Mara Naaman

I am an independent scholar, writer, and editor based in New York. My work focuses on contemporary Arabic and American literature, cultural production, gender, and working-class identity. I earned my PhD in Arabic Literature from Columbia University, where my dissertation examined literary representations of downtown Cairo. I spent several years living in Cairo and traveling in the Middle East to deepen my language skills and immerse myself in the worlds I was studying.

Before that, I attended Interlochen Arts Academy as a dance student. I grew up in Michigan with a single mother who painted at night, and I was surrounded by Iraqi immigrant family. Art and storytelling were always part of my life. I later studied English at Wesleyan University, where I began learning Arabic and wrote my senior thesis on Magical Realism in Arabic literature.

I have taught at Williams College and currently teach Arabic Studies at Hunter College. I see myself as a culture worker. I care deeply about process, human connection, and thoughtful inquiry. I am currently pursuing an MFA in Creative Writing at the City College of New York and am at work on a novel.