Mohamed Shaker is both an international student and an Oregonian. Between being born in Singapore and graduating from high school in the United Arab Emirates, he attended elementary and middle school in Beaverton.<\/p>\n
He says coming back to Oregon to pursue higher education was not a difficult decision.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy brother was here,\u201d he explains. \u201cSo I thought I would come and try out life here again, and I\u2019m really glad I did.\u201d<\/p>\n
With his basic sciences classes completed, Shaker began studying in the pre-pharmacy program at Oregon State right away, but he found himself struggling in science classes. During late-night study sessions, he started to wonder if he was following the right path. Shaker says he\u2019s always had an interest in the humanities, so in the spring term of his freshman year, he transferred to the College of Liberal Arts, where he ended up majoring in history.<\/p>\n
Shaker is also a member of the Honors College and wrote his senior thesis about Iraqi history, a subject close to his heart. His research specifically covered Shia political theology in the mid-twentieth century. Shaker says he wanted to study Iraq and the Middle East because that\u2019s where his father is from.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe 20th century Middle East is something I\u2019ve always been interested in,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat stands out the most about Mohamed is his innate sense of social justice,\u201d says Jon Katz, professor of Middle Eastern history. \u201cHis concern for what is right permeates his studies and outlook on life. He presents himself without a hint of self-righteousness, which makes his reasoned arguments all the more authoritative.\u201dWhile he studied his father\u2019s heritage in the classroom, Shaker \u2014 whose mother is from Singapore \u2014 decided to honor her background by getting involved with the Asian and Pacific Cultural Center (APCC). He started out working in the center\u2019s front office, and from there, became a student leadership liaison.<\/p>\n
\u201cI appreciated that the Asian and Pacific Cultural Center has an emphasis on the sort of general diversity and multicultural work that needs to happen on a campus like this and on local, national and global issues of importance,\u201d Shaker says.<\/p>\n
Through the APCC, Shaker has coordinated events including a multicultural film series and a memorial for the centennial of the Armenian genocide.<\/p>\n
His supervisor at the APCC, Reagan Le, says Shaker\u2019s sense of humor and dedication to multiculturalism has done much for the campus community.<\/p>\n
\u201cMohamed is an incredibly bright, scholarly student who through his contagious laugh brings joy and laughter to others,\u201d Le says. \u201cHis laugh truly and literally fills up the APCC and just brings such liveliness and energy to the APCC. He\u2019s an intellect who can confidently articulate academic knowledge.\u201d<\/p>\n
Shaker has applied to graduate schools in the United Kingdom and says he wants to continue to study history in some capacity, although he\u2019s unsure about continuing to specialize in Iraqi history.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are a lot of options in front of me,\u201d he says. \u201cI need some time to really think about them and do some individual research before I plunge into a graduate program.\u201d<\/p>\n
Shaker sees himself teaching in the future.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s important work,\u201d he says. \u201cI think it\u2019s work that has meaning and purpose, and that\u2019s what I want to do.\u201d<\/p>\n
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