Middle of What? East of Where? An Anti-colonial History of the Middle East
Where is the Middle East? Does it refer to a cultural or political geography? In this presentation, Dr. Aria Fani delves into the fraught history of this modern concept with a focus on British and US colonial enterprises that created a professional class of people for whom the Middle East became a career. Dr. Fani will reflect on his recent experience of directing the Middle East Center at the Jackson School for International Studies at the University of Washington, a position from which he was fired after a sharp criticism of Israeli government policy and its influence behind the US/Israel's most recent military actions in Iran. The presentation will conclude by examining how people from the Middle East have navigated this charged concept in their adopted homeland in the United States.
Presenter:
Dr. Aria Fani, Associate Professor of Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures at the University of Washington.
Part of Refugee Community Building Conference ‘26
Conference Registration
Early Bird Registration: We are pleased to offer a limited number of free tickets. If you are interested, please fill out the scholarship form.
For group registration and scholarship requests, please email events@naapr.org or udita@naapr.org.
Regular Registration: Regular online registration is open from July 1 to September 1 at 5:00pm PT. The registration fee is $120 for all attendees. Register online before September 1, as online regular registration closes then.
For group registration please email events@naapr.org or udita@naapr.org.
For scholarship requests, please click the link below:
Conference Schedule
Friday, September 18, 2026
8:30-9:30 am
Registration and Breakfast
9:30- 10:15 am
Welcome, Opening Keynote, and Ethnic Entertainment
10:30 am- 12:00 pm
Concurrent Sessions
12:15 pm Lunch
1:45- 3:15 pm
Concurrent Sessions
3:15- 4:00 pm
Visit the Resource Room and Networking
4:00 – 4:30
Closing Remarks & Door Prizes
Hotel and Parking
Our 2026 Refugee Community Building Conference will be held at:
Seattle Airport Marriott Hotel
3201 S 176th St, Seattle, WA 98188
On-Site Parking
The hotel offers discounted parking for $18 per day plus tax (Port of Seattle and State tax).
Parking is limited. Carpooling is strongly encouraged.
Valet
Daily: $41.00
Visit Marriott’s website for most accurate parking information.
Accessibility
Click here to view accessibility information on Marriot’s website
Notice of Photo and Videotaping
We will be taking photos and video throughout the conference for use on websites, in social media, and other materials. Your attendance at the conference constitutes your consent to be photographed, filmed, and/or otherwise recorded without compensation.