Meet the Founders

Dr. Ghayda Al Ali, Ph.D. has been an Associate Teaching Professor in the Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies at Georgetown University since 2011. In addition to teaching Media Arabic, Business Arabic, and all levels of Modern Standard Arabic, she has taken on several administrative and leadership roles within the department. Dr. Al Ali is a native speaker of Arabic as used in Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Libya, and the Gulf states, as well as Modern Standard Arabic (MSA). Prior to her start at Georgetown University, she taught Arabic at the University of Virginia, Pennsylvania State University and Bucknell University. She has served as a translator for the Iraqi Translators Association since 1991 and served as the Libyan Attaché́ Assistant during her time in Malaysia. Dr. Al Ali has received several accolades including two CIBER awards from Indiana University and George Washington University. Her interests lie heavily toward news discourse analysis of Arabic print media and its interaction with the western media. When not working to improve communications and understanding between the two seemingly different cultures of the Arab and the Western, Dr. Al Ali enjoys exploring new places with her two children and making experiments in her cooking.

Noor Long is an ambitious, young, vibrant Arlington resident. As someone who was raised in a cross-cultural household, Noor understands the importance of bridging the gap across cultures and the role that different cultures play in our daily lives. She is compassionate and always looks for ways to help those around her through her heightened empathy. Although still a young-adult, Noor is wise beyond her years and enjoys learning about others through stories about their own experiences. Noor is trilingual with proficiencies in English, Arabic, and Spanish. As a music lover, she is a violinist who is also learning the viola and the piano. Although uncertain about what her future holds, she knows she is bound to make a difference in the world. There is no telling Noor that she cannot do something, for she will find a way to succeed. It is her determination that will help her leave a positive mark on the world. When looking for Noor, you can easily find her wrapped in a blanket sleeping or curled up with a good book.

Zayd Long is a determined young man who grew up in Arlington. He comes from a multi-cultural family, with an immigrant parent. Zayd uses his personal experiences to build connections with others, especially those who are different from himself. His determination pushes him to find solutions that go beyond the obvious. Although quiet at first, when you get to know Zayd you realize that he cares with every ounce of his being and will do absolutely anything to bring a smile to your face. He is never afraid to ask “why” or “what if” as long as it means that the solution will bring him one step closer to an outcome that benefits the majority. Zayd has accomplished bilingual proficiency while currently working on a third language. His passions include playing video games and learning more about topics that go beyond what his education requests of him.