing, editing, coaching, mentoring, presentation, publishing, DEI.

• 

  UC San Diego

  • San Diego, California, United States

  • Doctoral Researcher and Educator

    • Sep 2011 - Jun 2017
    • San Diego, California, United States

    Managed multiple independent, collaborative, and multi-year research projects, mostly on self-determined timelines. Projects required high degree of self-motivation and confidence to work on interpretative and analytical skills independently.Simultaneously managed six seminars each year with 15-30 students per seminar Established and maintained cross-functional relationships and mentorships across the Graduate Division and across other academic and non-academic institutions (such as museums and public libraries) around the country Developed research expertise in several subject areas (literature, general humanities/great books, writing, cultural studies, ethnic studies, and American studies) with focus on underrepresented storytellersResearch methods include interdisciplinary content analysis, interviews, archival site visits, data collection, secondary research. Research conducted in multiple languages (English, Arabic, French) across various sites (New York, Michigan, Paris, and Marseille)Produced book-length dissertation titled "Secular Islam and the Rhetoric of Humanity"Key skills: qualitative research, primary research, secondary research, education, writing, editing, project management, cross-functional collaboration, team teaching, storytelling, presentation, multilingual research.

• 

  SK Telecom Americas

  • Sunnyvale, California, United States

  • Content Writer

    • Aug 2010 - Feb 2011
    • Sunnyvale, California, United States

    Produced content and edited existing documents for health and wellness-based social networking tool.Worked in an energizing startup environment incubated within SK Telecom Americas.

• 

  Teshkeel Media Group, Kuwait

  • Media Intern

    • Jul 2008 - Aug 2008

    Worked on research and promotional content for comic book series The 99.