Majors: Global Language and Area Studies (Arabic) and Global Business Management
Hometown: Pawtucket, RI
Q. What makes the College of Arts and Sciences at URI unique?
What makes the College of Arts and Sciences at URI so unique is the faculty within the College. From the very beginning of my college career at URI the faculty have gone above and beyond to ensure that I achieve my goals, specifically the goals pertaining to my College of Arts and Sciences Major (Global Arabic Studies). Dr. Alexander Magidow and Dr. Eric Young (the heart and bones of the Arabic department) ensured that from my freshman year until my senior year that I will be able to read, write and speak fluently in my Colloquial Lebanese Arabic and in the Formal Classical Arabic. They drafted out a plan in order to get me to where I am today and have done everything possible in doing so. The care that they provided me and support to learn and connect me with the resources and finances to study abroad twice, no other educators or faculty from other schools would have done the same for me. I would also like to thank two influential Arabic instructors that are no longer currently at URI but have also contributed to where I am today, Elsa Belmont Flores and Mohammad Fallahiya.
What accomplishments and/or activities at URI are you most proud of now?
I would definitely say the two study abroad opportunities I’ve taken part in! Both of them were with Sijal Institute in Amman, Jordan. Their Arabic program is top-tier and geared to work with every level and background of the student. Being there in the Middle East for the first time was an incredible experience, and the Jordanian culture was rich and beautiful!
What do you value about your liberal arts education?
My liberal arts education has allowed me to pursue Arabic Language studies which was an important goal for me. Growing up as an American Arab, I was always clashing with my two cultural identities. Being born and raised in America made it hard for me to hold on to my Arabic roots. It wasn’t until I started at URI and I learned about the liberal arts education here with the College of Arts and sciences that I thought it was even possible to dive deeply and learn more about my cultural background and identity and even improve my poorly spoken Arabic! This liberal arts education gave me an opportunity that was never an option before and to that, I am forever grateful.
What have been some highlights of your time in the Arabic department?
Every semester I look forward to meeting with the Middle Eastern Student Association (formally the Arab Student Association). I have many friends of all backgrounds there spanning from North African countries, upwards to Turkey and Westwards to Iran and more! It’s so beautiful to see people from a shared region with different dialects and languages and religions come together to celebrate our similarities and differences. We always plan semesterly events to watch movies and eat out at Middle Eastern restaurants!
Anything else you’d like to share?
I was a student on financial aid all my years at URI, I went to high school in the inner city, my parents are immigrants from Sierra Leone in West Africa. Although these all had some sort of struggle within them, they all made me who Haidar Halawi-Halloway is today. I want to thank my two beautiful parents and twin sister: Nassir, Sana, and Aliyeh. And my fiance, Fatimah Alshaikh, and my friends and family in Rhode Island, Massachusetts. I’d also like to give special thanks to every Pawtucket educator I have had from Curvin Mccabe Elementary, Jenks Junior High, and Tolman Highschool. Regardless of what struggles you face in life, there are people there that will support you and help you get to where you need to be. Don’t give up on yourself and don’t give up on them!