Northeastern University was awarded a coveted U.S. Department of Education grant in May to expand its Arabic language and Middle East studies programs. According to political science professor Denis Sullivan, the $85,000 Title VI grant will fund the creation of a new major in Middle East studies, and expand course offerings in Arabic, as well as some Hebrew, in a joint initiative between the School of Professional and Continuing Studies (SPCS) and the Middle East Center for Peace, Culture and Development.

Sullivan will work with Dennis Cokely, interim chair of modern languages, and Janet Headley, director of SPCS's International Initiative, in creating an interdisciplinary program that incorporates culture, history, politics, language, economics, business, and public health. In the grant's announcement, U.S. Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., praised the timeliness of the initiative. "As much of the world's attention remains focused on events in the Middle East, I commend Northeastern University for having the foresight to create a curriculum such as the Middle East Studies program."