Libraries
The work of the CMES is greatly facilitated by the extensive resources available in the University of California at Berkeley library’s Middle Eastern collection, which ranks among the top five most prestigious academic collections in the United States. More
Resources
CMES maintains ties to many national and international organizations. Its status as a National Resource Center fosters cooperative relationships with other major Middle East centers and programs across the country. CMES holds institutional membership in the following scholarly organizations: the American Institute of Yemeni Studies, the Middle East Studies Association (as a founding member), the American Research Institute in Turkey, the American Institute for Maghribi Studies, and the American Association for Teachers of Turkish. The Department of Near Eastern Studies holds memberships in the Center for Arabic Study Abroad, the American Research Center in Egypt, and American Association for Teachers of Persian. More
Office of Resources for International and Area Studies
The Center for Middle Eastern Studies supports teaching, research, cultural, outreach, development and community activities relating to the Middle East region and its peoples. In collaboration with the Office of Resources for International and Area Studies (ORIAS), a joint program of the Title VI Area Centers at U.C. Berkeley, the CMES supports the professional development of primary, secondary, and post-secondary teachers addressing Middle East Studies by coordinating one-day workshops or one-week teacher institutes to address subjects of importance. The CMES also provides scholarly resources, including curriculum packets designed to inform pre-collegiate teaching on various aspects of Middle East culture. These popular packets are available through the ORIAS office.
Speakers Bureau
Requests
Need a Middle East specialist to educate your K–12 class on the fundamental tenets of Islam? Or visit your community college to discuss gender roles and cultural norms in Middle Eastern society? Or weigh in on current events at your next civic group meeting?
The CMES accepts requests for speakers on Middle East-related topics. These topics vary according to our speakers’ availability, but may include talks on religion, culture, language, current events, gender roles, and minority issues, to name a few.
For more information or to request a speaker, please fill out our online contact form.
Volunteers
If you have experience in the Middle East or specialized knowledge on a Middle East-related topic, the CMES invites you to apply for our speakers bureau. Complete the online registration form and our program coordinator will be in touch to confirm receipt.
