MONA N. MIKHAIL Ph.D. 1972, University of Michigan Professor of Middle Eastern Studies Department of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies 50 Washington Square South New York, NY 10012 tel: (212) 998-8892 fax: (212) 995-4689 e-mail: mnm1@nyu.edu

My research, publications and teaching focuses on Arabic literature in a comparative context as well as on gender studies. The political, social and cultural dimensions of the Arab East and North Africa as well as the literatures produced in the diaspora ( North America , Europe ) in the twentieth century are the main focus of my interests.

My research of Arabic fiction (especially the short story as one of the more popular genres of the twentieth century) focused on the work of the Nobel Prize winner Naguib Mahfouz as well as the master craftsman Yusuf Idris. The concept of Iltizam (commitment) as well as wujudiyya (existentialism) are the critical prism through which I analyze this body of literature. (Studies in the Short Fiction of Mahfouz and Idris 1992.

The other aspect of my research continues to be the role and status of women in the Arab world; with emphasis on feminist literary theory and its relevance to the growing corpus of Arab women writings. My most recent book "Seen and Heard: A Century of Arab Women in Literature and Culture" (2004) also investigates Arab women and popular culture.

Another great interest of mine is my research and teaching, which focuses on the role of the mass media in the Arab world -- especially on film and theater in the twentieth century. My documentary "Live on Stage: A Century and a half of theater in Egypt" investigates the history, development as well as the role of censorship, women and the role of dialects in the theater, amongst other topics.

I have served on numerous Boards of our profession, notably on the MESA (Middle East Studies Association, ARCE (American Research Center in Egypt ), AATA American Association Teachers of Arabic (re-elected for new term 2003).

I was also elected President of AATA, Vice President for EAPS (Egyptian American Professional Society) as well as served on numerous editorial boards notably, IJMES, Al-Arabiyya, Ibdaa. I also have been a recipient of various grants from NEA, Fulbright and NEH amongst others. I have conducted research and lectured in North Africa ( Tunisia , Morocco ), Europe ( France , England ) Egypt and Malaysia .

I have also received prizes for some of my translations, Pegasus Prize for Seeds of Corruption; P.E.N. Prize for stories by Yusuf Idris; and the Columbia University Translation Center Prize for the Story of Zuhra.

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• Seen and Heard: A Century of Arab Women in Literature and Culture, Interlink 2004
• Seeds of Corruption, (Tr. S. Musa) Interlink 2003 (second edition)
• "Live on Stage: A Century and a Half of Theater in Egypt" Documentary
• Studies in the Short Fiction of Mahfouz and Idris, NYU Press 1992
• Sitt 'alMulk (Lady on the Throne. (Tr.Sarhan) GEBO 1989
• AArais fi al Mawlid (Sugar Dolls at the Fair) Cairo Dar al-Arabi 1989
• Images of Arab Women Fact and Fiction, Three Continents Press 1979

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