UPDATED: As of March 2, 2026, Penn travelers are strongly advised to defer travel to and transit through the Middle East region until further notice. This is based on current advice from the U.S. Department of State and International SOS, Penn’s private travel assistance provider, as well as the increased risk related to military operations, airspace closures, and general travel disruption. Penn-affiliated undergraduate travel to the Middle East is currently prohibited until March 31, 2026, at which time this stance will be reassessed. Travelers currently in the region are advised to shelter in place as needed and remain in contact with Penn officials. All other travelers are advised to reconsider traveling to the region. If you have upcoming Penn-affiliated travel planned to the region, please contact travelsafety@pobox.upenn.edu for guidance. As a reminder, faculty, staff, and students are required to register all Penn-affiliated international travel in MyTrips. Events can change quickly so please use the link below for continuing updates.
Penn Global Middle East Distinguished Visiting Scholar Initiative
Launched in Fall 2025, the Penn Global Middle East Distinguished Visiting Scholar Initiative brings senior scholars from the Israel and the Arab Muslim world to Penn for semester-long residencies that integrate teaching, research, and public engagement.
Penn Global Middle East Distinguished Visiting Scholars (Left to right) Dahlia Scheindlin, Shay Hazkani, Amal Jamal, and Khalil Shikaki (Left image: Eyal Warshavsky).
The initiative responds to an urgent institutional and global need: to foster rigorous, balanced, and humane scholarship and dialogue on the Middle East at a moment of profound political violence, polarization, and misinformation. Through semester-long residencies, the initiative ensures that students and the broader Penn community engage on the urgent challenges facing the Middle East through rigorous scholarship and the first-hand perspectives of leading experts.
Middle East Experts and Academics
The program Launched in the fall of 2025 with the arrival of the first visiting scholar, Dahlia Scheindlin. Shay Hazkani joined the Penn campus for the spring 2026 term, with Amal Jamal scheduled to be in residence in fall 2026, followed by Khalil Shikaki in spring 2027.
Penn actively connects with the Middle East through a range of program and initiatives that support academic collaboration, research advancements, and student exchange.
