U of A alumnus Dhia Ben Ali was awarded the 2021 40 Under 40 Award by the Arab American Foundation. Ben Ali graduated in May 2021 with a doctorate in public policy.

40 Under 40 is a celebration of young Arab Americans who have excelled in their professional lives and are engaged in promoting their heritage and culture to empower their communities and make a difference. The program spotlights professionals in all fields, including but not limited to education, law, public service/politics, non-profit, business, entrepreneurs, engineers, medical professionals, artists, entertainers, writers and media representatives. 

Dhia Ben Ali first arrived in the U.S. on a Fulbright Scholarship from Tunisia to teach Arabic at Drury University in Springfield, Missouri. He went on to earn a master's degree in political science and government and a doctorate in public policy, with full funding support from the King Fahd Center for Middle East Studies at the U of A.

Within the past decade, Ben Ali taught Politics of the Middle East at the U of A, worked with the United Nations Development Program toward consolidating the security sector in Libya, conducted research, wrote policy recommendations about countering violent extremism in Tunisia, and currently works as a project manager with the International Republican Institute aiming to strengthen democracy in East Africa.

The Arab America Foundation is a non-profit educational and cultural organization established in 2019. The mission of AAF is to promote the Arab heritage, educate Americans about the Arab identity, connect and empower Arab Americans with each other and with diverse organizations across the U.S.

About the King Fahd Center for Middle East Studies: The King Fahd Center for Middle East Studies is an academic and research unit in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Arkansas, dedicated to the study of the modern Middle East and the geo-cultural area in which Islamic civilization prospered and continues to shape world history. More information about the King Fahd Center can be found at mest.uark.edu. For ongoing news, follow the Center on Facebook and Twitter.