Assistant Professor of Professional Practice

- Office
- 400 Pacific Street D202
- Tel
- (831) 647-4601
- rissa@middlebury.edu
Rana Issa teaches Arabic language and culture, including courses such as Arabic, Arabic Speaking Countries, and Media in the Arabic World. She has extensive experience coordinating language programs, translating documents, and working in a professional Arabic-speaking environment.
Rana has received the Commandant Coin of Excellence for superior dedication to teaching and curriculum development in the Defense Language Institute.
Courses Taught
Courses offered in the past two years.
- Current term ●
- Upcoming term(s) ○
ARLA 8227 - Modern History of Arab World ●
Spring 2021 - MIIS
ARLA 8258 - Arab Media and Politics ●
Spring 2021 - MIIS
ARLA 8109 - Bridge Arabic
Fall 2020 - MIIS
ARLA 8215 - Introduction to Islam
Fall 2020 - MIIS
ARLA 8382 - Islam&Politics in Arab World
Islam and Politics in the Arab World
One of the most important developments of the twentieth century is Islamic revival. This course examines the ideologies and political strategies of the 20th and 21st century Islamist movements, as well as their origins and evolution. The course is motivated by a set of interlocking questions designed to understand the politics of modern Islamic political movements in the Middle East. What are the intellectual origins of these movements? What is their relationship to colonialism, theology, nationalism, democracy, liberalism, development, and women and gender? How have Islamic political movements evolved over time? What are the reasons behind and the consequences of some of these movements? electoral successes, after the Arab Spring in particular? These questions will be explored historically and in comparative perspective by drawing on scholarship from political science, Islamic studies, sociology, anthropology, and history.
Fall 2020 - MIIS
ARLA 8243 - HumanSecurity&DevelopArabWorld
Spring 2020 - MIIS
Areas of Interest
Arabic language, Arabic culture.
Academic Degrees
- MA in Teaching Foreign Languages (Arabic), Monterey Institute of International Studies
- BA in Business Administration, University of Balamand, Elkoura, Lebanon