Abdlh Antabli Named Spring 2022 Patterson Fellow

Our Spring 2022 Bob Patterson Interdisciplinary Studies Fellow, Abdullah Antabli, graduated with a B.A. in Foreign Languages and Literature, with a concentration in Arabic Studies. Abdullah grew up in Damascus, Syria. In 2014, Abdullah was just beginning his first semester at a university in Damascus, having won a prestigious fellowship to study international law. Yet, Syria’s civil war caused his family to flee to the U.S., specifically North Carolina on the recommendation of a relative. When he arrived in Raleigh, Abdullah knew very little English, but determined to pursue an education, he enrolled at Wake Tech and poured all his energy into his studies. Two years later, he transferred to NC State, where he continued to excel academically and socially, all while working full time to support himself and his family.

According to faculty members who recommended him for the award, “Abdullah’s is an American Dream story,” and “Wherever he goes, Abdullah naturally makes meaningful connections with others across continents, languages, and cultures. He dreams of building bridges between the United States and the Arabic-speaking world through international diplomacy…He is incredibly hard-working, academically top-notch, and possesses a natural leadership in the classroom.”