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The first and only academic program in the United States focusing on Kurdish issues

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Director’s Welcome

It is with great honor and pleasure that I welcome you as the Director of the Najmaldin Karim & Jalal Talabani Chair of Kurdish Political Studies at the University of Central Florida. The program, unique in its focus on Kurdish issues, is part of the School of Politics, Security, and International Affairs and is the first and only academic program in the United States.

Established in 2015 as the Jalal Talabani Chair of Kurdish Political Studies, this program is a testament to the generosity and vision of the late Dr. Najmaldin Karim (1949-2020). Dr. Karim’s remarkable journey included leadership of the Kurdish Student Union at the Mosul Medical College in 1971, fighting as a peshmerga in the 1970s against Saddam Hussein’s brutal regime, practicing as a distinguished neurosurgeon in the Washington D.C. area, and serving as governor of Kirkuk from 2011 to 2017. His unwavering advocacy for Kurdish rights earned him the title of a “one-man lobby” for Kurdish interests on Capitol Hill.

As the holder of the Najmaldin Karim & Jalal Talabani Chair of Kurdish Political Studies, my primary goal is to build upon this legacy by fostering an academic debate on Kurds, their struggle for recognition, and their potential to contribute to a secular, democratic, just, and peaceful Middle East for all peoples and faiths.

As the fourth largest nation in the Middle East and inhabiting a vast geography stretching from western Iran to northwestern Syria, much can be learned from studying the broader regional dynamics through the Kurdish prism. I look forward to collaborating with my colleagues, engaging with our talented students, and working with the wider community to achieve these goals.

Warm regards,

Mehmet Gurses
Najmaldin Karim & Jalal Talabani Chair of Kurdish Studies 

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News

People seated at round tables attend a presentation in a conference room; a speaker stands at a podium while a screen displays the event.
COS News

UCF Hosts Conference on Kurdish Studies 

Attendees from all over the world gather to share insights and collaborate on Kurdish studies.  By: Emily Dougherty | April 29, 2025 The Kurdish Political…

Hannah Barnes and Myli Sangria standing in a group in front of panel in Kurdistan
COS News

Two Kurdish Political Studies Program Dr. Najmaldin Karim Research Fellows Visit Kurdistan 

Written by Léa Faure, Ph.D. in Security Studies  In May 2023, two students affiliated with the Kurdish Political Studies Program (KPSP), Hannah Barnes and Myli…

Armenia Yerevan
COS News

Travel Abroad Opens New Perspective For PoliSci Major

Hannah Barnes is learning as a Knight thousands of miles from Millican Hall and the Bounce House — and that suits her just fine. Barnes’…

Cyrus Amiri standing in front of a brick wall
COS News

KPSP Welcomes a Scholar of Literature from Iranian Kurdistan

Kurdish Political Studies Program (KPSP) is delighted to welcome Cyrus Amiri, Ph.D., as a visiting scholar in 2023. Amiri is an associate professor of English…

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