Generate a tailored SOP for Dr. Hakem Al Rustom. Improve your application with a focused, well-structured draft.
Hakem Al-Rustom is an Assistant Professor in the Department of History and the Department of Anthropology at the University of Michigan. He holds the Alex Manoogian Professorship in Modern Armenian History. His research primarily focuses on modern Armenian experiences, particularly in the context of the Armenian Genocide and its ongoing impacts on identity and memory within the diaspora. His upcoming book, "Enduring Erasures: Afterlives of the Armenian Genocide," is set to be published by Columbia University Press in July 2025, and it addresses the unwritten histories of Armenian citizens in Turkey. Al-Rustom's work critically engages with historical erasure and the narratives surrounding the Armenian survivors of genocide. He utilizes ethnographic methods to explore the complexities of minority identities, state-building, and colonialism in post-Ottoman societies, notably Turkey and France. In addition to Armenian studies, he examines the marginal populations of Christians, Mizrahi/Arab Jews, and Muslims in the broader context of Middle Eastern histories. Al-Rustom is a prominent voice in postcolonial theory and critical historiography, often referencing key theorists like Walter Benjamin and Frantz Fanon in his work. He teaches several courses related to Armenian history, memory, and violence, aimed at studying the intricate facets of human history.
University of Michigan • Ann Arbor, MI
Joined the University of Michigan as an assistant professor in the Department of History and holds a courtesy appointment in the Department of Anthropology.
Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science