Classical & Modern Languages

Diversity Champion Award 

Nominated by Nariman Moustafa
Classical & Modern Languages

Mr. Khaldoun Almousily is the Program Coordinator for the Arabic Program and is a faculty member of the Middle East and Islamic Studies Program. He has been teaching Arabic language and translation studies in Kentucky for several years. His efforts led to the building of the first Arabic major and minor program in the State of Kentucky at Western Kentucky University (2010 - 2015). He is currently working on building the Arabic program at UofL.

Mr. Almousily has extensive knowledge and experience in translation and interpreting in the U.S. and abroad. He has interpreted at a large number of regional and international conferences for both government and private sectors in the field of human rights and refugee protection programs. He serves as a Middle East consultant and expert for Warren Country Public Schools and Greater Clark County Schools. Mr. Almousily is a Kentucky Certified Court Interpreter and helps the Administrative Office of the Courts on state and federal levels.

University teaching, research and service

• Met with the UofL Muslim Student Association to offer guidance on how students can deal with and work to overcome Islamaphobia. (He recommended carrying out charity projects and doing volunteer work to spread peace and love and bring the community together.)
• Consistently positive teaching evaluations and a regular Faculty Favorite nominee
• Readying his first translated book for publication (due out February 2017).
• Mentored four students of Arabic who were awarded the Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) – a fully funded summer overseas language and cultural immersion program – in Summer 2016. UofL had the highest number of students of any institution in Kentucky.
• Attended a 60-hour training in Summer 2016 at the University of Michigan on how to use the community as your classroom. He presented what he learned to his colleagues.
• Presents international films organized by Students Activities Center.

Community engagement and service

• Meets with international students once a month during lunch to encourage and inspire them to go to pursue higher education.
• Meets with international students and their parents to educate them about the American education system.
• Travels to Bowling Green monthly for the Warren County Public Schools Equity Council meetings. Advises the superintendent and Board of Education on creating equal opportunities for all.
• Gives presentations at local churches debunk myths about Islam and stereotypes of Muslims
• Attends the English Conversation Club and runs the Arab Salon at Iroquois Library, so that refugees and locals can bridge the cultural gap. Also tutors new immigrants, and helps refugees who need assistance filling out job applications.
• Serves as the first and only Arab on the Louisville Metro Citizens Police Academy where he volunteers a few hours a week to assist the police with various programs.
• Is an active volunteer with Big Brothers & Sisters of Kentuckiana
• Facilitates regular workshops to educate middle and high school teachers about other cultures.
• Serves as a board member for Greater Clark County Schools to advise on how to make schools safer and more welcoming to students from all ethnicities and backgrounds.

“He has showed me the value of the Louisville multicultural community and how marginalized people can enrich our environment when they are given the chance. I learned that the beautiful diverse community in the city of Louisville, the city of compassion, can be our main strength. “[H]e works day and night and way beyond his job description and responsibilities to accomplish his objectives of having inclusive campus community at UofL.”

“In August, l witnessed a Somali refugee approaching Mr. Almousily to help him find a job. This person has a family of five and was struggling to provide food for his family. Mr. Almousily took the time out of his busy schedule to train this person weekly to become a court interpreter. This man was making $8/hr. and now is a Kentucky certified court interpreter making $40/hr.”

“I often saw ‘Thank you’ cards on his desk from former students and faculty, appreciation letters from different embassies for helping international students, and letters of appreciation from various international organizations for promoting study abroad scholarship programs.”

“I will never forget that a disabled student who drove all the way from Bowling Green to thank him for the class she took with him back in 2014. She said that she was struggling with school but after taking his class, she learned to focus on the bright side.”

“Last November, a teacher at Clarksville high school in Indiana spoke to him on the phone and asked if he can speak to her students about benefits of learning a second language. She was frustrated with the students and not able to motivate them to learn Spanish. Mr. Almousily did four presentations the following week in her school. Students asked so many questions and learned about future jobs for bilinguals.”

“He talked on the phone with a mother of one of his students to invite her for lunch so they can talk about her son who previously asked him to speak to his mother about his sexual orientation. The student was afraid that his mother will not accept him. This showed me that students trust him on such sensitive issues and believe be can be their voice.”

“Mr. Almousily is a great example of what you can achieve for your community when you dedicate your life to educating others about the beauty of other cultures and how much we can achieve when we work together. He doesn't only motivate people; he encourages them to be better people.”