Elizabeth Saylor

A native New Yorker, Elizabeth Claire Saylor is a passionate teacher of Arabic language, literature, and culture who holds degrees from the University of California, Berkeley, and Columbia University. In her teaching and research, Saylor promotes the legacy of New York City’s “Little Syria” neighborhood to foster awareness about Arab immigration and culture in America. Her current book examines the work of neglected pioneer of the Arabic novel, the immigrant writer, journalist, and feminist, ‘Afīfa Karam (1883-1924). After directing intensive Arabic programs in Jerusalem and the West Bank, Saylor founded the virtual language and culture exchange program, Yallah al-Quds (www.yallahalquds.com). Elizabeth is currently Assistant Professor of Arabic at North Carolina State University.