Marisol Fernandez is a Departmental Scholars student in the Department of Near Eastern Languages & Cultures, specializing in Semitic Languages. This coming June Marisol will be receiving both her M.A. in Near Eastern Languages & Cultures and B.A. in Middle Eastern Studies with a minor in Hebrew/Jewish Studies. Her areas of interest are the Arab- Israeli Conflicts and identity dynamics within the conflicts and using language as a tool for peace and conflict management.

Marisol has studied abroad at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. While in Israel Marisol interned at the Harry S. Truman Institute for the Advancement of Peace. This past summer Marisol participated in an intensive Arabic language program at the University of Haifa. While in Haifa Marisol conducted research on interracial/ interfaith couples, mainly Arab and Jewish couples. Marisol hopes to return to the University of Haifa in the future in order to pursue an M.A. in Diplomacy Studies.