Director, Middle East Studies Program
PhD Comparative Politics
University of Chicago, 1998
MA Political Philosophy
Claremont Graduate School, 1984
BA History
University of California San Diego, 1981
A PhD in comparative politics of the Middle East and political philosophy from the U of Chicago, Dave presently complements these studies with a focus on Near Eastern religious traditions generally-Jewish, Eastern Christian, and Islamic. As Director of MESP since 2002, he also focuses on various aspects of program development meant to connect MESP alumni with vocational opportunities in the region. David's wife, MESP Associate Suzanne Holt (Ed.D), is an experienced administrator with extensive background in study abroad programming and the first year experience movement.
Dr. Holt also facilitates the Islam, Conflict and Change, and People and Culture courses by partnering with over 35 speakers during the semester who come to MESP and teach special topics related to the MESP curriculum. A list of MESP speakers may be obtained from the Director. MESP seeks a balance of speakers-Israeli Jewish, Palestinian Arab, or others connected with the MESP curriculum-in order to give students wide exposure to the issues and perspectives in the region. They include authors, diplomats, academics, experts, clergy, youth groups, and more.
Dr. Diaa Nashed
Assistant Director, Middle East Studies Program
BS/MD-Ain Shams University Cairo, 1995
MA Administration-Ain Shams University [Magna Cum Laude], 2000
MB-Maastricht University, 2008
After serving as a medical officer in the Egyptian Army for two years, Dr. Nashed felt the call to refine his gifts of administration by attending the MA program in Administration at Ain Shams, graduating first in his class. He came to MESP as a travel agent and part-time, volunteer administrator at Qasir Dubarra Evangelical Church. While serving MESP as Assistant Director of Administration since 2002, he has begun and completed his MBA. A conscientious steward of MESP finances and infrastructure, Dr. Nashed continues to insure quality control over the quality of student life in Cairo and while traveling. Covering such wide areas of administration enables the Director, David Holt, to focus on developing academic aspects of the program
Alternate Lecturers in Palestinian Colloquial Arabic
MESP alternates its Arabic instructors in colloquial Arabic, and information on instructors can be obtained directly by the Director.
Ophir Yarden (part-time faculty)
MA-University of Chicago (Middle East Studies)
Yarden serves many foreign university programs in Jerusalem as an educational teacher and consultant on Jewish and Israel studies as well as interfaith dialogue with the Interfaith Coordinating Council in Israel. He has taught at institutions such as Hebrew University and the Hebrew Union College, pursuing advanced Jewish studies at the Shalom Hartman Institute and the Schechter Institute of Judaic Studies. His research interests center on Jewish identity and civil religion in Israel.
MESP Program Assistants
MESP selects two alumni to serve for one year as RLIs. These alum, one male and one female, facilitate the student access to the locals, assist them with personal needs, and help the MESP staff with administrative details related to the quality of student life. They are very important both to staff and students in terms of quality control and staff accountability.
