Editor’s note: This is part of a series of profiles for fall 2017 commencement. See more graduates here.

Naji Obaid describes himself as an “immigrant dreamer who fights for freedom.” A U.S. Army veteran, Obaid believes in the value of service — whether to one’s adopted country or to humanity at large. Graduating ASU student Naji Obaid. Download Full Image

Obaid graduates from Arizona State University this December with a master’s degree in teaching English as a second or other language (MTESOL) from the Department of English and a certificate in computer-assisted language learning (CALL) from the School of International Letters and Cultures. He plans to continue serving others, as well as bettering himself, through teaching.

“For thousands of years, people have known that the best way to understand a concept is to explain it to someone else,” Obaid said.

Obaid embodies this on a personal level. He emigrated from Iraq after the war.

“I was looking for a safe place to live and to have a glorious future, for me and for my family,” he said.

Because of his language skills, in the U.S. Army he served as a translator and trained other soldiers in techniques of translation and interpretation. He was twice awarded both the Army Commendation Medal and the Achievement Medal for “meritorious service.”

During his Army tenure, Obaid also studied at the Defense Language Institute, earning diplomas in language analysis, small group instruction, and English as a second language.

With these credentials, the MTESOL program was a natural fit. Obaid’s ASU coursework motivated him to continue developing strategies to benefit second-language learners. He excelled in his research classes, where he learned qualitative and quantitative research methods, and how to publish research results. During this time, he also presented a paper at Rocky Mountain Modern Language Association meeting, as well as organized panels at three linguistics conferences.

Obaid’s final project deals with developing academic responsiveness using a social networking site called Edmodo. He plans to apply to PhD programs in linguistics to further his study of language learning and research. He currently lives in Peoria, Arizona, and works for ASU’s Global Launch as an education specialist.

We asked Obaid a few questions about his journey and hopes for the future.

Question: What was your “aha” moment, when you realized you wanted to study in your field? 

Answer: It was a great moment to start another journey in my life. I wanted to give something by teaching. I realized I could make this dream come true through getting a teaching degree at ASU. I was serving in the U.S. Army overseas when I made this decision. I was very sure that I would do great, even though I have a family to feed: wife and kids. I started work and my studies at the same time and I was blessed in both. I love both ASU and Arizona, my home after immigrating to the USA.

Q: What’s something you learned while at ASU — in the classroom or otherwise — that surprised you, that changed your perspective?

A: The academic environment in such a great school like ASU is always going to teach you something great. I learned that helping others is a great thing to do, such as teaching international students at Global Launch. The opportunity to teach these young people who had never been exposed to U.S. culture makes me proud of myself every time I teach them. Other things to be proud of: working on a team for some school projects and interacting with professors in a professional manner. These professors are so helpful and willing to help students. All that and more has changed my perspective. Teaching is a great thing to do on this planet, and in such a great place like at ASU.

Q: Why did you choose ASU?

A: Arizona is my home state now, and I can’t imagine I could ever live in another place. After I settled here, I was looking at ASU as my primary school for my next journey because of its immersive classroom experience. I had asked around about the teachers at ASU and found that the teachers are quite knowledgeable and are very willing to help. They have office hours for you to come in and review your tests and quizzes, or just for when you have questions. They're super helpful and will do their best to ensure you are successful!

Q: What’s the best piece of advice you’d give to those still in school?

A: The best pieces of advice I can give to those still in school are to make friends with every person, never say never, you can achieve anything as long as you set your mind on it, and finally, always believe in yourself. You are what you are and nobody can change that fact. "Do good. Be good."

Q: What was your favorite spot on campus, whether for studying, meeting friends or just thinking about life?

A: I would say my favorite spot on all of campus is the library. The library is the place that I spent most of my time doing my research and working with other classmates on projects for my degree.

Q: What are your plans after graduation?

A: After graduation, I am planning to teach adult students who want to learn English at the university level or at community colleges. I’m so eager to teach English because I understand how important it is to learn a second language.

Q: If someone gave you $40 million to solve one problem on our planet, what would you tackle?

A: I believe in education. There are some people who wish to attend school and can’t afford it; there are people who need to be helped such as people with special needs. I would start by building some schools for special needs and for people who want to learn something to benefit their lives.

Sheila Luna contributed to this profile.

Editor’s note: This is part of a series of profiles for fall 2017 commencement. See more graduates here.

Close study of older, English literature may not seem like a field with much to offer in the way of new discoveries. But one outstanding graduate, Victoria Baugh, has made some new findings in books that are 200 years old.  Victoria Baugh, who is earning a Master of Arts in English literature this December, is also a graduate of Barrett, The Honors College at ASU. Download Full Image

The Scottsdale/Tempe native, who is earning her master’s degree in English literature this December, studies race in 19th-century British literature. Her work shows that not only is there more to learn about the past, but these “old books” might even teach us something about the present.

Baugh’s faculty mentors call her “one to watch” and point to her research on Jane Austen’s little-known mixed-race heiress in “Sanditon” (1817), which Baugh links to an 1816 novel, “Owen Castle,” by another female author. No previous scholar had made the connection.

“Victoria is the first to have noticed this fact in 200 years of criticism,” said Devoney Looser, professor of English at ASU and a prominent Austen scholar internationally. “Victoria is bringing this novel back into our scholarly conversations about Jane Austen and the history of race and the novel,” she said.

Looser pointed out that these conversations are extremely important in the current political climate, “as so much attention is turning to issues of race and class.”

“I am certain that this argument will see print in a top-notch journal,” said Looser. “Victoria was already invited to present a lecture on her findings at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania in September. She wowed the audience of 100 there with her findings, her argument and her poise.”

Baugh, who has a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and minor in English from ASU, is also a staff transfer admissions specialist for ASU Admissions Services. We caught up with her between work shifts and final papers to ask a few questions about her plans.

Question: What was your “aha” moment, when you realized you wanted to study in your field? 

Answer: I worked in Community Outreach and Education after graduation, and I really enjoyed helping people and bringing them access to knowledge. I realized that I wanted my influence to be in education, doing research and teaching literature.

Q: What’s something you learned while at ASU — in the classroom or otherwise — that surprised you, that changed your perspective?

A: Interdisciplinary work is the new standard and the best way we are going to solve the world’s challenges. Thinking about how literature can inform other areas of study, and vice versa, helps me rethink how I approach my reading, research and writing.

Q: Why did you choose ASU?

A: I chose ASU because of the diversity it offers. It’s a place where you are able to gain different perspectives. New ideas are welcome. ASU is the place for innovation and cutting-edge research. There are professors here who are doing amazing work in their fields, and I love being part of that.

Q: What’s the best piece of advice you’d give to those still in school?

A: Find that thing that you’re passionate about or that idea that you keep coming back to and pursue that. For me, no matter what paper or project I completed, I was continuously curious about how race/ethnicity and gender operated in literature and history. I was able to pursue a master’s thesis on mixed-race heroines in late 18th- and early 19th-century British literature. Everyone has that one idea you keep coming back to. The sooner you recognize and embrace it, the sooner you’ll be able to get started on the work you care about most.

Q: What was your favorite spot on campus, whether for studying, meeting friends or just thinking about life?

A: The second floor of Hayden Library has one of the best views of campus and is a great place to read, think and write. ASU will be renovating Hayden Library, starting in December, so I am spending as much time as possible there before the changes are made. I can’t wait to see how it will be transformed when the renovations are complete.

Q: What are your plans after graduation?

A: After graduation, I hope to continue my education in a PhD program in English literature and ultimately to teach at a university. I would like to be able to have a positive impact on students and make it possible for them to discover the work they dream of doing. I feel incredibly fortunate to have had mentors along the way who were supportive, encouraging and believed in my success, which made all the difference in the world to me. It is my goal to do same for others.

Q: If someone gave you $40 million to solve one problem on our planet, what would you tackle?

A: I would use it to help end classroom hunger. Children are unable to focus on learning if they are hungry. We need to create an environment that helps our future leaders succeed, and that starts in the classroom. Ending classroom hunger is one of the main objectives of Valley of the Sun United Way. Anyone can help start solving this problem today by giving their money or time. I’m proud to be part of Arizona State University and the Junior League of Phoenix, because both have committed to this goal.

Rodney Hero, a political science professor and the Raul Yzaguirre chair in the School of Politics and Global Studies at Arizona State University, led a community conversation Nov. 28 where he talked about his plans to advance the discussion of Latina/o politics.

The event, hosted by Educational Outreach and Student Services, started with a special thanks to the support received from the Latina/o community from Executive Vice President and University Provost Mark Searle. Professor Rodney Hero, the Raul Yzaguirre chair, speaks to the community on Nov. 28. Photo by Matt Oxford/ASU Download Full Image

“We are indebted to the active support and encouragement that we have received from many in the Latino community as we were trying to establish this chair,” Searle said as he individually recognized each supporter in attendance who helped fund the chair.

The Raul H. Yzaguirre chair was established in the spring to honor the life work of Yzaguirre as an advocate for educational equality and quality within the Latina/o community.

“The kind of work that I’ve been undertaking for some number of years now, I think and I certainly hope, both respects and reflects the spirit of what Raul Yzaguirre represented,” said Hero, the inaugural chair holder.

Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Patrick Kenney spoke about what ASU can do to match at least some of the legacy that Yzaguirre left.

“I do think there is a common thread to almost everything that [Yzaguirre] was doing, and that was to bring access, or in his case driving access to democratic institutions,” Kenney said.

Hero is a leader in the field of racial and ethnic diversity in American politics. In his conversation he shared with the audience — which consisted of alumni, administration and community leaders — some of his plans to advance the discussion of Latina/o politics.

The Center for Latina/os and American Politics Research is the center Hero will be forming while at ASU. As director, he plans to use the center as a vehicle to create an ongoing discussion with students, faculty and the community at large through a speaker series, large-scale conferences and collaborative research.

During the discussion, Hero shared some of the reasons he got into Latina/o politics early on in his career.

“It occurred to me that there was something missing that was important and needed scholarly attention,” Hero said. “I look at Latinos in U.S. politics, and it seemed to me they were clearly interwoven in American politics but weren’t necessarily integral to American politics.”

Hero referenced that while he was completing his education from Purdue University, he could count the number of scholars working on Latina/o politics on one hand. He believed what was missing was “adequate and appropriate analysis” of important questions in American politics.

“A guiding idea that I’ve had with regard to my scholarship,” Hero said, “is that you cannot understand American politics without understanding Latino politics, and you cannot understand Latino politics without understanding American politics.”

Univision Arizona, the state’s most-watched Spanish-language television station, is now broadcasting Cronkite Noticias, a 30-minute news program produced by bilingual Arizona State University students on important Latino community and statewide issues.

The newscast, created by ASU students at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, broadcasts on select Saturdays on Univision Arizona or UniMás from 5 to 6 p.m. The latest newscast will air this Saturday, Nov. 18, on Univision. Cronkite Noticias students also occasionally contribute stories to Univision Arizona’s nightly newscast, which airs throughout the state. Senior Felipe Corral prepares for the Cronkite Noticias Facebook Live newscast with Cronkite Faculty Associate Valeria Fernández. Photo by Camaron Stevenson Download Full Image

Launched in January, Cronkite Noticias is a multiplatform Spanish-language news operation at the Cronkite School, where students produce digital and broadcast news stories under the guidance of faculty. Cronkite Noticias is made possible by the Raza Development Fund, the largest Latino community development financial institution that is dedicated to generating economic growth and opportunities for Latino families across the country.

Students in Cronkite Noticias provide critical news coverage to the Spanish-speaking community in Arizona through the newscast as well as the multimedia website cronkitenoticias.azpbs.org. Recent stories have included the shortage of Latino teachers in the state as well as the psychological impact of deportation on families. 

Faculty Associate Valeria Fernández, a veteran multimedia journalist who leads Cronkite Noticias, said the program offers students significant opportunities to launch careers not only in Spanish language media but also skills that make them culturally sensitive bilingual reporters.

Cronkite senior Jackie López, who was raised in Chihuahua, Mexico, covered some of the issues surrounding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) as well as other stories focusing on arts and culture for Cronkite Noticias. Most recently, she traveled to the Towers Jail in Phoenix to cover a three-day food strike protest among Maricopa County jail inmates over the quality of meals.

López, who hopes to work in Spanish language media after graduation, said the experiences she is receiving producing both digital and broadcast stories is invaluable.

“You really get exposed to a lot,” she said. “I definitely enjoy the interviews and getting to know people.”

Cronkite Noticias is part of a growing constellation of classes and immersive professional experiences available to Cronkite students interested in Latino and borderlands issues.

Cronkite News, the student-staffed, professionally led news division of Arizona PBS, features a Borderlands Bureau in which students cover border and immigration issues in English under the guidance of award-winning borderlands journalists.

Cronkite Professor of Practice Vanessa Ruiz, the former lead anchor of 12 News in Phoenix who now leads the Cronkite News Borderlands Bureau, also provides guidance and support to the Noticias students as they prepare their newscast for Univision.

Ruiz, who also has been an anchor for Telemundo and TV Marti, said Cronkite Noticias is a truly unique program, where students gain valuable experience while making a difference in the community.

“Arizona is ground zero for a lot of the hot button issues the country is talking about, not just on a local level but a national level,” Ruiz said. “And these students are getting the opportunity to get out there and really talk to people from all kinds of neighborhoods.”

Ruiz added that the students are pushing the limits of journalism. Recently, they started to produce a short newscast on Facebook Live at facebook.com/cronkitenoticias.

López said she has enjoyed the camaraderie with her fellow students in Noticias and the experiences she has received producing a broadcast that airs on Univision Arizona.

“It’s amazing because I grew up with my family watching Univision, so for us it’s a big deal,” she said. “Whenever we know we’re going to be on there, everybody will call everyone (in my family). It’s nice to be able to show people what we do here at school.”

Source: Most-watched Spanish Language station in Arizona is based on NSI average impressions among persons two-plus in total day (Monday through Sunday, 6 a.m. to 2 a.m.) during 2017 YTD (January to October 2017). Comparison of Spanish TV stations’ viewing exclusively in Arizona (Phoenix and Tucson DMAs).

Trans Awareness Week runs through Nov. 20 and provides an opportunity to celebrate the trans community at Arizona State University and promote awareness of transgender and gender non-binary identities and experiences.

“Through increased visibility and educational programs, the week helps all Sun Devils better understand the diverse identities of the trans community and how to support the inclusion of all those identities on campus and beyond,” said Kellyn Johnson, coordinator for ASU Student and Cultural Engagement. Image courtesy of ASU Student and Cultural Engagement Download Full Image

Events are scheduled at all four ASU campuses and include discussions, movie screenings, a trivia night, a drag show and more. A Trans Day of Remembrance Vigil and Friendsgiving Dinner will also be held Nov. 20 on the Downtown Phoenix campus.

Another element of Trans Awareness Week is the Gender Positivity Campaign, in which students write notes of affirmation and place them in restrooms across all campuses. The activity is meant to validate all gender identities and promote self-love and respect.

Trans Awareness Week is an entirely student-planned initiative. According to Johnson, representatives from the Rainbow Coalition and student organizations including Confetti, Spectrum, Gamma Rho Lambda, BL+C, Prism and QMunity collaborated to develop this year’s lineup of programs and initiatives.

“The site helps students connect with their community and locate resources to aid in their academic and personal success,” Johnson said.

The Out@ASU site was also recently updated to include Ally and Trans Resources pages.

“The Ally page provides the names, departments and contact information for SafeZone trained allies and will, in future, host resources and guides for allies and advocates,” Johnson said.

The Trans Resources page offers information specific to the trans student experience including sample emails for contact faculty/staff regarding asserted names and pronouns, expanded information on health services and national and locally based trans organizations. 

A Faculty Guide for Trans Inclusion in the Classroom was also recently developed by a group of trans and allied students and will go live during Trans Awareness Week.

Find a complete listing of programing for all four campuses on the Trans Awareness Week website.